USGenWeb Announcement: Bylaws Proposal

[webmaster]

*** To All USGenWeb Members ***

 

An amendment to Bylaw XIV. GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES AND APPEALS PROCESS is proposed, co-sponsored by 6 states, and will appear on the July 2026 ballot. You can view the proposed amendment here: https://www.usgenweb.org/about/proposedamendments.html

 

The last grievance was filed 6/28/2011. Due to a lack of qualified volunteers, the 5-member standing Grievance Committee was not seated in March when the seats expired.

 

This amendment seeks to replace the requirement for a standing committee with a single appointed coordinator to take the necessary actions if a grievance is filed. This will lessen the demand for annual volunteers to staff a standing committee, help right-size the requirement to the size and needs of our current membership, and allow us to focus our energy on our membership and sites.

 

The amendment requires a 2/3s majority of votes to pass in the July election. If passed, the 2026/27 Advisory Board will appoint a Grievance Coordinator and will update the Grievance Procedures to clarify how the Grievance Committee is formed in the event a grievance is filed. 

 

If the amendment fails, the previous Grievance Committee Chair and the Advisory Board will continue to search for the volunteers needed to seat the 5-member Grievance Committee per the current version of the Bylaw.

 

While you may not normally vote in our annual election, I urge you to review this proposal and consider voting on this issue.

 

Thank you so much for all you do for USGenWeb! 

 

Linda K. Lewis

National Coordinator

The USGenWeb^® Project

Free Genealogy for over 25 Years!

www.usgenweb.org