At 05:24 PM 4/6/2005, you wrote: I am
not a member of the executive committee of IOLI, but I'm sure that this process would take at least one or two years! That should not discourage us from pursuing this, but just forewarn us of the length of time it would take.
The name of an organization is part of their by-laws. Changing the name would require whatever steps are needed for a by-law change. Since they are available on the webpage, I just checked. Officially, it requires 30 days notice in the Bulletin prior to a meeting, and a majority vote for a by-law change. Or -- if presented at the meeting, takes a 2/3 vote.
Since this would be a major change, not just one of those little bookkeeping type of changes, it should have lots of thought and discussion in advance of a meeting. I've been through this with other organizations, and if it's not done carefully, it can cause a real disagreement at the annual meeting and make everyone unhappy.
It's not something for this year, but there's time to do it right before next year's annual meeting --- IF the members really want to. The first step might be to have a vote on the question: Do you, as a member, see a need to update the name of our organization? If a question like this gets a large affirmative, then the process could be started to seek out possible new names and put them before the membership in the next year or the year after.
If there is a serious prospect of a name change, things like stationary etc could be used up, and not reordered in bulk, prior to the vote. This time would also be a buffer zone for getting the members used to the idea of a name change, and have time to really think it through. (I was at the annual meeting of a group facing a name change due to gender discrimiation that was opposed vigorously by a number of members. They ended up with a compromise name that was cumbersome. A year later, they changed it again from the compromise to the new proposed name without an opposing vote. If it's to be done, do it right the first time.)
I'm just a member, so can't speak for the Executive Board. It might be interesting for those whom wish to change the name to do some lobbying at conference this year, and see if there is a majority of people who agree with them. Maybe the time is right for a change. Maybe not.
Personal opinion and understanding of rules -- no offical status.
Meanwhile, I remain interesting in both Old and New laces. Alice in Oregon -- where we celebrated 39 years of marriage with Italian food.
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