A series of discussions about the expansion of the DISC Board of Directors have taken place during the first two DISC Town Hall Meetings.  Based on the membership feedback and the guidance of our Episcopal Moderator, Bishop Ronald Herzog the Board of Directors has voted unanimously to accept the following three (3) amendments to the DISC Bylaws (http://disc-community.org/?p=818).  Now the bylaws amendments are being presented to the DISC Membership for a vote. 

Voting Members

A Voting Member of DISC is defined in Article II, Membership – Section 2: Dues as ”each active member (arch)diocese of DISC shall pay annual membership dues during the first quarter of each calendar year” and Section 4: Voting… “Each (arch)diocese appoints a diocesan delegate as the voting member.”

If your (arch)diocese has not yet paid your DISC dues, please visit the DISC website to complete/renew your membership.  Votes cast by non-dues paying (arch)dioceses will be considered null and void.

Voting Period

In an effort to provide an opportunity for every voting member to cast their votes on the amendments, the DISC Board of Directors will be using online voting.  Members will be able to cast their votes starting June 14th and will close on June 20th at 4 PM (EDST).  The results of the voting will be provided to the membership on or about June 22nd.

Members will have an opportunity to direct questions to the DISC Board of Directors during the 3rd Town Hall Meeting which will take place on Wednesday, June 13 at 3:00 PM (EDST). 

This notice is being sent to active DISC members, the DISC Vertical Response mailing list and is being posted on the following digital sites: www.disc-community.org, DISC quickR, FaceBook and Twitter to comply with the 30 day notice requirement as set forth in the DISC Bylaws Article VIII Amendments.   

The DISC Board of Directors thank you for your attention to this matter and look forward to a continued great year.

Bill Glover – President of DISC 

Proposed Bylaws Amendments

Bylaws Amendment 1

Article and Title: Article III, Board of Directors, Section 1: Number and Qualifications

Currently Reads As: “The business affairs of DISC shall be managed by a Board of Directors consisting of six (6) members who are elected from the membership of DISC. The Board will elect three (3) of its members to serve as the Executive Officers of DISC.”

Proposed Amendment: “The business affairs of DISC shall be managed by a Board of Directors consisting of nine (9) members who are elected from the membership of DISC. The Board will elect four (4) of its members to serve as the Executive Officers of DISC.”

Rationale: To increase the number of Board of Directors to assist with the operational, tactical and strategic activities of the DISC organization and allow for improved Board continuity. 

Bylaws Amendment 2

Article and Title: Article III, Board of Directors, Section 3: Election and Term of Office

Currently Reads As: “All directors shall be elected by the vote of the members at DISC’s Annual Convention. The term of office of the six (6) directors of DISC shall be three (3) years, with only two (2) consecutive terms on the Board. A person may be re-elected after serving two (2) consecutive terms after a waiting period of three (3) years. The term begins with the announcement of the election results at the Annual Convention.”

Proposed Amendment: “All directors shall be elected by the vote of the members at DISC’s Annual Convention. The term of office of the nine (9) directors of DISC shall be three (3) years, with only two (2) consecutive terms on the Board. A person may be re-elected after serving two (2) consecutive terms after a waiting period of three (3) years. The term begins with the announcement of the election results at the Annual Convention. The only exception to this is the 2012 Election which recognizes the expansion of the Board to nine (9) members with three (3) members elected to three (3) year terms, (1) member elected to a two (2) year term, and one (1) member elected to a one (1) year term. A term is defined as the elected term to the board regardless of the length of that term.”

Rationale: An effort to stagger the terms of the additional board members so that no more than three (3) members will normally be leaving the board during any election.    

Bylaws Amendment 3

Article and Title: Article IV, Executive Officers, Section 5: Secretary-Treasurer.

Currently Reads As: “The Secretary-Treasurer shall:

• Take responsibility to see that the minutes of each meeting are taken, transcribed and kept in appropriate books and that the records of DISC are properly maintained;
• Coordinate the fiscal activities of DISC and be responsible for directing the fund-raising and budgetary matters of DISC;
• Have authorization as an officer to sign checks or drafts on behalf of DISC;
• Provide for an annual review, conducted by an audit committee of the Board, for presentation to the Board of Directors and the membership.”

Proposed Amendment: “The role of Secretary-Treasurer is separated as two (2) separate and distinct Executive positions (See Bylaws Amendment 1) with the following responsibilities:

The Treasurer shall:

• Coordinate the fiscal activities of DISC and be responsible for directing the fund-raising and budgetary matters of DISC;
• Have authorization as an officer to sign checks or drafts on behalf of DISC as approved by the Board;
• Provide for an annual review, conducted by an audit committee of the Board, for presentation to the Board of Directors and the membership;
• Prepare an annual budget for review and approval by the Board for the fiscal year;
• See that funds from the approved budget for the DISC are made available to appropriate person for designation expenditures;
• Carry out such duties as are from time to time given him/her by the President.

The Secretary shall:

• Take responsibility to see that the minutes of each meeting are taken, transcribed, distributed to all Board members and maintained in appropriate file repository;
• Assure that the records of the DISC are properly maintained and that the records of DISC are properly maintained;
• Record, transcribe, distribute to the Members and maintain in appropriate files the minutes of the general meeting of the DISC Annual Conference;
• To facilitate the correspondence of the DISC organization and the Board of Directors;
• Take responsibility for the DISC organization membership records and organization information archive;
• Carry out such duties as are from time to time given him/her by the President.”

Rationale: The separation of the Secretary-Treasurer position will allow the Board of Directors to segment critical roles and responsibilities into two separate and distinct positions that require separate and distinct skill sets and focus.