by Deb Cook Lewis and Paul Edwards
I was working on my President’s Message and learned that Paul wanted to write on this very topic. So he drafted and I slightly edited the piece below, which we hope will encourage your participation in ACB’s resolutions process.
ACB has traditionally spent the last day or so of every convention dealing with resolutions, with many to consider and very little time for debate. There was often a question of whether there was actually a quorum to consider what many would regard as the most important business of the convention — to determine ACB policy concerning the issue being addressed. Resolutions had to be in by midnight on Monday during convention week, and the resolutions committee met each evening until 2 or 3 in the morning. While these meetings were open, most folks were not prepared to turn up that late at night. Our new approach, brought about by hybrid conventions and every member having the right to vote, is far more democratic, giving every member of ACB a chance to be part of the process. Here is how the new system works.
This year, all proposed resolutions are due May 10, and should be sent to advocacy@acb.org. During the rest of May, the resolutions committee will meet twice weekly in meetings open to the membership. Resolutions being considered will be sent to ACB email lists in advance so folks can read them. They let the person who wrote the resolution tell the committee why it should be passed. The committee decides if they agree. They then work on making the wording of the resolution as clear and concise as possible. Audience members are given a chance to make comments as well. In a two-hour meeting there are usually only two or three resolutions up for discussion, with lots of time for comments.
Those resolutions that are not withdrawn go forward, and are recorded and available as documents well in advance of the convention. The final stage of resolution adoption happens during the virtual portion of the convention. Resolutions will be considered this year on the evenings of July 14-16. Our convention rules spell out just how debate will be handled. First, five minutes are spent answering any questions relating to the understanding of the resolution or the process. Then 20 minutes will be set aside for debate. The person who proposed the resolution will be given the chance to speak first. An equal number of speakers for and against the resolution will be allowed and, at the end of the debate, the committee will vote on whether to pass it.
Virtually all resolutions get decided on those three nights. So, if you care about ACB policy, you should be there! There are special circumstances that could allow a resolution to require a record vote. These are spelled out in our convention rules. No resolutions got to that place last year!
Resolutions make policy for ACB. They can be external, dealing with issues concerning companies or the government, or they can be internal, having to do with how we do things in ACB! Resolutions, as important as they are, are not the only way to get policies changed. Any member can make suggestions at any time. A couple of resolutions were withdrawn last year because the matter was decided before they even got to the floor. Resolutions are important, though. At the very least they give us a chance to explore questions that people find are important enough to ask ACB to consider making them a part of what ACB does.
Resolutions are divided into two parts. The "whereas" clauses describe the problem the resolution is designed to solve. The "resolved" clauses say what we propose ought to be done!
Make resolutions a part of your convention this year! They deserve your attention!