SUMMARY
The following provides an overview of the major updates that are proposed for member consideration. The full amendments have been approved by both NCIL’s HR Committee and the Governing Board. A copy of the full amended Bylaws is provided separately.
- Overall – A number of sections in the bylaws were rearranged to make them easier to read.
- Article II Section 1 Purpose – Clarifies that NCIL works to advance the disability-led IL Movement, to expand the capacity of the Independent Living Programs (Centers for Independent Living and Statewide Independent Living Councils) so that they can enhance the human and civil rights of all people with disabilities.
- Article II Section 2 – Statement added to identify NCIL as a tax exempt organization.
- Article III Section 2 Applications and Annual Dues – (1) Streamlines review process for membership applications so they can be approved more quickly; includes streamlined appeals process when a membership application is denied. (2) Moves details about membership privileges to Standard Operating Procedures.
- Article III Section 3 Types of Memberships – (1) Changed “consumer-control” to “disability-led” and added statement about CILs and SILCs being disability-led organizations. (2) Moved details about application materials to separate office procedures document. (3) Updated statements about Individual Members and Other Organization members to indicate they should be aligned with NCIL’s goals and principles. (4) Changed Organization Members to Other Organization Members to eliminate confusion about CIL and SILC organizations.
- Article IV Section 1 Annual Meetings – clarifies that voting is conducted virtually prior to the annual meeting and that resolutions are submitted to the Governing Board for consideration (see Sections 4 and 5 on resolutions).
- Article IV Section 4 Powers and Section 5 Resolutions – Provides opportunity for membership to give input and submit comments before proposed resolutions are reviewed by the Governing Board where final approval takes place.
- Article V Section 6 Election Procedures – specifies that the Operational Excellence Committee prepares slate of prospective Board members for annual elections.
- Article VI Officers – Outlines scope of work of officers (NOTE: full job descriptions are available separately). Gives authority for the appointment of a Board member to assist the Vice President; a Board member or staff member to assist the Secretary; and a qualified fiscal agent or staff member to assist the Treasurer.
- Article VII Section 1 Standing Committees – specifies new line up of committees, including name changes: (1) Legislative & Advocacy is now Advocacy & Public Policy, (2) HR Committee is now Operational Excellence, and (3) Diversity is now Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (DEAI). Includes three new Committees (1) CIL Capacity Building, (2) Membership Recruitment & Retention, and (3) NCIL Programs & Projects.
- Article VII Sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8 – These sections give an overview of scope of work of Committees. They do not change the purpose of the Executive, Finance, Advocacy & Public Policy, Operational Excellence, DEAI, and Regional Representatives Committees, but give more specifics to clarify roles and limitations. Sections 7, 9, and 10 provide scope of work for the three new Committees that will be established: CIL Capacity Building, Membership Recruitment & Retention, NCIL Programs & Projects. (Full job descriptions for Committees are provided separately.)
- Article VII Section 11 Subcommittees and Task Forces – provides for recommendations for the creation of subcommittees and task forces to be submitted to the President by the Standing Committees that will oversee them.
- Article XII Conflict of Interest – Shortened to a brief paragraph to avoid duplication of separate Conflict of Interest policy.
- Article XIII Whistleblower – specifies that procedures reporting & investigating are detailed in the Governing Board Policy Manual.