RationalWiki:RationalWiki Foundation/By laws/2016 Amendment 1

The following is an amendment proposed to and ratified by the RationalWiki Foundation Board of Directors at the Q3 2016 meeting. The change is shown here for community feedback. While there is to be no community vote on the change, as bylaws changes are decided by the board, community feedback is welcomed and calls to repeal or revise the amendment will be considered by the board at the Q4 meeting. This amendment was proposed to address confusion and continuity problems that the current election cycles present.

Please discuss concerns and feedback to this amendment on the talk page to this amendment.

Amendment Proposal Text
Whereas the current board election process is believed to cause institutional difficulties with continuity, as electing all board trustees simultaneously causes large amounts of institutional turnover: It is hereby proposed that the period of board trustee terms be [1] increased to two years and [2] staggered such that 3 elections occur in even-numbered years and 2 elections occur in odd-numbered years.

Current text of section 4.3(D)
(D) Community-selected Trustees. Within 3 months of the establishment the foundation the community will select three (3) additional Trustees to serve for a one year term. Community-selected Trustees will be approved through community voting. Beginning at the end of these Trustees' terms, all five (5) Trustee positions will be vacated and new elections will be held by the community to fill these spots. Trustees can run for election multiple years. The Board of Trustees shall determine the dates, rules and regulation of the voting procedures, which, beginning in 2011, shall take place yearly. The Board shall determine who is qualified to vote for community-selected Trustees. The Board will approve candidates who receive the most votes, supra. and other provisions of these Bylaws. In the event that a candidate is selected who does not meet the requirements, or of applicable state or federal law, the Board will (i) not approve the selected candidate, (ii) declare a vacancy on the Board, and (iii) appoint the candidate receiving the next most votes to fill the resulting vacancy, subject to this section and to Section 6 below.

Revised text
(D) Community-selected Trustees. Within 3 months of the establishment the foundation the community will select three (3) additional Trustees to serve for a one year term. Community-selected Trustees will be approved through community voting. Beginning at the end of these Trustees' terms, all five (5) Trustee positions will be vacated and new elections will be held by the community to fill these spots. Trustees can run for election multiple years. The Board of Trustees shall determine the dates, rules and regulation of the voting procedures, which, beginning in 2011, shall take place yearly. '''Beginning in 2016, the Board of Trustees shall divide its members into two groups such that one group’s term will expire in 2017 and the other’s will expire in 2018. From 2017 onward, all elected trustees will serve 2 year terms.''' The Board shall determine who is qualified to vote for community-selected Trustees. The Board will approve candidates who receive the most votes, supra. and other provisions of these Bylaws. In the event that a candidate is selected who does not meet the requirements of the board, or of applicable state or federal law, the Board will (i) not approve the selected candidate, (ii) declare a vacancy on the Board, and (iii) appoint the candidate receiving the next most votes to fill the resulting vacancy, subject to this section and to Section 6 below. Vacant positions that have been filled shall keep their prior term, such that the staggering of the board will remain unaltered.