Bylaw change makes sense

Why do I support the proposed bylaw change?

When MEA members vote for a board candidate, they expect that person to get started right away working on the issues important to us all. Most would be shocked to find out that new board members must wait four months to be seated on the MEA Board. In comparison, that is longer than it takes to seat the President of the United States, the Governor of Alaska, Borough Assembly Members, or the elected city officials of Houston, Palmer or Wasilla.

The proposed bylaw simply states: “Each newly elected board member shall take an oath of office and be seated within 15 days of the annual meeting at a special meeting or at the next regularly scheduled monthly Board meeting following the annual meeting, whichever date comes first.” This seems to be a very reasonable length of time to seat an elected board member. In fact, it used to take MEA only three days to seat the newly elected board members.

Since the results of the election are required to be certified within seven days after the election, why would MEA want co-op members to have to wait so long to have their representative seated on the board?

Kit Jones

Palmer