PROPOSED NCCW BYLAW CHANGES

This information sheet was sent out to all NCCW Region 1 Arch/Diocesan Presidents, August, 2009 by Donna Sanders, NCCW Region 1 Vice President

 

 

INFORMATION REGARDING THE

PROPOSED NCCW BYLAW CHANGES

                                    (Proposed bylaws are on NCCW website)    

 

It is my sincere hope that all of you have received a copy of the proposed bylaws for NCCW and have had or will have some discussion with your board and your general membership regarding them, especially the women who will be attending the convention.  These bylaws will be voted on at the upcoming National Convention in Jacksonville, FL by the voting delegates in attendance. 

 

The NCCW Board of Directors at their January Board Meeting made the decision to engage a consulting firm to conduct an in-depth assessment of NCCW including our membership structure, governance structure and headquarters office and then come back to the board with recommendations.  This consulting group presented a comprehensive series of recommendations to the Board and they emphasized the need to act quickly to ensure that NCCW thrive and survive as an organization.  The NCCW Executive Committee and the whole Board of Directors spent many hours discussing these recommendations and concluded that NCCW must change in order to survive.  These proposed bylaws were written and are being presented as a first step towards rebuilding and moving NCCW in a new direction!

 

As you read through the proposed changes, you should note that the first two are really the crucial items that will help NCCW move forward. 

 

A BRIEF SUMMARY OF SOME OF THE MAJOR PROPOSED CHANGES FOR NCCW:

 

  •  
    1. The Board of Directors is legally responsible for the operation of NCCW.  These bylaws will return this authority to the Board of Directors, including the ability to change or amend the bylaws in a timely manner if changes are needed to ensure that NCCW operates efficiently.  The current bylaws can only be changed every two years by the general membership so at present the NCCW Board of Directors cannot make the necessary changes to improve the operations of the organization.

  

  •  
    1. The proposed bylaws move NCCW in a new direction by changing it to an individual membership organization.  This does not mean that we drop our parish and diocesan affiliates.  It only means that our members will all need to pay NCCW dues and they will have individual voting rights rather than be represented by the president of their affiliated group.  In fact, our council groups will have greater strength because all of its members would pay NCCW dues and each dues paying member would have a vote.

 

  •  
    1. Reduces the size of the Board of Directors to 5 officers and 14 voting Province Directors. The three Vice President positions will be eliminated and a President-elect position will be added.

 

  •  
    1. All Province Directors will attend the Board of Directors meetings but only the 14 Province Directors serving the second year of their 2 yr. term will be voting board members.  The Province Directors in the first year of their 2 yr. term will be observers at the board meeting with no vote.

 

  •  
    1. Reduce size of Nominating Committee to 5 members who will be appointed by Board rather than elected by general membership.

 

  •  
    1. There would be an annual meeting every year so there would be a short business meeting at this event.  This annual meeting will focus on member education and spiritual growth for the members attending.

 

  •  
    1. Elections will be held via mail or electronically and all voting members who are eligible to vote will be able to vote.  This election could be completed before the annual meeting.  Elections will no longer be held at the annual meeting so more time can be focused on member education and growth.

 

  •  
    1. Our current 6 Commissions will be changed to 3 Commissions that of:  Spirituality, Leadership and Service.

 

As a candidate for NCCW President, I see much hope and potential for the NCCW organization with the implementation of these bylaws but it is not going to be an easy ride.  With change there is always fear because it will take all of our members out of their comfort zone.  A speaker at a recent convention I attended made the following statement – “don’t let fear make your choices”.  NCCW most certainly will need to have the support, the cooperation, and hard work of all of its membership. 

 

NCCW, throughout its history, has been the united voice of Catholic women in the church in the country and met the challenges facing it during every period in its history.  I am confident that we can meet our challenges and move forward with a deep faith in God trusting that He will guide us in this new direction as He has done throughout our NCCW history.

 

If any of you have any questions, please contact me so that we can discuss them, not only to answer your questions but to help you be well informed.  I sincerely thank you for all of your work.  May God bless you abundantly!

 

 

Donna Sanders

NCCW Region 1 Vice President

Comments are closed.