Orlando Metro Section Bylaws Update Subcommittee

Summary of Proposed Revisions

December 11, 2018

Bylaws Update Subcommittee Members

• Joshua DeVries, AICP, OMS President
• Roxann Read, AICP
• Tara Salmieri, AICP
• Katie Shannon, Subcommittee Chair
• Alissa Barber Torres, PhD, AICP, Subcommittee Vice Chair

Proposed Revisions to Bylaws

Part I - General

1. Adding disclaimers to this section, as found in Chapter Bylaws, that objectives shall conform to the law,
the bylaws of the APA, the bylaws of the Chapter, and the bylaws of the Section and that apply to
activities conforming with 501c(3) status.
2. Revising Section Objective I for clarity and to replace “younger planners” with “young and emerging
planning professionals” to reflect APA National/Chapter nomenclature.

Part II - Definitions

3. Updating Certification Maintenance definition to remove dates and replace with description used in
Chapter Bylaws.
4. Adding Chapter Only Member definition per Chapter Bylaws.

Part III - Membership

5. Proposing no revisions at this time.

Part IV – Executive Committee

6. Clarifying budget preparation responsibility to include making work program and budget available to
membership.
7. Revising to include responsibility to file bylaws approved by vote of Section members with Chapter.
8. Revising the percentage of Section Members required to petition the Bylaws from 25% to 5% as is
consistent with the Chapter.
9. Updating terms of office to avoid conflict with Chapter Bylaws, which states Section Chairs’ terms begin at
Chapter’s Annual Meeting, not the Section’s.
10. Relocating currently-adopted language regarding vacancies to this section.
11. Adding provisions found in Chapter Bylaws that allow removal of officers under certain circumstances,
such as non-performance of duties and felony convictions.
12. Adding responsibility to attend Section Executive Committee meetings under each position description, as
found in Chapter Bylaws.

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 13. Revise duties of President as follows:
a. Updating annual reporting requirements to align with Chapter Bylaws text;
b. Providing a copy of the annual report to the Chapter Office
c. Adding responsibility to attend Florida Chapter Executive Committee meetings or appoint a
designee for attendance as required by Chapter Bylaws of Section Chairs; and
d. Adding responsibility to coordinate execution of contracts with the Chapter Office.
14. Revise duties of First Vice-President (Professional Development) as follows:
a. Adding responsibility as Co-Chair of Nominating Sub-Committee
b. Including reference to young professionals in description of activities.
15. Revise duties of Second Vice-President to include the responsibility of serving as the Chair of the Section
Grant Sub-Committee.
16. Revise duties of Secretary as follows:
e. Adding responsibility to chair Section Bylaws Subcommittee, as required of Chapter Secretary
and to ensure amendments are made within 90 days of Chapter Bylaws updates, as required by
Chapter Bylaws;
f. Ensuring Section Bylaws are posted on Section website; and
g. Adding responsibility to do meeting minutes.
17. Adding a reference to Section sponsorships, if created, to Treasurer’s duties.
18. Adding detail to Directors’ positions to clarify responsibilities for Section operations, including website,
social media and special events.
19. Restating description of Directors from Part II for convenience.
20. Adding responsibility for the Immediate Past President to serve as the Chair of the Nominating
Committee.

Part V – Elections, Vacancies, and Voting

21. Revising Nomination and Election of Officers section as follows:

h. Including a date certain for Nominating Committee appointment to match the Chapter’s;
i. Requiring publication of call for nominations in Section newsletter to align with Chapter Bylaws
requirements;
j. Requiring that Nominating Committee work to recruit two candidates per office and confirm
willingness to serve, as required in Chapter Bylaws; and
k. Adding text regarding ability for Section members nominate by petition (referenced in Part IV) and
to write in nominees, as only current provision for member nominations is at meeting.
l. Revising to percentage of Section Members required to petition the Bylaws from 25% to 5% as is
consistent with the Chapter.
22. Striking Vacancies section to be relocated to Part III.
23. Revising Policy Position section to avoid conflicts with Chapter legislative policies.
24. Revising Bylaws section to mirror requirements from Chapter Bylaws:
m. Advertising amendments at least 30 days before voting;
n. Transmitting ballots to all members one month after publication; and
o. Posting amended Section Bylaws on Section website and filing with Chapter.

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Part VI – Meetings

25. Including the distribution President’s written annual report and budget and the presentation of financial
reporting at Annual Meeting to align with other Section Bylaws requirements.
26. Adding requirement to take minutes of Annual Meeting and post on Section website, as required of
Chapter Annual Meetings.
27. Adding requirement that a means for voting by mail or by proxy for items needing member vote to be
included in the newsletter and on the Section’s website 30 days after the Annual Meeting.

Part VII – Financial Management

28. Add corresponding text for Section sponsorships, as a contingency, and Section Grants.
29. Revising to indicate Treasurer is responsible for making budget available to membership and presenting
financial reporting at Annual Meeting.
30. Creating Section Grant assigned responsibilities and deadlines.

Part VIII – Judith Mucci Scholarship Fund

31. Clarifying Planning Accreditation Board (PAB) accreditation is required of planning programs, as the
Chapter requires PAB accreditation for scholarships and the Chapter’s Faculty Liaison.
32. Revising to clarify administrative responsibilities for applications and add flexibility for student projects.
33. Updating student project submittal requirements, based on input from the Orlando Public Library, to note
the student project will be available on the Section website.
34. Clarifying Scholarship Subcommittee duties for administration and outreach to Faculty Liaisons and
Chairs.
35. Removing two-year maximum requirement to obtain a Master’s Degree per the suggestions of the
Chapter Bylaws Committee.

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