By: Joe Strupp The Society of Professional Journalists is considering two major changes to its governing process that would give more members a say in electing its board of directors, while reducing the number of geographic regions.
"It deals with a governance system that has been in place since forever," said Gordon "Mac" McKerral, SPJ president. "If you are not a member of a local chapter, your are now essentially disenfranchised from the process."
The current board election procedure utilizes delegates chosen by each chapter, with the number of delegates based on that chapter's membership population, McKerral explained. The delegates then vote during the SPJ national convention in September for the board, which includes a president, president-elect and secretary-treasurer.
The new process would allow each of SPJ's 9,730 members to vote individually for each office without a delegate process.
A second proposal would reduce the number of geographic regions, each of which are represented by their own regional director, from 12 to possibly eight.
Both proposals will be considered during the SPJ convention, scheduled for Sept. 11-13 in New York City.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here