This may not be considering "earth shattering", but I wanted to share
information here for ARMA members regarding proposed updates to the ARMA
International Bylaws.  If you click on the link below, you should be able
to read through the proposed changes and should have an opportunity to make
comments.

https://www.arma.org/myarma/governance/index.cfm

Of potential concern to some members, may be the move to "de-couple" the
one Board of Directors meeting that is now held immediately before or
during the ARMA International Conference.  There is a 2/3 majority
requirement for a Board vote regarding the Board meeting that you will see,
so there are opportunities for the full Board to consider making a change,
before doing so.  However, there are some members, including at least two
of those who worked on the Bylaws Task Force who consider those changes as
among those that may not live up to the need for transparency in Board of
Directors dealings.

Most members have not taken advantage of Board meetings during or
immediately prior to the Annual Conference to either sit in on Board
meeting discussions (either the "Discernment" or the formal Board meeting
sessions).  However, in some past years, when there have been significant
issues with which the Board is grappling...where members have sat in on the
meetings as guests.  In other cases, candidates for office (Director
positions or Officer positions) have chosen to attend the pre-Conference
Board meetings to better acquaint themselves with the issues that the Board
of Directors has under discussion.  That has been recognized as a right of
any member of ARMA International.  That opportunity may now - depending on
the year and the vote of any given Board - change.  Under the new bylaws
proposal, the Board may - in the interest of flexibility - choose to meet
at another time and place of their choosing.

There is some underlying disagreement that may be of interest to ARMA
members.  One point of view is that the Board needs flexibility in when
meetings are held; whether that be due to an unusual emergency situation,
or the need to act on an issue promptly at an in-person meeting or for the
convenience of the Board, or possibly because the nature of Conferences may
change at some unknown future date.  Others (including those two members of
the Bylaws Task Force) believe that the need for transparency - a value
established several years ago, is paramount, and "requires" that the Board
meet at a time when ARMA members are able to attend.

My own view, one that is based on living through some rather challenging
times within ARMA is that the value of transparency, and ensuring that ARMA
always considers members first in every thing that they do, leaves me with
the belief that having a Board meeting tied to the Annual Conference holds
the Board more fully accountable to its members, and more accessible to its
members.    Whatever your point of view, it would be helpful to review the
changes and to take advantage of the opportunity to make your comments
know.  By clicking on the link, ARMA members can review the changes and can
comment on their preferences.  I hope that those of you reading this will
considering doing just that.

Thanks!

Douglas P Allen, CRM, CDIA+
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