The following are seven resolutions to change the bylaws of the NPPA being considered by its Board of Directors between now and May 27th. These resolutions will be put before the Board for final vote at its annual meeting in Louisville, KY on May 28th and 29th.
If you have any comments or concerns regarding any of these issues please contact your regional Board representative (Regional Director).
Whereas: The Current Governance Structure of the National Press Photographers Association was created before the advent of digital and other media currently in wide use;
Whereas: the current governance structure may not reflect or take advantage of changes in visual communications media;
Whereas: Recent regional elections have attracted less than 10 voters;
Whereas: Recent regional elections have failed to attract candidates or have failed to be contested;
Be it resolved that the NPPA consider the following board structure:
Board of Directors: Executive Committee (including Ex-officio Executive Director) and 10 at-large members. (15 voting members, 1 Ex-officio, Presidential vote breaks a tie). A simple majority of the Board shall be members in good standing. The Board will meet three times annually, at least once in person.
Nominations and elections will be held in the fall and overseen by a specific committee with elected terms to begin January 1 and appointed ones shortly after.
Each at-large member of the Board is nominated by and voted in by the general membership for a two-year term and is limited to serving three consecutive terms. A former Board member who has served three consecutive terms may be voted back on to the Board after a two-year period of being off the Board.
The Executive Committee is nominated and elected by the Board and serves a one-year term at a single position and is limited to one term at the same position and to serving only one term at each position. The offices of President, Past President and Vice President shall be held by members in good standing.
Board transition and election cycles: Terms begin in January each year for the Board. This fall elect 5 new at-large Board Members to serve with the current regional Board. Allow the current EC to serve an extended term and have the new Board elect a new EC in January. Next fall elect 5 additional at-large members and dissolve the regional Board. From this point forward half the Board seats will be up for election by the membership each year. This way you will never have a completely rookie Board and the initial transition will include present board members for over a year.
OPTION FOR ADITIONAL EC POSITIONS: President Elect and Treasurer Elect (this will ensure at least one year experience on EC). If you add only one consider removing an at-large position to retain the tiebreaker vote of President.
The NPPA Board of Directors will…
Set the direction of the NPPA:
Ensure the necessary resources:
Provide Oversight:
Operate as a Governing Body:
Standing Committees: The Board will appoint the chairs of standing committees, with the exception of the EC (formal election). Chair and committee service terms are not limited but may be changed at the will of the Board. Standing committees will meet twice annually, except for the EC who will meet on a monthly basis. All committees are required to report to the Board (in writing) and other committees after each meeting.
The Executive Committee (EC) - President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, Past President, Executive Director (Ex-officio) (possibly President Elect and Treasurer Elect). This committee’s members are all members of the Board. They are responsible for the action required to lead the NPPA and carry out the broad directions of the board between board meetings. This committee is also charged with oversight of the Executive Director and his/her performance of day-to-day operations. The EC will also act as a conduit between the Board and Executive Director
Finance Committee – Oversees the preparation of the annual budget, the financial performance of the association throughout the fiscal year, and the financial feasibility of any new proposals that would alter the spending/revenue of the association. This committee will also be responsible for overseeing the implementation of the annual audit. This committee will be assigned one board liaison (Treasurer) and one staff liaison.
Membership Committee – Oversees the recruitment/retention of members, makes recommendations to the board on member eligibility, oversees the services and benefits to the members, represents the needs of the different constituencies and demographics within the membership and investigates and makes recommendations to the board on member related misconduct. This committee will be assigned one board liaison and one staff liaison. Ideally its members will represent the different constituencies and demographics that make up the NPPA and include the chairs of subordinate ad hoc committees.
Program Committee – Oversees the implementation and long range planning of educational events, contests and online professional tools/content. This committee will be assigned one board liaison and one staff liaison. Ideally it will include the chairs of subordinate ad hoc committees.
Communications Committee – Oversees all internal and external communications including the overall web site, newsletters, marketing and PR activity. This committee will also be responsible for internal communications between committees, the board and staff. This committee will be assigned one board liaison and one staff liaison. Ideally it will include the chairs of subordinate ad hoc committees.
