Amendment 1: Affiliate Members
This amendment is in seven parts, which together form a complete proposal. A single vote should be taken on all parts together.
Under the current bylaws, a Judge Foundry member must be a judge Level One through Five or have completed advancement into an Operations role. This bylaw amendment would create a new class of member, called an affiliate member. The intent is to create a class of membership that isn’t certified; this would be the default class if a member simply signs up and begins paying member dues. Only members who are certified should be able to participate in the governance of Judge Foundry, so affiliate members have no membership rights except attending meetings of the members and meetings of the board. (Affiliate members could still receive benefits if the board chooses—for example, access to members-only content.) Allowing someone working toward Level One access to JF’s educational resources and possible mentors will help them become a future member. This amendment would also codify the fact that we have had several “members” during JF’s first year who have not yet advanced to Level One.
Board of directors
Amend bylaws § 3.1, Classes of members, by substituting:
3.1 Classes of members. There are seven classes of members:
a) level 1
b) level 2
c) level 3
d) level 4
e) level 5
f) operations
g) affiliate
Except as stated otherwise in the bylaws, each operations, level 1, level 2, level 3, level 4, and level 5 member has one vote and has the same rights and obligations. An affiliate member has none of the rights of membership, except the right to attend meetings.
Current Wording | Proposed Amendment | If Adopted, Will Read |
3.1 Classes of members. There are six classes of members: a) level 1 b) level 2 c) level 3 d) level 4 e) level 5 f) operations Except as stated otherwise in the bylaws, each class of member has the same rights and obligations. Each member has one vote, regardless of the member’s class. | 3.1 Classes of members. There are six seven classes of members: a) level 1 b) level 2 c) level 3 d) level 4 e) level 5 f) operations g) affiliate Except as stated otherwise in the bylaws, each class of operations, level 1, level 2, level 3, level 4, and level 5 member has one vote and has the same rights and obligations. Each member has one vote, regardless of the member’s class. An affiliate member has none of the rights of membership, except the right to attend meetings. | 3.1 Classes of members. There are seven classes of members: a) level 1 b) level 2 c) level 3 d) level 4 e) level 5 f) operations g) affiliate Except as stated otherwise in the bylaws, each operations, level 1, level 2, level 3, level 4, and level 5 member has one vote and has the same rights and obligations. An affiliate member has none of the rights of membership, except the right to attend meetings. |
Amend bylaws § 3.2, Member eligibility and admission, by inserting “When admitted to membership, an individual becomes an affiliate member” and a period before “The board of directors may develop criteria and a procedure to admit or reinstate a member directly into any class of membership.”
Current Wording | Proposed Amendment | If Adopted, Will Read |
3.2 Member eligibility and admission. An individual will become a member of the organization if that individual a) is 16 years of age or older, b) is in the United States or Canada, c) completes the member admission procedure developed by the board of directors, and d) pays the first month of membership dues. The board of directors may develop criteria and a procedure to admit or reinstate a member directly into any class of member. A two-thirds vote is required to adopt, amend, or rescind the member admission criteria or procedure. | 3.2 Member eligibility and admission. An individual will become a member of the organization if that individual a) is 16 years of age or older, b) is in the United States or Canada, c) completes the member admission procedure developed by the board of directors, and d) pays the first month of membership dues. When admitted to membership, an individual becomes an affiliate member. The board of directors may develop criteria and a procedure to admit or reinstate a member directly into any class of member. A two-thirds vote is required to adopt, amend, or rescind the member admission criteria or procedure. | 3.2 Member eligibility and admission. An individual will become a member of the organization if that individual a) is 16 years of age or older, b) is in the United States or Canada, c) completes the member admission procedure developed by the board of directors, and d) pays the first month of membership dues. When admitted to membership, an individual becomes an affiliate member. The board of directors may develop criteria and a procedure to admit or reinstate a member directly into any class of member. A two-thirds vote is required to adopt, amend, or rescind the member admission criteria or procedure. |
Amend bylaws § 3.4.1 by inserting “who is not an affiliate member” after “each member”.
