Members:

The Board is considering an amendment to the Chapter 67 by-laws and would like your input. As you know, we currently change Chapter 67 leadership on a calendar year basis, with the new Board being "installed" at the Tri-Chapter luncheon in December and commencing its governance the following month. International (along with many of the chapters in this and other regions) changes its leadership on a fiscal year basis, with the new International President, Region Chairs, etc., all being installed after the Board of Directors meeting at the International Education Conference in June. Our leadership at International has requested that all chapters operating on a calendar year basis consider amending their by-laws to convert to the same fiscal year system.

There has been some discussion among the Region 1 chapters regarding the advantages and disadvantages of making the change. The advantages presented by those who have already made the change include the following:

• The new Chapter President will be sent to the International Education Conference in June in order to get a better idea of the "big picture" for the IRWA, and his/her future responsibilities as a Chapter President, before taking over their duties. They "immerse in the Whole before they are swallowed by the Part." (Whatever that means….)
• The Tri-Chapter holiday luncheon gets to be just that -- a holiday luncheon and celebration without having to do all of the installations and (interminable) speeches. The duration of the event would be reduced significantly.
• The changes to the by-laws would be no big deal -- there is already a template to do it.
• The new President and Board would have all summer to put together the Chairs and the rest of the Board with no general meetings to worry about.
• The people auditing the books would have more time to get together.
• The work with the banks seems to go much faster that time of year.
• The transition between administrations would be slow and easy.
• The fiscal year matches the year of duty for International officers.

The disadvantages discussed were limited to the following:

• Some feel that doing the installations at the holiday luncheon creates a "nice festive atmosphere" and actually improves attendance at the event. (I would be interested to know your thoughts on this: If you attend that event, does your attendance at the Tri-Chapter holiday luncheon depend upon witnessing the installations for our three local Chapters? If you do not usually attend the event, would you be more likely to do so if the installations and speeches were eliminated and the duration of the event shortened to a couple of hours?)
• The change will necessitate (a) having the current Board stay on for an additional six months, until June 2010; or (b) installing a new Board in December to serve either for six months, until another new Board is installed in June 2010, or for 18 months, until in June 2011.

Please let me know as soon as possible if you have any thoughts regarding the proposed change. To the extent that we may wish to make this change effective immediately, we would like to have this matter addressed and a decision made at the next Board meeting on October 13.

Thank you.

Michael L. D'Angelo
PALMIERI, TYLER, WIENER, WILHELM & WALDRON LLP
2603 Main Street - East Tower
Suite 1300
Irvine, California 92614
(949) 851-7323
mdangelo@ptwww.com

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