Action Please By: January 30, 1998
To: Members & Subscribers From: National Office Date: January 16, 1998 Subject: PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO AMSA'S BYLAWS Reference: MU 98-1 On Thursday, February 5, 1998, AMSA's members will vote on an amendment to AMSA's Bylaws. Passage of this amendment would formalize the Board's decision to eliminate the category of "Associate Member," giving all AMSA member agencies the status of "Member" and affirming the desire of the Association's leadership to see AMSA continue to be the voice of the publicly-owned treatment work (POTW) community in the legislative and regulatory arenas. A copy of the proposed bylaws amendment follows for your review and consideration. Deletions are shown as
strikeouts, additions are in bold/italic. You will note that, in addition to revisions eliminating the Associate Member category, the amendment includes changes to Article IX, section 3. Subscriber. These recommended revisions will allow continued affiliation with AMSA for public agencies that have formerly been Associate Members because they do not meet the treatment-related requirements for membership.
As noted, the membership will vote on this amendment during General Session II, on Thursday, February 5, during AMSA's Winter Conference, Thinking, Getting & Staying Competitive. Included in this Update is a proxy for your use in voting, should you be unable to attend the upcoming Winter Conference. Please complete and return fax this proxy to AMSA, no later than 12:00 noon on January 30, 1998.
Consensus Positions Frame Leadership Agenda
AMSA's leadership focused its attention on a wide range of planning and policy issues during the 1997 Leadership Retreat, held on July 18, 1997 following the Summer Conference. Three consensus positions framed the wide ranging discussion. They were as follows:
We want to increase our clout/influence.
We want to maintain and improve upon our core competencies of legislative & regulatory lobbying.
We want AMSA to grow.
With these statements as foundation, the leadership tackled issues including expanding AMSA's membership, increasing emphasis on regional/state issues, responding effectively to technology/web site issues, and increasing emphasis on management and public information. In support of the noted consensus positions AMSA's leadership endorsed both the streamlining of the Association's dues structure and the elimination of the Associate Member category (pending membership approval). Both of these actions take great strides to support AMSA's continuing role as the voice of all POTWs and sets the stage for increased clout, improvement of the Association's core competencies and future growth. A membership development strategy will be considered by AMSA's Membership Committee next month at the Winter Conference in San Antonio.
Please review this proposed amendment and cast your vote, either in San Antonio on February 5 or by proxy using the attached form. Thank you for your thoughtful consideration of this matter.
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