Next week we turn the calendar page to November. Our MAFW Biennial meeting is November 2. In addition to our election, we will be voting on Bylaws changes to streamline the governance of the club.
Please register for the meeting using EventBrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mafw-biennial-meeting-and-election-tickets-432107223337
What Changes are Proposed for the MAFW ByLaws and Why?
- Allow voting to take place using any mechanism approved by the State of New Jersey for Organizations. Currently our bylaws REQUIRE in person voting at the biennial meeting. The Board would like the flexibility to use electronic or other secure means of voting for MAFW elections, changes to bylaws, and any other issue that requires a vote of the general membership.
- Eliminate the requirement for a Ride Planning Committee and a Social Committee. The Ride Planning Committee is no longer needed. Historically, it selected the rides for the month, and then there was a search (yes, this used to be via pen and paper in parking lots after rides, and then later by an Excel spreadsheet emailed to all ride leaders) for ride leaders. Now, ride leaders can select and schedule rides via the website, so the Ride Planning Committee is no longer needed. The club continues to have social events, and there is a Social Coordinator, but we do not feel there is a requirement for a standing social committee.
- Reduce the size of the nominating committee from 5 to 3 persons. The nominating committee works to identify candidates for elected positions of the club. A 5 person committee has been a challenge, both in terms of finding 5 persons able to serve, and in terms of coordinating meetings between them. We feel that 3 persons (at least one from the Board and at least one from the general membership) is sufficient and can work more efficiently.
- Change the structure of the Board to reduce the number of elected positions. There are many functions that we all agree the club needs to have, but that don’t necessarily need to be elected positions. Being in an elected position requires that the individual attend all Board meetings. The current Board size (15) is large for the size and complexity of the organization.
Each member of the Current Board was asked whether they felt their position should be ELECTED or APPOINTED, and their opinion on the overall structure of the Board. After much discussion, the Board agreed that the following positions would move from being ELECTED (and involved in club governance) to APPOINTED (carrying out essential functions for the club, but no longer involved in club governance):
Social Coordinator, Marketing Coordinator, Bicycle Adventures Coordinator, Newsletter Editor, Web Content Manager.
This change allows flexibility, in that one person can do more than one role, something that the current bylaws do not allow. In order to keep an odd number of voting positions on the Board, the role of At Large Member has been created.
All members who are candidates for these positions are aware that, if this bylaws change is accepted, their role will be an APPOINTED ROLE, and not a governance role. If the bylaws change is not accepted, they will serve in an elected position.
As a reminder, here is the Candidate list:
Governance Positions:
| President | Joe Reo |
| Vice President | Paul Malinowski |
| Secretary | Jessica Simpson |
| Treasurer | Merritt Peterson |
| Ride Coordinator | Manny Coelho |
| Membership | Betsy Eastwood |
| Safety | Drew Thraen |
| IT | Jon Eiseman |
| Past President | Liz Jennison |
| At Large | Mark Jay |
|
Positions that will be Appointed | |
| Social | John Storey |
| Marketing | Tracy Brown |
| Newsletter | Pat Kipp |
| Adventures | Roy Fischman |
| Web Content | Pete Nevins |
