Draft #1

PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE UUA RULES FOR CONSIDERATION AT THE 2004 GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Comments are welcome. Please post them on OpenUUA@uua.org or send them to carolagate@mac.com.

Bylaw Section C-3.10. Members of Member Congregations. For the purposes of these Bylaws, a member of a member congregation is any individual who pursuant to its procedures has full or partial voting rights at business meetings of the congregation and who is certified as such by an authorized officer of the congregation.

PROPOSED RULES UNDER THIS SECTION

Rights of members of Member Congregations

Rule G-3.10.1. Democratic process. Because the Association is committed to the use of the democratic process through open procedures that allow all members of its member congregations to follow and participate in its governance, all meetings of the Board of Trustees and all other Association elected and appointed boards, commissions, and committees shall:

(a) make meeting dates, agendas, and reports available to the public within a week of the time they are given to committee members;

(b) be open to observers (with the exception of executive sessions, to discuss personnel, litigation, or negotiations);

(d) provide an avenue for public comment made to the chair or a designated committee member.

Rule G-3.10.2. Definition of "meeting." A "meeting" is any gathering of a quorum of the committee to learn about, deliberate upon, discuss or transact business within its jurisdiction.

Rule G-3.10.3. Informal meetings. Committees may hold informal meetings. There shall be no voting permitted at such meetings, and a summary of the discussion must be orally presented at the next public meeting. Any group of fewer than half the members of a committee may meet without public notice in order to prepare a presentation to the entire committee.

Rule G-3.10.4. Definition of committees. Each board working group shall be considered a committee. Special task forces formed to study and report upon a specific issue must follow the rules for all committees.

Rule G-3.10.5. Definition of "public comment." Public comment in the Rules shall refer to statements by members of member congregations. Non-members may speak with the permission of the chair. Allotted time shall not be less than two minutes each. Statements shall be restricted to the matter being discussed, except that, at each meeting, there shall be an opportunity to recommend future agenda items.

Rule G-3.10.6. Meeting Materials. Materials mailed to committee members before a meeting shall also be posted on the UUA web site.

Rule G-3.10.7. Notice requirement. Items not on the agenda may not be voted upon unless two-thirds of the committee decides there is need for immediate action. Notice of that action must be posted on the web site.

Rule G-3.10.8. Recording of meetings. Guests may record meetings as long as the meetings are not disrupted by the recording.

Rule G-3.10.10. Reasonable accommodation. Any guest requesting special accommodation for disabilities must make the request at least two weeks prior to the meeting. The committee shall provide the accommodation unless it is not economically feasible. Committees shall have seating arrangements that allow guests to see and hear the members who are speaking.

Rule G-3.10.11. Email or telephone communications. The board and committee email lists shall be open for all members of member congregations to subscribe on a read-only basis. Any telephonic or electronic meetings that include a quorum of a committee must be recorded and available for purchase at a price no higher than the cost of recording and mailing.

THIS LAST RULE IS UNDER ARTICLE IV OF THE BYLAWS, COVERING GA

Rule 4.11. Tentative Agenda for Regular General Assemblies. Each business resolution submitted under Section 4.11(e)(2), (e)(3) and (f) must include the name of a contact. Each contact shall be invited to submit to the Association a statement explaining or supporting the resolution. The Association shall include these statements with the distribution of the final agenda.