Moving Forward In 2007 --

Happy New Year To All:

On this day, January 1, 2007, may it mark a real new beginning in the lives of our regional members and friends. As most of you can see, this forum discussion page on our website is not being used to a high degree at all, to communicate our desires or ideals, as it relates to our membership within AIP.

Hopefully, in this new year, more of our members and visitors will post additonal messages and topics to be discussed and researched, within this existing forum format. If an alternate format is preferred, then please make that alternate format known.

What would be a laudable (worthy) goal, for us, in this New Year 2007? More members? More educational opportunities? More membership benefits? What?

AIP membership is now available, at half price, half price~~~~~

All members of AIP, should obtain a current copy of our organization's new brochure. Under the subheader (DUES PAYMENT), it states that our membership year is June through May~~~~~

NOTE:

The rate for regular members (After November 30), is $27.50, half-price.

The rate for full-time students (After Nobember 30), is 22.50, half price.


Now is an opportune time, for all AIP members to enlist non-members to signup, and enjoy the benefits of AIP membership~~~~~ Certainly, there are more benefits for the novice parliamentary members. AIP really needs to begin to address the needs of our non-novice regular members, more~~~~

Dues payments, for our long standing AIP members, 30 years or longer, should be amended to no further payments required. This proposal would require an amendment to our national bylaws or existing policies.

Edited by author 11-25-2006 11:51 AM
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions --

Are we keeping up with the buzz, in Region V ??? One such resolution, that has or will be presented to our National AIP Board of Directors is a recommendation to combine AIP with the National Association of Parliamentarians.

Should the AIP Board support the adoption of this resolution ??? At our 2006 Annual Session, this resolution was not presented to our membership attendee's. Why was AIP established in the first place ???

Does anybody really know ???

AIP Region V needs more charter chapters. AIP, in general, needs more members. I am one, who is on the verge of, and will continue to establish more charter chapters in my locale, as well as, throughout our entire southeastern region, including Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands.

Edited by author 11-01-2006 02:43 PM
I liked Arthur's message of 10/30/06 regarding member involvement in organizations. Of the many non-profit organizations that I have been involved in over the years, member participation has always been an issue. However, some of the organizations have addressed this issue by assigning members to serve on committees. Bylaws may need to be amended to provide for the necessary committees to get jobs done so that the organization will function properly.

When a member joins an organization he or she can be assigned to a committee immediately. This provides a sense of belonging and ownership in the organization.

In organizations that provide for certification such as AIP, maintaining certification typically requires both service and continuing education points. Service can be in many forms: committee participation, officer role, presentation/speaking engagement.

I have seen bylaws address the issue of officers' attendance or lack thereof by stipulating for example, if an officer misses 3 consecutive meetings then this is considered a resignation unless there is extenuating circumstances approved by the board, such as illness. I don't think the bylaws should REQUIRE members to attend meetings. This could present several problems. Members can choose to be active or inactive, BUT their membership ties them to the actions of the organization. So if they choose to be absent they are still bound to the terms and conditions set by the organization as a whole, and that includes the payment of dues.

The way I look at it my membership in an organization is an investment. I may be more active in some than others. Either way I still want to have some form of communication from those organizations, and be able to communicate with them if I choose. At the local level members should attend meetings regularly. If an opportunity arises for members to attend regional or national meetings then by all means attend!!!

I'm glad that our Region 5 now has several standing committees on which members can serve. And more opportunities for member involvement are on the horizon!!!

Edited by author 10-30-2006 08:20 AM
HOW TO BE A BETTER MEMBER --


I believe, better members are those who demonstrate 85% commitment, dedication and responsibility to their organizational memberships. As parliamentarians, we need to advocate the need to incorporate more member related descriptions and definitions in organizational bylaws. We need to ask ourselves, how can we be better members?

I think we should begin to better define the roles of our members. Just paying membership fees, is not enough. Some bylaws delecately address the topic of missing three (3) consecutive meetings, and one loses their membership rights or status. Other bylaws require that members commit at least three (3) hours per week, to their organizations.

Should AIP have similar stipulations for members? Volunteer hours and time, within AIP, is at an all time low, isn't it? Who's expending the most of their energies and time, to AIP? Officer's only? Certified members, only? You tell me?

Unlike elected officers, members don't have a clue as to what their roles should be, because it's not definitively spelled out, anywhere. I say the time has come, for us to officially begin categorically spelling out member roles, in our organizations. Whether it's in our respective bylaws, organizational policies, standard operating procedures and/or standing rules. Roles definitely need to be spelled out, somewhere, don't you agree?

I recommend that we consider the following specific areas: access to networking opportunities, attending our AIP annual meetings, career and professional development, continuing education, contributing articles and papers in our AIP conferences, publications, and websites, participating in local chapter activities, participating in AIP regional conferences, paying annual dues, and so on~~~~

Might these and other examples, be the key to improving member volunteer participation and understanding, of their specific roles?

Edited by author 09-29-2006 03:40 PM
Become an active/supportive member of AIP. AIP membership is not just limited to individuals in non-profit organizations or individuals interested in participating on the regional level only. Corporate businesses, government agencies, health organizational representatives, institutions of higher learning, legal professionals, and church leaders, alike, are all encouraged to join, AIP.


http://parliamentary.meetup.com/25/


This AIP Region 5 Meetup Group, is interested in helping to form local AIP charter chapters all over the southeastern United States. If you 'or' if you know of anyone interested, let us know.


Parlimentary procedure takes many different forms and has many different specific rules. Advisors and consultants must be aware of the basics of the parliamentary practice. Such knowledge can enhance credibility, resulting in better meetings, and the difference between legal actions taken versus illegal ones validated.

Edited by author 07-13-2006 11:16 AM
Any updates forthcoming soon, on our 2007 Regional Conference, planned for Charleston, S.C. ??? I am very interested in learning more about how the 2007 Regional Conference Planning Committee is using previous Regional Conference lesson's learned, and incorporating new ideas, to effectively plan for our upcoming 2007 Conference. I certainly hope, membership recruitment and retention, as well as, new chapter formations, will be a very high priority focus, for our 2007 Regional Conference, in addition to, encouraging more of our Region 5 AIP members, to highly plan on attending and registering for the 2008 National Annual Session, to be held in Region 5, which is awaiting a final AIP National Board decision, with Huntsville, Alabama, as the leading candidate location.

Edited by author 06-30-2006 11:00 AM
Elated at your website. It is the best regional site in the world. Both highly functional and visually attractive. I used it as exemplary cyberspace to visit in my Member Services Committee report for the annual AIP Meeting.
TRD

The need for the understanding of fair and orderly methods of deliberation in South Florida borders on despiration. The massive influx of immigrants,the failure of some of our school systems, the growing number of home owner and condominium associations are fertile grounds for parliamentary training. I sincerely welcome your message board. I know that I'll be in need of your advice.

This forum will be an excellent venue for discussing both parliamentary topics and upcoming AIP events. In particular, the regional conference scheduled for 2007. The conference agenda that will include an educational program will be of special interest plus getting to know fellow parliamentarians.

Welcome to the AIP Region 5 Discussion Forum. In this Forum, we will try to answer your questions about the American Institute of Parliamentarians or Parliamentary Procedure. Thank you for your interest.