Report from the ad hoc Bylaws Committee Jim Sanders Members Meeting March 8, 2012 Washington, DC

Jim Sanders, Chair Hank Lobe, Affiliate Member Rep Steve Lohrenz Dennis Nixon Josie Quintrell, Associate Member Rep Nancy Rabalais Amy Castner, co-Chair Self-nominated Committee members

Review the bylaws for revisions and updates (e.g., typos, inconsistencies, etc.) Carefully consider a change to the way in which Trustees are elected to serve on the Board Committee Charge

Correction of identified typos and inconsistencies (in redline document in the Agenda Book) Removal of the Member Relations Committee and associated language throughout (in redline document in the Agenda Book) And … The Committee is (mostly) convinced a change to the current election model is necessary … Recommended Revisions

From Article VIII: Board of Trustees. Election and Terms of Elected Trustees. (p 7): “There shall be two Inside Trustee nominees for each Inside Trustee position on the ballot.” Current election model Directions: Vote for ONE person in each SET of boxes with an "X". Janice SmithNY Maggy JohnsonMS Kathleen McMorrowWA William StanhopeOR

Pitting individuals against each other when the universe of eligible nominees (Voting Members) is small does little to support the kind of community Ocean Leadership strives to be. The matching of nominees can be extremely difficult for the Members Committee to Make Nominations. Often means a “new” nominee runs against an incumbent. Feedback from nominees who have not been elected has been constructive and not just “sour grapes.” Committee concerns: Two alternate models to consider:

An empowered and engaged Committee develops a single slate of (4) nominees for ratification by the Voting Members Proposed Concept 1: Empowered Members Committee to Make Nominations Directions: Vote to RATIFY the slate with an “X”. Janice SmithNY Maggy JohnsonMS Kathleen McMorrowWA William StanhopeOR

The Members Committee to Make Nominations nominates a pool of candidates from which the Voting Members elect the top (4) vote-getters Proposed Concept 2: A Pool (of 6 or 8) of Nominees to Choose From Directions: Vote for any FOUR people with an “X”. Franklin BurrowsLA Maggy JohnsonMS Kathleen McMorrowWA Peter NeumanTX James SearlingLA William StanhopeOR

Would the membership be concerned about a perceived conflict if an Officer (e.g., Chair, Vice Chair, etc.) shared a past affiliation with a member of the OL senior leadership? One more issue:

The Bylaws Committee wants and needs your feedback on these topics, especially the alternate election concepts. Thoughts?? Member Input and Feedback