VNGA Executive Council proposes Bylaw changes for conference

Jul 12, 2021

RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia National Guard Association’s Executive Council approved several bylaw changes earlier this year and are now the subject to a vote of the general membership during the annual business meeting held during the Virginia National Guard Conference, Sept. 18, 2021, at the Waterside Marriott in Norfolk, Virginia.

“The [Executive Council] has undertaken a thorough review of all of our bylaws during the past year,” said Maj. Andrew J. Czaplicki, VNGA president. “With the rapid evolution of technology, the dynamic changes to military deployment timelines, and the increase of short-notice mobilizations, it is important to update our bylaws to reflect the times in which we serve.”

For the most part, the proposed changes organize the bylaws similar to that of the National Guard Association of the United States’ bylaws. As a result, the existing chapters, page number sequencing and general organization are different from the current bylaws.

“The formatting changes are important to ensure clarity as we move forward, “ Czaplicki explained. “We linked related items together and, hopefully, made things easier to find.”

Other items identified in the statement of changes include changing the name of the Executive Council to Board of Directors; allowing officers’ to serve multiple terms of one year and making them subject to renewal; and, adjusted the quorum requirements for meetings, affirmations and future bylaw changes.

Section 12.01 of the proposed bylaws state that the bylaws “may be amended at a special meeting or annual conference of the membership by a two-thirds majority vote of those members present.” This differs significantly from the current bylaws which state that “the less of 51 percent of the membership or 70 members in good standing at an official annual conference or special meeting shall constitute a quorum.”

The major change being the total number of members in attendance. The proposed change has two-thirds of the members present, whereas the current bylaws require two-thirds of the members present, if there is at least 51 percent of the membership, or 70 members, present.

“Trying to get 70 people in a room is incredibly difficult to accomplish,” stated Czaplicki. “With the upcoming mobilizations on the horizon for the coming year, it’ll be incredibly difficult to muster enough people to continue the business of the association.”

The proposed changes include a stipulation where approved proposed changes are distributed the membership at least 30 days prior to a vote. This stipulation allows the general membership to voice concerns or support prior to the vote.

The bylaw vote will occur during the new business session of the annual business meeting held during the Virginia National Guard Conference held Sept. 18, 2021, at the Waterside Marriott in Norfolk, Virginia.

Current bylaws may be downloaded here.

Proposed bylaws may be downloaded here.

A statement of changes may be downloaded here.

Registration for the upcoming Virginia National Guard Conference here.