Current Wording | Proposed Amendment | If Adopted, Will Read |
3.4.1 Each member must complete an annual membership renewal procedure on or before March 31. | 3.4.1 Each member who is not an affiliate member must complete an annual membership renewal procedure on or before March 31. | 3.4.1 Each member who is not an affiliate member must complete an annual membership renewal procedure on or before March 31. |
Amend bylaws § 3.4.5 by striking out “dropped from membership” and inserting “automatically demoted to affiliate member”.
Current Wording | Proposed Amendment | If Adopted, Will Read |
3.4.5 A level 1 or operations member who does not complete the renewal procedure will be dropped from membership on May 1. | 3.4.5 A level 1 or operations member who does not complete the renewal procedure will be dropped from membership automatically demoted to affiliate member on May 1. | 3.4.5 A level 1 or operations member who does not complete the renewal procedure will be automatically demoted to affiliate member on May 1. |
Amend bylaws § 3.4.6 by substituting:
3.4.6 Notice will be sent no later than April 5 to each member who has not completed the membership renewal procedure, is not exempt from the membership renewal procedure, and is not an affiliate member. The notice will include the following:
a) the membership class the member will be demoted to
b) the date the demotion will occur
c) how the member can request an exemption
Current Wording | Proposed Amendment | If Adopted, Will Read |
3.4.6 Notice will be sent to each member who is not exempt from the membership renewal procedure no later than April 5. The notice will include the following: a) the action to be taken—demotion or membership cancellation, as appropriate for the individual member b) the date the action will be taken c) how the member can request an exemption | 3.4.6 Notice will be sent no later than April 5 to each member who has not completed the membership renewal procedure, is not exempt from the membership renewal procedure, and is not an affiliate member no later than April 5. The notice will include the following: a) the action to be taken—demotion or membership cancellation, as appropriate for the individual member the membership class the member will be demoted to b) the date the action will be taken demotion will occur c) how the member can request an exemption | 3.4.6 Notice will be sent no later than April 5 to each member who has not completed the membership renewal procedure, is not exempt from the membership renewal procedure, and is not an affiliate member. The notice will include the following: a) the membership class the member will be demoted to b) the date the demotion will occur c) how the member can request an exemption |
Amend bylaws § 8.1, Bylaws committee, by striking out “Members of the bylaws committee must be members of the organization” and inserting “A member of the bylaws committee must be a member of the organization and may not be an affiliate member.”
Current Wording | Proposed Amendment | If Adopted, Will Read |
8.1 Bylaws committee. A bylaws committee of five members will be appointed by the board of directors promptly after the annual meeting. Members of the bylaws committee must be members of the organization. No more than one member of the committee may be a director. The duties of the bylaws committee are the following: [List of committee’s duties] | 8.1 Bylaws committee. A bylaws committee of five members will be appointed by the board of directors promptly after the annual meeting. Members A member of the bylaws committee must be members a member of the organization and may not be an affiliate member. No more than one member of the committee may be a director. The duties of the bylaws committee are the following: [List of committee’s duties] | 8.1 Bylaws committee. A bylaws committee of five members will be appointed by the board of directors promptly after the annual meeting. A member of the bylaws committee must be a member of the organization and may not be an affiliate member. No more than one member of the committee may be a director. The duties of the bylaws committee are the following: [List of committee’s duties] |
Amend bylaws § 13.1, Submitting proposed amendments, by adding “An affiliate member may not submit a proposal to amend the bylaws.”
Current Wording | Proposed Amendment | If Adopted, Will Read |
13.1 Submitting proposed amendments. A proposal to amend the bylaws may be submitted by the bylaws committee, the board of directors, or ten or more members. If submitted by a group of members, at least one of the submitters must be a level 5 member, and there must be submitters from at least two classes of member in addition to level 5. | 13.1 Submitting proposed amendments. A proposal to amend the bylaws may be submitted by the bylaws committee, the board of directors, or ten or more members. If submitted by a group of members, at least one of the submitters must be a level 5 member, and there must be submitters from at least two classes of member in addition to level 5. An affiliate member may not submit a proposal to amend the bylaws. | 13.1 Submitting proposed amendments. A proposal to amend the bylaws may be submitted by the bylaws committee, the board of directors, or ten or more members. If submitted by a group of members, at least one of the submitters must be a level 5 member, and there must be submitters from at least two classes of member in addition to level 5. An affiliate member may not submit a proposal to amend the bylaws. |