It's very important that ACBL members exercise their rights to direct the organization at the next General Membership Meeting Sunday, July 29, 2018, in Atlanta between 10:00am and 12:00pm during (conducted as a part of) the ACBL Board of Governors Meeting. Check your Daily Bulletin at the Atlanta NABC for the exact location of the BOG meeting.
Each year the ACBL is required by New York law to hold an Annual Meeting (called "General Membership Meeting" per ACBL By-Law 4.1. For the past 10 years, the Annual Meeting has failed to attract a quorum per ACBL By-Law 4.3:
Each year, the lack of a quorum present acts to prevent the conducting of any business at the meeting, other than a motion to adjourn.ACBL By-Law 4.4 tells us who can vote at the "General Membership Meeting" (Annual Meeting).
Bylaw 4.5 addresses voting:
Although Bylaw 10.3 purports to limit the power of members to make bylaw changes, it is unclear this limitation was ever approved by the members themselves, so under New York law the membership has unfettered right to adopt, modify, or repeal the bylaws.
Bottom line, if we can get a quorum present July 29 in Atlanta Georgia at the "General Membership Meeting" (Annual Meeting) (scheduled to be held within the Board of Governors Meeting), then any ACBL member may propose a motion -- which, if passed by the members present and voting, will compel the ACBL Board of Directors at least to comply (except any bylaw change may require Board of Directors’ implementation). Note that, per New York law, 250 votes will be needed for the membership to approve any motion, so substantially more than 250 members will likely have to attend unless all votes are nearly unanimous.
REQUEST FOR INPUT: I solicit comments from BW that propose:
Benefits include:
Plus... it's free!