Governance Committee – Oversees the board and committee structure as well as governance procedures, volunteer recruitment and elections, new volunteer orientation, and committee/board evaluation. This committee will also oversee and implement the nominations and elections process. This committee will be assigned one board liaison (Secretary) and one staff liaison. Ideally it will include the chairs of subordinate ad hoc committees.
Ad Hoc Committees: The Board will appoint ad hoc committee chairs. Chair and committee service terms are not limited but may be changed at the will of the Board. Ad hoc committees will meet as needed. Liaisons are optional, as assigned by Board. All committees are required to report to the Board (in writing) and other committees after each meeting. In the case that an ad hoc committee does not meet formally in the course of a year it will be required to submit an annual report.
All existing committees would fall into this category and should be reevaluated for need. New ad hoc committees to consider are constituency committees, a web site committee and a nominations and elections committee.
Task Forces may be temporarily created by the Board as needed to address short-term projects and will report to the Board or standing committee (including the EC when appropriate) that is most associated with the project. Liaisons are optional, as assigned by Board.
Regional Directors retain current responsibilities, except the obligation of Board Service, and report to the Board.
Board of Directors: Executive Committee (including Ex-officio Executive Director) and 10 at-large members. (15 voting members, 1 Ex-officio, Presidential vote breaks a tie). A simple majority of the Board shall be members in good standing. The Board will meet three times annually, at least once in person.
Nominations and elections will be held in the fall and overseen by a specific committee with elected terms to begin January 1 and appointed ones shortly after.
The Executive Committee is nominated and elected by the general membership and serves a one-year term at a single position and is limited to one term at the same position and to serving only one term at each position. The offices of President, Past President (by default) and Vice President shall be held by members in good standing.
Each at-large member of the Board is appointed by the President with a majority approval of the EC for a two-year term and is limited to serving three consecutive terms. A former Board member who has served three consecutive terms may be appointed back on to the Board after a two-year period of being off the Board.
Board transition and election cycles: Terms begin in January each year for the Executive Committee. Allow the current EC to serve an extended term. This fall elect a new EC and appoint 5 new at-large Board Members to serve with the current regional Board. Next fall appoint 5 additional at-large members and dissolve the regional Board. From this point forward half the Board seats will be up for appointment by the new EC each year. This way you will never have a completely rookie Board, the initial transition will include present board members for over a year, and no one EC can stack the whole Board themselves.
OPTION FOR ADITIONAL EC POSITIONS: President Elect and Treasurer Elect (this will ensure at least one year experience on EC). If you add only one consider removing an at-large position to retain the tiebreaker vote of President.
The NPPA Board of Directors will…
Ensure the necessary resources:
Provide Oversight:
Operate as a Governing Body:
Standing Committees: The Board will appoint the chairs of standing committees, with the exception of the EC (formal election). Chair and committee service terms are not limited but may be changed at the will of the Board. Standing committees will meet twice annually, except for the EC who will meet on a monthly basis. All committees are required to report to the Board (in writing) and other committees after each meeting.
The Executive Committee (EC) - President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, Past President, Executive Director (Ex-officio) (possibly President Elect and Treasurer Elect). This committee’s members are all members of the Board. They are responsible for the action required to lead the NPPA and carry out the broad directions of the board between board meetings. This committee is also charged with oversight of the Executive Director and his/her performance of day-to-day operations. The EC will also act as a conduit between the Board and Executive Director
Finance Committee – Oversees the preparation of the annual budget, the financial performance of the association throughout the fiscal year, and the financial feasibility of any new proposals that would alter the spending/revenue of the association. This committee will also be responsible for overseeing the implementation of the annual audit. This committee will be assigned one board liaison (Treasurer) and one staff liaison.
