The Delegates' Voice

Newsletter for the House of Delegates of AAPG

JANUARY 2002

Letter to the Editor

Editor's Note: This letter was received in early December, our first letter for the 2001-2002 term! A reminder that there is always space available in The Delegates' Voice (approximately 500 word maximum, please) or on the Delegates' Forum to express your views.

AAPG Advisory Council:

Is the Current Representation Undemocratic, Unequal or Unjust?

The proportional representation proposal for the Advisory Council, mailed to members of the HoD and published in several society bulletins, is essentially the same proposal that was defeated, nearly unanimously, at the HoD annual meeting in Denver last June 3.

The AC is not a legislative body, as defined in the AAPG Bylaws, Article V. ADVISORY COUNCIL. Section 1. Jurisdiction reads:

The advisory function of this Association shall be vested in an Advisory Council. The Council shall have no executive authority, but shall report to the Executive Committee on all matters involving ethics and discipline referred to it. The Council shall conduct long-range planning and undertake the necessary studies and investigations in connection therewith. It shall report to the Executive Committee on all matters involving constitutional review referred to it. The Council shall recommend to the Executive Committee nominations for Association officers and also honors and awards, with the exception of the Matson Award and the Jules Braunstein Memorial Award. The Council shall review the organization of the Association and the standing committee structure of the Association. It shall also undertake any special projects wherein guidance is requested by the Executive Committee.

Instead of being legislative, the AC is an advisory group that recommends officer candidates, honors and award candidates, matters for long range planning and reports on ethical and disciplinary matters, to the EC. The AC is comprised of knowledgeable representatives from sections, regions, divisions, the HoD and past AAPG presidents. The current AC alignment and composition was arrived upon through the hard work of a number of well-respected AAPG members by means of compromise just a few years ago. The author of the current proposal was a part of that process and the compromise DID in fact acknowledge the GCAGS size by giving it two (2) representatives on the AC while every other Section and Region has only one (1). The process leading to the current AC composition, voted on by the House of Delegates and accepted, was democratic and deliberated upon fairly and equitably.

The current AC composition is fair, democratic and equal with each entity within the AC having a voice in the processes for which the AC has responsibility. No single entity has unfair advantage over any other and each has the ability to make their nominees and ideas heard with equal opportunity to be considered and accepted. THAT is democracy already at work within the AC.

If democracy, equity and justice are truly the question on this issue, there needs to be an ad hoc committee within the House with representation of ALL interests including the AC, EC and HoD. That committee should be given the specific charge to determine, IF the AC composition requires change, WHAT needs to be changed and to offer an alternative for HOW it needs to be changed. Then, the House can deliberate if change is necessary and what option(s) should be considered.

Lowell Lischer,
Past Chairman of the House

In this issue …

> Chairman's Corner
> HoD Awardees for 2001-02
> Visit the Delegates' Forum for Latest Updates
> Annual Meeting
> Deadlines for 2001-02 Business
> Chairman-Elect's Corner
> Secretary/Editor's Corner
> Call for Committee Members

Committee Reports:

> Constitution and Bylaws
> Committee Discussion: Robert's Rules of Order
> Note on Committee Discussion
> Rules and Procedures
> Credentials

> Letter to the Editor

> www.aapg.org

Candidates:

> Chaiman-Elect
> Secretary/Editor

> 25 & 26 YEARS AGO: House Revisits Emeritus Rules

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