The Bylaws Committee and the Board of Directors have spent an enormous amount of time working on the new bylaws. The old bylaws were out of compliance with New York laws (where STC is incorporated) and are overly complicated from years of additions.

The current and previous bylaws are available, along with a comparison/rationale document. These documents provide historical background and the reasons why specific changes were made.

On Sunday, May 13, at 3:00 pm, there will be a Bylaws Forum at the Technical Communication Summit. This is your opportunity to hear about the bylaws, ask questions, and provide input. In addition, you can send email to Mary Wise, Bylaws Committee Chair for 2007-2008, by June 15 with any feedback. (Her email address is available through the above link.) (Note: if you want to provide anonymous feedback, send it to me and I'll pass it on.)

This is an unprecedented opportunity to take part in STC's governance process.

If you're going to be in Minneapolis, please consider stopping by, even for just the first half-hour. Listen to the conversation, participate if you want, and feel free to leave at any time. (There's no requirement that if you show up at the beginning, you must stay until the end.)

The Board of Directors (current and future) must follow the bylaws when making decisions and voting. The bylaws will be best if they include feedback from members who question why something was changed or who ask for something different to be included. All changes have to be approved by STC's legal counsel, but unsubmitted changes cannot be considered. ;-)

STC will run a special election to approve the new bylaws later this year.

Thank you.