- Why is AIChE revising its Constitution?
- Why should I vote for the proposed amendments?
- What do the Constitution and Bylaws really do for AIChE?
- Will the changes impact the benefits I receive as a member?
- Will my dues increase?
- Why wasn’t the Constitution amended sooner?
- What other amendments are being proposed?
- What are some of these items?
- How will these amendments be proposed to the membership?
- Are some amendments more critical than others?
- Why are the requirements for petition candidates being changed?
- Who proposed the amendments to the Constitution?
- What is the timeline for the election? What are the next steps?
- Will there be an opportunity for me to provide questions or comments?
Why is AIChE revising its Constitution?
Times have changed. AIChE’s Constitution was last revised in January 2003. To stay relevant and strong, we must grow our membership, stay nimble, and fulfill our mission. Your Board of Directors has proposed changes to the Constitution that will help us to do just that. These amendments will change guidelines for membership and update business practices. The proposed Constitutional changes are designed to keep AIChE at the forefront of the profession, while providing flexibility for our future.
Why should I vote for the proposed amendments?
Unfortunately, like most other membership organizations, AIChE has experienced a decline in voter participation. The current process for amending AIChE’s Constitution requires a 75 percent favorable vote from at least 20 percent of eligible members. However, recent elections for the Board and officers have drawn, on average, only 17 percent of eligible members, and this percentage has been decreasing by approximately 1 percent every 2-3 years. Given these trends, the Board is concerned about ever being able to amend AIChE’s Constitution in the future. AIChE’s sister societies (ASCE, ASME, ACS, ASEE, and AAES) have all amended their constitutions, and all now require an affirmative vote of two-thirds of ballots cast to amend their constitutions. If AIChE doesn’t modernize its requirement for amending its Constitution, we may be left with a document filled with outdated language and practices.
What do the Constitution and Bylaws really do for AIChE?
AIChE’s Constitution and Bylaws provide governing rules for the Institute. The Constitution provides a broad outline of the Institute, its purposes and activities. The Bylaws outline high-level operating principles. Currently, there is some overlap between AIChE’s Constitution and Bylaws, and the Board has identified items currently in the Constitution that should, in modern governance, instead be defined in the Bylaws.
Will the changes impact the benefits I receive as a member?
No. If anything, the changes will enable AIChE to operate more efficiently, enhancing the value of your membership.
Will my dues increase?
None of the proposed changes increase member dues, which the Board sets annually, and which have not increased in many years.
Why wasn’t the Constitution amended sooner?
Elections are costly and time consuming, so AIChE does not undertake Constitutional changes routinely or lightly. While some provisions have become dated in recent years, New York State (where AIChE is incorporated) recently, for the first time in 40 years, overhauled its requirements for non-profit organizations like ours. The Non-Profit Revitalization Act of 2013, which became effective on July 1, 2014, requires affected organizations to include a dissolution statement in their governance documents, and, to comply, the Board felt it best to add it to AIChE’s Constitution.
What other amendments are being proposed?
In addition to the provisions for future amendments to the Constitution, and to the New York State non-profit requirement, other revisions cover items or language that the Board has deemed obsolete or operational and more appropriately housed in the Bylaws.
What are some of these items?
They include removing outdated language related to applying for and being elected to membership; specifying that the Past President is an officer of the Board of Directors; and setting defined term limits for officers and directors. The Board also believes that membership descriptions and election processes should be moved to the Bylaws. Other amendments include specifying that the Chair of the Board cannot be an employee of AIChE (another New York State requirement). These are only some of the proposed revisions.
How will these amendments be proposed to the membership?
A ballot will be sent to all eligible members next fall. It will provide the option of casting a single vote to approve or decline all proposed amendments or to vote on each amendment separately.
Are some amendments more critical than others?
The Board believes the most critical amendment is the one that changes the voting percentage requirement for future amendments to the Constitution.
Why are the requirements for petition candidates being changed?
The Board believes that, in this age of mass emails and, particularly, of social media resources such as Linked In and Facebook, the ease of gathering 100 expressions of support represents both less significant volunteer commitment to service and less grassroots support than it did when potential candidates circulated hardcopy petitions. Therefore, given the current state of communication technologies, as well as advances that are likely to come, your Board believes a more reasonable standard would be expressions of support from two (2) percent of the voting members.
Who proposed the amendments to the Constitution?
The Board’s Constitution and Bylaws Committee thoroughly reviewed the Constitution and proposed the amendments, which the full Board then thoroughly examined and approved for a vote by the membership. The amendments were also discussed with AIChE’s Operating Councils and key committees for feedback.
What is the timeline for the election? What are the next steps?
A number of informational emails will be sent to members in the coming months. Ballots will be mailed to all eligible members on October 1, 2016, and the election will begin on October 12. Members will be able to vote online or by mail. The Board will also make a proxy voting station available at the Annual Meeting in San Francisco this November. The deadline for receipt of ballots will be December 12.
Will there be an opportunity for me to provide questions or comments?
Yes, please email your questions or comments to president@aiche.org or secy@aiche.org.
Our Request to You:
The Board strongly encourages you to cast your ballot. Remember, to be effective, the Constitution currently requires a 20 percent return for balloting to be effective, and at least 75 percent of those ballots to be in favor of the proposed amendments. Fellows, Senior Members, and 4 yr. Members (but not Student Members) are eligible. Please vote to help your Institute move forward. (And, remember, by doing so, you help us keep costs down and avoid another round of balloting.)