ACDA is undertaking a substantial review process of our constitution and bylaws. This page has been created to provide transparency and access to the review process so that membership can remain informed and engaged.
What’s Happening Now:
Round 2 items were reviewed by the National Board on June 7, 2022. Many items were remanded back to the taskforce for additional review. The National Board will review these changes at the July 19 meeting and will be discussing the Round 3 items.
Round 2 items will be available here by September 1 for open comments from members. The Bylaws taskforce will review all comments.
Round 3 & Round 4 recommendations should be finalized for the November National Board meeting. These items will then move to open comments period in December & January.
After all rounds are completed, an additional open comments period will be provided in the Spring 2022.
Bylaws revisions can only be approved by a vote of the membership. We would anticipate a vote in May 2023.
Why do the constitution and bylaws matter?
These documents tell us who we are, why we exist, and how to do our work as an organization. The constitution and bylaws are the governing documents of ACDA. The constitution establishes the purpose of the organization and contains the fundamental principles that guide the organization. The bylaws establish the specific rules by which the organization functions. You can view the current constitution and bylaws here.
Who decides if ACDA makes these revisions?
YOU! Ultimately, a vote of the membership will be held to adopt the constitution and bylaws revisions. The process will take some time. Along the way, there will be feedback cycles for leadership and even open comments periods for members before anything comes out for a vote. We anticipate a vote in May 2023.
What is the review process?
The review process will take place in multiple steps that will culminate in a complete review of the constitution and bylaws. The process is designed to ensure rigorous review and incorporate the opportunity for members to weigh in on the direction early in the review process.
The review process started with a request for recommendations and revisions from the national standing committees, national R & R committees, and region presidents to be submitted to the National Bylaws Task Force. The feedback that was received was so robust and thoughtful that a new review process needed to be designed to ensure that sufficient time could be dedicated to honor the input received and to be thorough in the reviews and recommendations.
Instead of just one review cycle, the task force divided up the articles of the constitution and bylaws into four separate rounds. Each round will go through the process outlined below:
- The task force reviews, recommends, and incorporates the feedback received.
- Then, the Executive Committee reviews the work of the task force and can make additional revisions.
- Then, the National Board of ACDA reviews all prior work, can make additional revisions, and ultimately determines when the work is ready for the open comments period.
- From that point, the sections are provided to membership in an open comments format to allow for review and feedback on the current progress. Notice for open comments will happen via social media and the weekly email updates.
- Then, the task force will review the feedback received during the open comments period and make additional revisions, if necessary, before passing the finalized sections to the Executive Committee for final review.
- Then, the National Board will review the final submission and vote to approve. If approved, the articles will be set aside until the entire constitution and bylaws have been reviewed under this process.
- Finally, after all four rounds have been through this cycle, the revisions to the constitution and bylaws will be submitted to the membership for vote.
Who are the task force members?
Edith Copley, ACDA President-elect, Co-Chair
Lynne Gackle, ACDA Past President, Co-Chair
Peggy Dettwiler, Past President, ACDA Eastern Region
Mariana Farah, Past President-elect, ACDA Southwestern Region
Vincent Oakes, Past President, ACDA Southern Region
Timothy Westerhaus, Past President, ACDA Northwestern Region
Robyn Hilger, ACDA Executive Director
Sundra Flansburg, ACDA Director of Membership & Communications
Who can I contact if I have questions?
Edith Copley, ACDA President-elect & Co-Chair
