Proposal to Amend Standing Rules of the Independent Archivists Section Through Referendum at Annual Election, 2021

Proposal to Amend Standing Rules of the Independent Archivists Section Through Referendum at Annual Election, 2021

 When the standing rules for the Independent Archivists Section were created, there was confusion in setting up the initial Steering Committee positions and terms in such a way as to make sure all positions were covered and initial term lengths were staggered. Committee members were to serve terms and be rotated off in three-year cycles. The terms of initial members were of varied lengths to establish this rotation, but in the process, the position of Web Liaison was moved out of the rotation and given a two-year term.

To make the terms even and maintain the allotted number of committee members on the committee each year, a change to the rules was proposed giving the position of Web Liaison a three-year term, in rotation along with the other committee members. The Steering Committee sent the proposal to the executive director's designee, in this case Felicia Owens, and our Council liaison, to be sure it was in line with SAA’s governance documents, as required by the rules. They were approved after all parties conferred. The attached PDF is the result of the consultation. There will be a section referendum on the changes included with this year’s section ballot.

 
Summary, (in conjunction with the information above) of the proposed changes:

 Web Liaison:

• To even things up, the position of Web liaison will be moved from a two-year term to a three-year term.
• The Web liaison will still be elected by the membership, so the position will be shown as a separate role on the ballot. 

 At-Large Steering Committee Members and Rotations:

• There will be three rotating classes of elected steering committee members: Two each for staggered three-year terms. 

Class A: Web liaison and one at-large member

Class B: Two at-large members

Class C: Two at-large members

• The duties have not changed, although there has been some adjustment to the text to remove possible incongruencies created by the change.

 Questions may be sent to Jim Havron (jimhavron@comcast.net ) and cc both  Kate Blalack (Kate@woodyguthriecenter.org) and Ingi House (ingihouse@gmail.com), and we will answer them as quickly as possible.