ASP Bylaws change

Tags: Educator

Our SMDEPO forum occasionally coordinates with the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, such as hosting retreats along with ASP conferences.   If you are also a member of the ASP, this might interest you.

The ASP has asked members to vote on potential Bylaws changes for the organization.  There are some significant and important changes being proposed:

1. The concept of membership involvement in the organization is going away.  Members no longer have any rights or ability to effectively nominate for the Board, recall the Board, make changes to the Bylaws, or ask to have a meeting called.   Although a dues-paying person may make 1 “nomination” of a person for the Board, that “nomination” is viewed as a suggestion only. There is no requirement that the suggestion be taken.
2. The Board of Directors will elect itself and has complete control of the organization.
3. Bylaws changes can be made only by the Board, at any meeting and without notice (e.g. no requirement of posting those changes or having members vote on them).  I have been in organizations where this power has been abused.

The intent is well-meaning: to find a way to get people onto the ASP Board who might otherwise not be well-known enough to be electable (e.g. a philanthropist or financier).   However, this goal could be easily met by having some members of the Board elected and some appointed.  This could be implemented with a small change to the bylaws, without losing influence by members.

The proposed changes, even with the best of intentions, leave the organization at risk – without effective member influence and, most importantly, without checks-and-balances.  The current board is very good, but in the future should there be a Board takeover, a bully, or a few Board members who decide to drive the organization in a new or different direction because of ulterior (or commercial?) motives – there is no way to deal with this. Members cannot get someone onto the board, get someone off the board, nor make any Bylaws changes to protect the organization.

This loss of checks-and-balances could be critical to the future of the organization.  Please think carefully when you vote on the Bylaws change proposal.

Thanks.