... and you'll see that I long ago made a similar suggestion of how to resolve the problem. The (long!) message is at:

http://www.thechipboard.com/cgi-bin/tcb/archive8.pl?read=89311

Posted August 31st of last year. I still like this compromise and if Marv's amendment fails to pass, and if I am elected (lot of ifs! <g>), I will propose it after the new board takes office. ----- jim o\-S

Oh, heck, I might as well just copy and paste it:

>> Update of my position on club/chapter ...

Posted By: Jim Reilly CC>CC #R3606 NCN #040 <RunTam@PacBell.net> (ppp-207-214-149-213.snrf01.pacbell.net) Date: 8/31/0 06:27

.. membership issue:

One of the most difficult aspects of maintaining a democratic society is recognizing and protecting the interests of any minority group, opinion or position. It is all too easy (and tempting) to say, "well, the majority wants it, so that's the way it's going to be."

It is a hallmark of American society (and perhaps the thing that sets our country apart from all of the other great civilizations in history) that we consistently refuse to take the easy way out. Instead, we actively seek ways of reaching compromises which will, to the extent possible, accommodate the views of both the majority and the minority on issues of significance.

There is nothing wrong with this approach to governing. Nor is there anything wrong with being able to see the merits in both sides of a disagreement, or in attempting to incorporate into any solution the better parts of the competing opinions.

On the issue of club and chapter membership, we have a problem with respect to which it would be easy to take, as many members have, a hard and fast position on one side or the other.

I have read all of the posts on this and the ChipBoard on this subject. I do see merit in the arguments presented by proponents of both sides of the issue, but I have reached the conclusion that the by-laws should require that every member of any chapter also be a member of the parent club. Nevertheless, as I said in my earlier post on the subject, I prefer to see the club reach a compromise solution of the problem.

Jim Pierre made a suggestion here that has considerable merit and which, I think, provides the basis for a reasonable compromise which would satisfy the primary concerns of everyone on both sides of the issue. My proposal for resolving this problem takes Jim's basic idea and refines/expands it to address what I believe are all of those primary concerns.

PROPOSED COMPROMISE:

MEMBERSHIP:

The international club's by-laws (and/or constitution) should be amended to DEFINE membership as follows:

Life Member & Charter Member ---- as currently defined

Regular Member ---- anyone who joins the international club in the usual manner

Associate Member ---- anyone who joins international as an associate member in the usual manner

Regular Chapter Member ---- anyone who joins any chapter in accordance with the chapter's membership rules without otherwise joining international

Associate Chapter Member ---- anyone who becomes an associate member in accordance with the chapter's membership rules without otherwise becoming an associate of international

Regular Chapter and Associate Chapter members would be carried on the international club roster and would, like current associate members, be allowed to vote on any issue submitted to the membership. However, such members would not have any of the other privileges of international membership (i.e., no club magazine, and treated the same as non-members for all other purposes including attendance at the convention).

Thus, ANYONE who joins a chapter automatically becomes a member of international, either by paying international dues and becoming a regular member or by paying only chapter dues and becoming a "chapter" member. This would solve part of the problem (the issue of international membership, club unity, the "clout" of greater numbers in the international club, etc.).

DUES AND BENEFITS:

Which leaves the second part of the problem, the issue of membership fees and use of club money to support chapter activities. To resolve this part of the problem, the by-laws (and/or constitution) should be amended to provide as follows:

First, each chapter must pay to international a $5 membership fee for each regular chapter or associate chapter member who does not otherwise join international.

Second, any special requests by a chapter for international funding are allocated or apportioned based only on the chapter's international membership list, not including any chapter members who are not members of international.

Notice that this $5 membership fee would be paid by the chapter, not the individual. It would then be up to each chapter to decide how hard they want to press their non-international members to join the big club. It would also be up to each chapter to decide whether or not to charge the extra $5 as part of the chapter dues.

CODE OF ETHICS:

Finally, to address the third major issue, the by-laws (and/or constitution) should be amended to provide:

All "chapter members" and "associate chapter members" are required to abide by the club's Code of Ethics and the Chapters would have to agree to abide by and
enforce any determination by the Club Board affecting the membership status of any individual.

Thus, if a "chapter member" or "associate chapter member" is expelled or otherwise disciplined by international, the chapter would be bound by the club's determination in that regard, would have no authority to conduct any other review of the matter giving rise to the discipline and would be required to enforce the club's decision on that matter.

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I will, before logging off tonight, prepare this proposal for submission to the club's board and will submit it. ----- jim o\-S