We have received some questions regarding the bylaws. I wanted to address those questions and invite more. The below represents the questions that have been asked, I have paraphrased where I could to combine similar questions that share a common answer.I also want to invite members to read the bylaws. If there is a portion you do not agree with, or think you have a valuable addition, modifying the bylaws is very easy to do. Just follow the appropriate procedure, and your improvement may be adopted…

Q1. Since the term “Member in good standing” is used in the voting areas, should it be defined as a bylaw term.
A1. “Member in good standing” is a common term that is used in many documents dealing with organizations that have members with rights that are not open to others who are not members… In SEG America, any member who complies with the various definitions within the bylaw are just that, members with those titles. Since there is more than one kind of member, any who comply with their particular portion of the bylaw automatically are in good standing. This term is used simply to say all of this type of member in addition to that type of member etc. The entirety of Article 4 define members who are in good standing and those who are not members…

Q2. There are several references to the “SA Rules and Procedures Manual”. What is the status of this document?
A2. Portions of the SA Rules and Procedures Manual (SA R&P manual) do indeed exist, and are printed, but the entire manual is not completely formed at this point. It is still a work in progress, as there are still many new procedures that are being developed by the executive board as the club continues to define itself. Many of the rules are the result of resolutions that were voted upon by the Executive Board, but not specifically intended to be inserted into a manual. That will be one of the projects that will be developed during the upcoming months. Regardless of it’s eventual publication, I see this manual as a constantly evolving document.

Q3. Bylaws provide for a SEG America Supporter. (At least one person who asked about this status called it a “SEG America Supporter membership)
A3. This status is clearly not a membership, and does not entitle the bearer to have the benefits of membership like voting on club decisions, nor discounts to club events.

Q4. Do members need to own a segway?
A4. No. No memberships require the ownership of any segway product. ( We are the SEG, Segway Enthusiasts Group, not SOG, the Segway Owners Group)

Q5. Do Business Members pay dues?
A5. Dues are set annually by the executive board, as per Article 5.1. The executive board has the authority to set dues for business members or other form of membership. It should be noted that most often, the owner of a business has an individual membership, because business members are not on the mailing lists… I expect that the relationship with business members will be further defined this year. Included in this further definition will be guidelines on “Official Business License” requirements.

Q6. Article 4.3.2 expresses that if the executive board receives a petition for removal and that person resigns, then details in that petition may be kept confidential. Does this mean that if that individual does not resign that information will not be kept confidential?
A6. Yes it does. If an officer (or member) is elected by the membership to do a job, and some event occurs to interrupt that, like a petition for removal that results in removal by the Executive Board, then the membership is owed an explanation. This does not mean that personal information will ever be released by the Executive Board or the Club. Personal information will be kept confidential, we are only speaking of information specific information relating to a petition for removal.

Q7. There were some questions about minutes of meetings being available to the membership.
A7. Minutes are and will be available. Article 6.1.3. only refers to the method that this availablility shall be offered.

Q8. There was a question from 8.4.1 about the definition of members who are eligible to vote.
A8. Who specifically gets to vote in club elections is defined in Article 4.

Any further questions? Contact us at the links provided…
Karl Ian SagalVP, SEG America

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 27th, 2006 at 8:06 am and is filed under Elections. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.