2024 Bylaws & Rules – Proposal 1: LPIN Member and SCC Rights in County Meetings
– Proposed by Evan McMahon
BOLD = NEW WORDS
STRIKE = REMOVED WORDS
Current:
BYLAWS
ARTICLE IV – COUNTY ORGANIZATIONS
Section 8. County Business Meetings. County Organizations are authorized to charge dues as a condition for speaking and voting in County Organization business meetings, but no Member of the LPIN residing in the county shall be denied attendance in a County Organization business meeting.
Section 9. County Conventions. Nomination of candidates for public office and election of delegates to the State Convention for the County Organization shall occur during a convention. No member of the LPIN residing in the county shall be denied the right to attend, speak and vote in any convention of a County Organization. All members of the LPIN residing in the county shall receive notification of the date, time and location of any convention of the County Organization at least thirty (30) days prior to any convention of the County Organization.
Proposed Amendments:
BYLAWS
ARTICLE IV – COUNTY ORGANIZATIONS
Section 8. County Business Meetings. County Organizations are authorized to charge annual dues, not to exceed the cost of an Annual LPIN membership, as a condition for non-LPIN members residing in the county speaking and voting in County Organization business meetings,. but no No Member of the LPIN, who has been a Member of the LPIN for at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the start of the County Organization business meeting, residing in the county shall be denied attendance the right to attend, speak and vote in a County Organization business meeting. The LPIN district representative, or in their absence, a member of the State Central Committee designated by the district representative, may not be denied the right to speak on official LPIN business at any business meeting of a County Organization.
Section 9. County Conventions. Nomination of candidates for public office and election of delegates to the State Convention for the County Organization shall occur during a convention. No member of the LPIN, who has been a Member of the LPIN for at least sixty (60) consecutive days prior to the start of the County Organization Convention, residing in the county shall be denied the right to attend, speak and vote in any convention of a County Organization. The LPIN district representative, or in their absence, a member of the State Central Committee designated by the district representative, may not be denied the right to speak on official LPIN business at any convention of a County Organization. All members of the LPIN residing in the county and the LPIN Secretary shall receive notification of the date, time and location of any convention of the County Organization at least thirty (30) days prior to any convention of the County Organization.
As Amended:
BYLAWS
ARTICLE IV – COUNTY ORGANIZATIONS
Section 8. County Business Meetings. County Organizations are authorized to charge annual dues, not to exceed the cost of an Annual LPIN membership, as a condition for non-LPIN members residing in the county speaking and voting in County Organization business meetings. No Member of the LPIN, who has been a Member of the LPIN for at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the start of the County Organization business meeting, residing in the county shall be denied the right to attend, speak and vote in a County Organization business meeting. The LPIN district Representative, or in their absence, a member of the State Central Committee designated by the district representative, may not be denied the right to speak on official LPIN business at any business meeting of a County Organization.
Section 9. County Conventions. Nomination of candidates for public office and election of delegates to the State Convention for the County Organization shall occur during a convention. No member of the LPIN, who has been a Member of the LPIN for at least sixty (60) consecutive days prior to the start of the County Organization Convention, residing in the county shall be denied the right to attend, speak and vote in any convention of a County Organization. The LPIN district representative, or in their absence, a member of the State Central Committee designated by the district representative, may not be denied the right to speak on official LPIN business at any convention of a County Organization. All members of the LPIN residing in the county and the LPIN Secretary shall receive notification of the date, time and location of any convention of the County Organization at least thirty (30) days prior to any convention of the County Organization.
LPIN Bylaws Committee Report –
Summary:
This would amend the Bylaws to ensure the right of LPIN members to participate and vote in county meetings, without paying county dues or meeting any other requirements that the county may impose. Reasonable county dues may only be required for participation when an individual is not otherwise an LPIN member who has met the seasoning requirements. It also ensures that counties, as affiliate organizations, cannot bar SCC participation in meetings, with the requirement that the District Rep or their designee must be allowed to participate. To this end, it also requires that the SCC be notified via the LPIN Secretary of upcoming county conventions.
Notes:
With the wording just prior regarding dues not being higher than LPIN membership, it was somewhat unclear to the committee whether the wording intentionally prohibited county dues payment for participation in meetings or if it was only intended to place a cap on the amount. The author confirmed that intention and declined to amend this wording. Should this pass, counties should note that dues may still be collected for other benefits, but may not be used as a requirement for LPIN members in their county to participate in meetings.
Regarding SCC rights, the original wording implied that any and all SCC members would have the right to speak at county meetings, the author agreed to amend and clarify that only one member, the district rep or their designee, must be allowed to speak.
Regarding notice to the SCC, the committee recommended that the District Rep, not the Secretary, be notified of county conventions, since that is the most common current practice. The author declined this amendment, reasoning that the Secretary is the official keeper of records for the LPIN.