mbk@psddevl.UUCP (mbk) (12/09/83)
Some comments on the proposed set of new by-laws follow: 1) It would be virtually impossible for the members to reject a by-law amendment proposed by the Board under article 13.2 as it is extremely unlikely 25% of the USENIX membership would write a letter on any subject within the time limits imposed by the article. I suggest "25 percent of the Members" should be changed to "25 Members" which would force the Board to ask for a ballot rather than allowing a controversial change to be implemented while opposition was being formalized. 2) There is no requirement to ever have an Annual meeting although several of the mechanisms in the by-laws count on having one. 3) There is a requirement that the President (and secretary) know where the Treasurer's records are stored but no requirement that anyone know where the Secretary's records are stored. Is there some deep significance in this - are Secretaries inherently more business-like than Treasurers? 4) Changing the classes of membership may be very nice but we might be gambling on what the costs (membership fees) would be. 5) There should be a mechanism for initiating by-law amendments by petition of (say) 25 members. Mike Blake-Knox