August 2016

Proposed Changes to the Bylaws                           
Voting and Information Page

The Task: The Secretary shall distribute to all members copies of the proposed changes, an explanation of the purpose for the changes, ballot forms, and the effective date of the changes if approved.

Dear Member: During the General Business Meeting at the 2016 summer conference, as scheduled, there was an opportunity for discussion and comments on the proposed changes to the Bylaws. There was no opposition and no new recommendations were offered.

Keeping to the schedule outlined in Bylaws X: Changes to the Bylaws, it is now time for our membership to vote on this issue. As a member of the Society you are ultimately responsible for approving such changes. As you know, the Policy Council has accepted the recommendation and has made a proposal for changes in the Bylaws. The motion and other background information are included below.

Explanation of the proposed changes:
The Organization and Bylaws Committee has recommended that the Bylaws be updated.

The first proposed change brings the role of the President into compliance with the New York Nonprofit Revitalization Act of 2013 by removing the words ‘chief executive officer.’

The second proposed change comes at the request of Jay Forrester. While he will continue as Founding President, Jay has asked to be moved from a voting to an advisory role. To this end, the Policy Council of the System Dynamics Society is recommending an update to two sections of Bylaw V.

Ballot Form:
Please use the link (sent to you by email) to cast your vote. Your vote will be recorded and a reply email message dispatched to you to acknowledge your vote. We urge you to vote immediately, the voting window will close in 60 days.

The new Bylaws will take effect on January 1, 2017.

Sincerely,
Brad Morrison
Secretary 2016

More information on the Proposed Changes to the Bylaws
in chronological order:

Addendum 1: Report to the Policy Council by the Organization and Bylaws Committee
http://systemdynamics.org/PolicyCouncil/2016/winter/papers/P1006.pdf

Addendum 2: 2016 Winter PC Meeting Minutes
http://systemdynamics.org/PolicyCouncil/2016/winter/index.html

Addendum 3: Policy Council Motion
Motion 155: Subject: Motion Revision of Bylaws
Proposed by: J. Bradley Morrison, Seconded by: Leonard Malczynski
Voting open date: 2016.03.25 Voting close date: 2016.04.04
Formal Motion: Move that the Policy Council put forth to the membership the three amendments to the bylaws as described in the report “Spencer, Roberta (1006) Organization and Bylaws Committee."
The revisions will be circulated to the membership in March/April, discussed at the General Business meeting in Delft, Netherlands in July, voted on by the membership electronically in September and, if passed, formally adopted in December.
Notes on supporting material: see Spencer, Roberta (1006) Organization and Bylaws Committee report for details.
Motion 155 Passed(Y:18/N:0/A:3/NV:3)

Addendum 4: Original letter send to members
http://www.systemdynamics.org/PolicyCouncil/2016/BylawsMesssage2016.pdf

Addendum 5: One document showing “Section V. Officers” with both the proposed revised Bylaws and the current Bylaws
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