1. Executive Summary

To assure geographic diversity of representation on the Board, the bylaws provide for at large members and regional members of the Board.  The proposed revisions eliminate the requirement of geographic diversity as a requirement for the polity of the Board while maintaining that geographic representation and general diversity are stated goals of the organization.  At the July 25, 2015 meeting, the AFCC-­CA Board adopted a resolution approving   the  proposed revision for presentation at the Annual Meeting in 2016.

2. Current Bylaws

Originally  incorporated  on  May  15,  1987,   The  Association  of  Family  and   Conciliation  Courts  California  Chapter   (AFCC-­‐CA)  the  incorporators   simultaneously  adopted  the  Bylaws  of   the  organization  (the  Bylaws).

Article III, Section 2 of the bylaws specifies that there shall be five officers, three directors from each geographic region of the state, four at large directors, and the immediate past president.  The Board consists of the five (5) officers and a total of thirteen (13) directors for a total of eighteen (18).  Board members are elected by the general membership at the first general meeting of each even-­numbered year for a two-­year term (The Bylaws Article III Section 3B) unless it becomes necessary to fill  a vacancy because a Board member resigns or is removed.  Under the Bylaws, California is divided into three geographic regions (Article III Section 5) generally described as:

• The Northern Region

• The Central Region

• The Southern Region

Any specific county court, organization or individual member may present to the Board of Directors a request for adjustment of regional membership (The Bylaws Article III Section 5A(4)).

The President of AFCC-­CA shall appoint a Nominating Committee consisting of at least one member from each geographic region (The Bylaws Article III Section 6).

The Bylaws may be amended by a majority of the Board subject to ratification by the membership at the next general meeting (The Bylaws Article IV).

3. Proposed Revisions

The Board of AFCC-­CA proposes revisions of the Bylaws in accordance with Article IV so that the geographic requirement of the board membership is eliminated (Article III Section 5 of the Bylaws) including the geographic diversity requirement of the Bylaws  (Article III Section 6 of the Bylaws).  In place and instead, the Bylaws shall state a preference for geographic diversity of board membership as well as a stated goal for seeking diversity of membership to assure a balanced membership of the Board taking into account geographic location, professional disciplines, diversity of race, gender, sexual orientation or preference.  No person shall be denied consideration for membership on the Board based upon his or her race, ethnicity, religion, marital status, physical handicap, familial status, gender, sexual orientation or preference, or geographic location.  The Board shall strive to assure that its membership reflects the broad diversity of the State of California.  There shall be no requirement that a Board member be located in any specific region of California.  When feasible, the Board shall maintain diversity of its Board taking into account the geographic regions of the State.

4. Proposed Resolution

RESOLVED, in accordance with Article IV of the Bylaws of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts California Chapter adopted on May 15, 1987 the Bylaws are hereby amended as follows:

•  Article III Section 2 is amended to strike the language requiring 3 directors from each of the geographic regions of the State.

•  Article III Section 2 shall now read: “The Board of Directors shall consist of nineteen members: the five (5) officers and fourteen directors (14).

•  Article III Section 5 establishing Guideline for Election of Directors is stricken and shall be replaced as follows.

•  Article III Section 5 shall be titled: “Section 5: Guidelines for Election of Directors”

•  The text of Article III Section 5 shall read as follows:

“In electing Directors to the Board, the Board shall assure a balanced  membership of the Board taking into account geographic location, professional discipline, and diversity of race, gender, sexual orientation or preference of its Board Members.  No person shall be denied consideration for membership on the Board based upon his or her race, ethnicity, religion, marital status, physical handicap, familial status, gender, sexual orientation or preference or geographic location.  The Board shall strive to assure that its membership reflects the broad diversity of the State of California.  There shall be no requirement for a Board member to be located in any specific region of California.  When feasible and consistent with the best interests of the Chapter, the Board shall maintain diversity of its Board members, including taking into account the geographic regions of the State.

•  Article II Section 6A shall be amended to delete the requirement that the Nominating Committee consist of at least one member from each geographic region.

•  If approved by the Board of Directors, these Amendments to the Bylaws shall be presented for adoption or rejection at the General Membership Meeting in accordance with Article IV of the Bylaws.