Messages

16

PSi Bylaws Discussion / Re: Article Five of the Bylaws

« on: August 18, 2007, 06:50:48 PM »

ARTICLE V
Slammaster Council
Section    1.a.  For the purposes of these Bylaws and the activities of this corporation, Slammaster Council is "the Poery Slam, Inc. council comprised of the desginated slammaster representative from a Poetry Slam, Inc certified and/or registered slam poetry venue."
Section    1.b. Eligibility. Subject to any provision in the Articles of Incorporation, members of the Slammaster Council shall be comprised of any individual who legitimately runs and organizes a regular Slam event certified by Poetry Slam, Inc.  The Executive Council will determine an individual Slammaster’s eligibility for council membership.

Is there definitions of any of the following words as applicable to the by-laws: legitimately, Slam event? Why I ask: eligibilty does not include being a certified/registered venue with PSI which makes the Slammaster Council inclusive of any and all host or organizer of a "Slam" event. Without defining "legitimately" and "Slam" for the purposes of PSI's by-laws then non-certified/registered venues are techinically included in the SM's council as outlined by the current by-laws. Suggestion 1 for revision is above in bold. A 2nd differ suggestion for revision is in italics. 

Motion to amend Article V Section I to further clarify if SM council is inclsuive of non-certified venues' host(s) &/and organizer(s) of slam events or limited to those host(s) &/and organizer(s) that have PSI certified their venues.

Section    3. Appointment and Removal.  Each Slammaster Council member, referred to as Slammaster, shall maintain membership on the Slammaster Council so long as s/he continues to organize or host a regular slam even maintains certification of the venue where s/he continues to organize or host regular slam events and/or the Executive Council removes him/her from the Slammaster Council. Unless otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation, a Slammaster may be removed, with or without cause, by vote of a majority of the Executive Council members entitled to vote at any Executive Council meeting, subject to Section 8.35 of The Business Corporation Act. Slammasters need not be residents of Illinois.

Suggestion for section 1 leads to suggestion for change to section 3, see above both the strike through and addition in bold. The suggestion in italics is me possibly being too-detailed oriented however there is no definition of "Slammaster" in by-laws. The definition suggestion makes the sentence potentially a run-on sentence but also addresses defining Slammaster, not convinvced there's a need for SM definition but added suggestion all the same.

17

PSi Bylaws Discussion / Re: Article Four of the Bylaws

« on: August 18, 2007, 05:31:00 PM »

What you outlined in your response is what I also understood the By-laws to allow. What I am pointing out is when this happens - sharing the work load- it also reduces the number of voting EC members which reduces the number required to achieve a majority vote. I see this a negative but also understand the necessity and practicality of sharing the work load.

Addressing the need to fill positions within the organization to get the work done does not have to also reduce the number for a majoriy vote.

18

PSi Bylaws Discussion / Re: Article Three of the Bylaws

« on: August 18, 2007, 04:20:17 PM »

BYLAWS

of
Poetry Slam, Inc.

ARTICLE IV
Officers
Section 1. Number. The officers of the corporation shall be a president, a vice-president, a secretary and a treasurer and three trustees, as well as other additional officers whose titles and duties shall be determined by the Executive Council. Annually, Council shall appoint an Executive Director who shall serve on the Executive Council as an ex officio member. The Executive Director may be removed from office, or replaced at any time by a simple majority vote of the Executive Council. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person.
Section 2. Election. An officer of the corporation shall be chosen by the Executive Council. Each officer shall hold office until his/her death, resignation or removal as hereinafter provided. A vacancy in any office because of death, resignation or removal or other cause shall be filled by the Executive Council at either an annual or special meeting.
Section 3. Resignation and Removal. An officer may resign at any time upon written notice to the corporation. An officer may be removed at any time, either with or without cause, by the Executive Council, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so removed.

Article 4 is titled "Officers" and Article 3 is titled "Executive Council" however who the EC is made up of specifically isn't directly stated in either article. The first clear indication of who's on the Executive Council [in addition to the Directors (past, current and future) of NPS and iWPS events ] is on the PSI website go to "about" and then to "Executive Council" but there isn't the same distinction in the By-laws.

BYLAWS

of
Poetry Slam, Inc.

ARTICLE III
Executive Council Members
Section    1. Powers. Subject to any provision in the Articles of Incorporation, including the stipulation that the corporation be run under a shareholder’s agreement according to the Close Corporation Act of 1977, the business and affairs of the corporation shall be managed by an Executive Council.
Section 2. Number. The authorized number of voting members serving on the Executive Council of officers shall be seven (7) until changed by amendment to these Bylaws. Additionally, the Executive Director, the immediate past director, the current director and the immediate future director of the National Poetry Slam and the immediate past director, the current director and the immediate future director of the Individual World Poetry Slam shall serve on the Executive Council in a non-voting status.

I suggest adding the words "of officers" (in bold above) although am open to suggestions. I see a need to clarify in the By-laws (Article 3 or 4 possibly) that in addition to the past, current and future directors of NPS and iWPS (all non-voting and also equaling 7 when the ED is added), is the Pres, VP, Treasury, Secretary and 3 Trustees that make up the Executive Council. There isn't a specific statement that outlines "officers" are the "Executive Council" in the By-laws. A differ suggestion is below; add to Article 4's title to read "Officers of the Executive Council" (in bold below).

ARTICLE IV
Officers of the Exective Council
Section 1. Number. The officers of the corporation shall be a president, a vice-president, a secretary and a treasurer and three trustees, as well as other additional officers whose titles and duties shall be determined by the Executive Council. Annually, Council shall appoint an Executive Director who shall serve on the Executive Council as an ex officio member. The Executive Director may be removed from office, or replaced at any time by a simple majority vote of the Executive Council. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person.

-Arrian

19

PSi Bylaws Discussion / Re: Article Four of the Bylaws

« on: August 18, 2007, 03:31:54 PM »

BYLAWS

of
Poetry Slam, Inc.

ARTICLE IV
Officers
Section 1. Number. The officers of the corporation shall be a president, a vice-president, a secretary and a treasurer and three trustees, as well as other additional officers whose titles and duties shall be determined by the Executive Council. Annually, Council shall appoint an Executive Director who shall serve on the Executive Council as an ex officio member. The Executive Director may be removed from office, or replaced at any time by a simple majority vote of the Executive Council. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person.

The last sentence opens the possibility of having a smaller number of 7 on the EC; I believe there is a need for representation and diveristy on the EC and do not see the need for two or more offices to be held by the same person. My suggestion would be to remove this sentence form the by-laws.

I am also open to discussion about the need for this sentence as I currently don't see the need for the sentence from this point moving forward. Although I could see the need when the organization was smaller.

-Arrian

20

General Discussion / Re: Member request archive

« on: February 26, 2007, 12:20:58 PM »

Hi,

I renewed/become PSI membership as of 2/25/2007 and am the SM in place of Corbet Dean.

Thank you.

Arrian Wissel