Membership Committee – Oversees the recruitment/retention of members, makes recommendations to the board on member eligibility, oversees the services and benefits to the members, represents the needs of the different constituencies and demographics within the membership and investigates and makes recommendations to the board on member related misconduct. This committee will be assigned one board liaison and one staff liaison. Ideally its members will represent the different constituencies and demographics that make up the NPPA and include the chairs of subordinate ad hoc committees.
Program Committee – Oversees the implementation and long range planning of educational events, contests and online professional tools/content. This committee will be assigned one board liaison and one staff liaison. Ideally it will include the chairs of subordinate ad hoc committees.
Communications Committee – Oversees all internal and external communications including the overall web site, newsletters, marketing and PR activity. This committee will also be responsible for internal communications between committees, the board and staff. This committee will be assigned one board liaison and one staff liaison. Ideally it will include the chairs of subordinate ad hoc committees.
Governance Committee – Oversees the board and committee structure as well as governance procedures, volunteer recruitment and elections, new volunteer orientation, and committee/board evaluation. This committee will also oversee and implement the nominations and elections process. This committee will be assigned one board liaison (Secretary) and one staff liaison. Ideally it will include the chairs of subordinate ad hoc committees.
Ad Hoc Committees: The Board will appoint ad hoc committee chairs. Chair and committee service terms are not limited but may be changed at the will of the Board. Ad hoc committees will meet as needed. Liaisons are optional, as assigned by Board. All committees are required to report to the Board (in writing) and other committees after each meeting. In the case that an ad hoc committee does not meet formally in the course of a year it will be required to submit an annual report.
All existing committees would fall into this category and should be reevaluated for need. New ad hoc committees to consider are constituency committees, a web site committee and a nominations and elections committee.
Task Forces may be temporarily created by the Board as needed to address short-term projects and will report to the Board or standing committee (including the EC when appropriate) that is most associated with the project. Liaisons are optional, as assigned by Board.
Regional Directors retain current responsibilities, except the obligation of Board Service, and report to the Board.
Whereas allowing Directors and Associate Directors to attend NPPA workshops outside their elected regions would provide the Board with a better working knowledge of NPPA educational programs and whereas those educational programs would also benefit by having Directors and Associate Directors available to promote NPPA membership and benefits
Be it therefore resolved that NPPA Board members may attend NPPA workshops as observers with no registration charge as long as there is no paying attendee who would be displaced by allowing free admission to the Board member.
Whereas the news industry has changed significantly over the past 50 years and whereas the make-up of the membership of the NPPA has changed significantly over the past 50 years and whereas the name National Press Photographers Associations, no longer adequately represents the Association or it’s membership, be it resolved that the name of the organization be changed to The Society of Visual Journalists, effective January 1, 2009.
Be changed to:
Changes to the Bylaws, Procedures, Standing Rules, and any other official documents where National Press Photographers Association or NPPA is used shall be made to conform to the new name.
Whereas the Multimedia Committee is needed to address the changing technology impacting NPPA members and
Whereas this committee will provide diversity by recruiting different types of NPPA members through jobs provided by new technology
Be it therefore resolved the Multimedia Committee will be added to:
XIII. Standing Committees, Section 1
As bb. Multimedia Committee.
Whereas members of student NPPA chapters have dropped from 21 active chapters to 8 and
Whereas students represent the future of our industry and a significant portion of the future membership of the NPPA and
Whereas NPPA has made student participation a priority and goal and
Whereas the current student stipend of $100 does not cover the costs of recruiting and keeping student members active in NPPA,
Be it therefore resolved to amend the Standing Rules, Chapter 6, section A, paragraph 7 to increase the NPPA student chapter stipend from $100 to $400, as long as the other responsibilities of the student chapter are satisfactorily met in a timely fashion as outlined by the Standing Rules.
Let it also be noted that if only five new students join NPPA because of a revitalized student chapter their student dues will total $325, more than paying back the requested increase in funds. If those five students remain NPPA members for ten years after they graduate, their dues will total more than $5200. If each of the current eight active student chapters graduates five NPPA members the collective dues of just those 40 former students will total $42,000
Be it resolved that the current standing rule for EC Board Representative:
Be amended to the following (changes are marked):