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April 19, 2007 Subj: BOT Meeting Agenda Refer to: Central Region Letter 01-07 ********* Dear Central Region Alumni:
As I pointed out in my other Newsletters, my duty to communicate with you is made clear by the Alumni Association Bylaws/Operating Manual: “…being a Trustee of the Association involves serious responsibility...Of utmost importance is the responsibility to communicate effectively in explaining to our individual constituencies about issues, initiatives and activities of the Association.”
The reason I have not reported to you since December is that very little has come from Alumni House to the Board of Trustees (BOT). We had one conference call where budget revisions were discussed and approved by unanimous vote to the Ogle Hall rehabilitation project.
The Agenda and Read Ahead has just come out for the April 26-27 BOT meeting in Annapolis. It is a routine administrative agenda, listing Committee meetings and reports, and legally-required routine votes.
I would like your input on one item being proposed for a VOTE by the Trustees on a Governance Committee recommendation. I am surprised that a VOTE is being proposed so quickly, because the BOT agreed several years ago that all Bylaw and Op Manual revisions would occur in two distinct steps: 1. The BOT would first be given an “Issue Paper” containing the Issue, Background, and Recommendation; and, 2. If approved, the actual wording would be drafted, and the BOT would then vote on the proposed change at the next meeting (or some later date electronically). In the case of this revision, both steps are being proposed simultaneously by the Governance Committee.
The proposed Op Manual change that I’m asking your input on was drafted in response to the former Mid-Atlantic Region Trustee, RADM Jack Adams, USN (Ret.), complaint that the Region Trustees were thwarted in their attempt to communicate to Region constituents on the fact there was a write-in candidate for Chair in the last election. You may recall that the Vice-Chairman blocked all such use of the Alumni House email system by the Region Trustees. The Op Manual change being proposed by the Governance Committee is set forth below verbatim and in its entirety.
Proposed Addendum to BOT Operating Manual:
“J. Communications
Communications System
The USNA Alumni Association Communications System has the capability to send email to all Alumni with good email addresses.
Board Trustees have the responsibility to support the Alumni Association and its Board and those responsibilities extend to the email communications. Trustees are expected to use sound judgment and professionalism at all times, including when using email capabilities to their respective groups. Trustees, Class Presidents, and Chapter Presidents are authorized to use the system to communicate with Alumni subject to the following:
§ the message supports the Alumni Association mission § the message supports the business of the Board of Trustees § the message is aligned with and supports Board of Trustees decisions”
Your input on this important change would be most appreciated. You can communicate directly to me by email at wcginc@aol.com or by cell phone: 630-816-7612. I am departing for the BOT meeting on 25 April—please respond prior to then.
My report on the BOT meeting will be given to you during the week following the meeting, because I have to stay out East for a few extra days. My apologies in advance for the short delay.
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**************************************** (Cell) 630-816-7612 |
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*** Central Region: |