Re: [AISdiscuss] Life Memberships

[PlankMail@aol.com]

Greetings:
     The issue of whether or not to continue to offer Life Memberships is one 
that cannot be handled in an off-hand or cavalier manner.   The AIS does have 
the power (Robert's Rules of Order) to interpret its bylaws (within reason). 
Regarding how Life Memberships are presented in the AIS Bylaws, to discontinue 
them would require a Bylaws change by the Board.   The Board can change the 
cost (fee, dues) without interfering with the Bylaws, but the Board cannot make 
non-honorary Lifes unavailable without a Bylaws change.   
     Regardless of how the AIS choses to handle Life Memberships in the 
future, near or distant -- this is not an issue to decide through electronic 
discussion -- for one, because there is an AIS bylaws issue; but importantly for 
another, because it is a highly charged subject for many. 
     Offering Life Membership is one of several issues (of potentially 
institution altering ability) that should be approached in face to face meetings.   
We of the Board need to allocate time when we meet   to approach these topics 
and produce (if at all possible) some real action that progresses beyond 
rhetoric.   We should not, however, consider any non-frivolous issue "closed 
forever" just because it is brought before a meeting, is disapproved, or considered 
to be inappropriate contemporarily. If we are a work in progress, then we 
should always be willing to review past actions guided by the philosophy that 
change is constant and evaluating its impact on our organization demands our 
attention if relevant survival is to be achieved.
     I certainly do not wish to have the Board constantly reinventing the 
wheel.   It is a maddening process of non-action. Because many, many things 
change rapidly, the leaders of AIS must remain open to reevaluating positions and 
"traditions" that may, in their old established form, impact the viability of 
the organization. 
     The Life Membership issue is one that will be discussed in a face to 
face meeting (perhaps in Portland where there will be many, many other voices) -- 
not based on a hidden agenda to do away with offering new "Lifes" for sale -- 
but based on the philosophy that this is an important issue that, over time, 
has an effect on the vitality of the organization and as such should never be 
"taken for granted." 
     Now, on to other things ... such as how to revitalize our declining 
membership and revenues from all sources.   These are truly issues that impact the 
vitality of this organization. Their seriousness cannot be stressed too 
strongly and old methods of "increasing membership" will have to be seriously 
augmented by new and realistic approaches both in the area of analyzing the 
problems and implementing practical, workable solutions.
     
          Cheers!
               Jeanne  

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