{UAH} REVISE THE CONSTITUTION

I think there is general consensus that UNAA's constitution is not working. In my view, it is much better to use the old constitution as basis for change (i.e amend/modernize the old constitution) rather than try to amend the current constitution. 

Under the current constitution, the BoT is the body with powers to appoint a Constitutional Review Commission but I doubt that the BoT currently can take on this task.  We have so much polarization.  Besides, there is not enough time to go over all the needed changes before we have the next elections in 2015.

Here are my proposals:

1. remove the Council.  There are too many Council positions (23?) If all positions were filled, Council meetings will be like seminars! If each members was five 5 mins to talk, the meetings will be too.

2. remove the BoT. The BoT's role can't work for  UNAA.  As we have seen, its powers are not clear and can conflict with directly elected Executives. 

3.  checks and balances can be achieved by making operations transparent to members.  Meetings should be open to interested members.  They can listen in to meetings but NOT have the ability to participate.  It is very to set up the conference call with just the Executive's numbers allowed to talk and the rest are set to mute.

4. all minutes (Executive meetings and Election Commission meetings) should be readily available to interested members. The only exception would be meetings regarding discipline (e.g if the EC investigates a candidate's complaint). 

5. the EC should not be allowed to charge candidates any fees. The EC abused this power to charge candidates exorbitant fees (e.g I paid $250 to run for president!).  These fees scared off many capable members. Half the positions were not filled and almost all Council positions were unopposed.

6. We should continue reserving voting to members that live in North America. One would have to show that they were in North America as of the end of the last convention.  

7. Anyone that paid for the convention would be a member. They would not have to pay a separate fee.  Those that have not paid for the convention should pay a separate membership fee of $10 regardless of whether they are new or renewing.

But voting would be restricted to only those members that live in North America.  

8. No un-elected leaders.  Eliminate all Director positions because they are not accountable to voters and easily abuse power (e.g Tim Gaburungyi had more power than Francis Senoga, he seems to even have more power than Brian).  If the Executive wants help from anyone, they can delegate duties to whoever they want but the Executive would remain ultimately responsible for the performance of that delegated work.  

9. make it easy to recall leaders that defy members' reasonable requests.  e.g if the Secretary refuses to provide minutes or financials, members should be free to recall that person. 

10. there should be no term limits. We have very few members willing to serve in leadership. Leaders should be free to serve as long as they are wanted by their constituents. 

11. The EC should be composed of members submitted by local chapters (Seattle, Northern CA, Southern CA, Boston/NY/NJ, Rocky Mtn, Chicago, MN, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, etc). Each chapter can send 1 person. 

12. membership fees should be for the current year (not for the next year as stated in the Constitution).

thanks

 

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