As you know from previous letters, the Board of Directors undertook the major project of modernizing and restating the Association’s bylaws and Articles of Incorporation, specifically in regard to governance structure. The changes were necessary to put Good Will-Hinckley in line with best practices for governance of non-profit organizations, and to show that we have clear lines of governance that will allow us to respond to challenges and make decisions effectively.

 

The mission of the Good Will Home Association remains unchanged, though we do now allow for a more contemporary interpretation of that mission, as written in our revised purpose statement: the Corporation’s purpose is to serve youth at risk of failing as adults by helping them develop home-living skills in a safe and stable home environment, by providing them with positive and motivational educational experiences, and by attending to their physical, vocational, moral and spiritual development.

 

I am pleased to tell you that the members approved the new bylaws on August 7, 2010. I would like to summarize some of the important changes (this should not be considered a comprehensive list) that I believe will make the organization more efficient and encourage more people to join the Association.

 

The first change I’d like to share relates to how people may become members of the Association. In the past, as you know, members were elected for life if they met certain criteria. Unfortunately, this resulted in many people becoming members who are not active nor do they make additional financial donations. The amount of money needed to be eligible to be a member was also a deterrent to many who wished to join. The new bylaws, while grandfathering existing members until August 31, 2011, have lowered the financial threshold so that an individual can become or remain a member by paying dues of $50 for a one-year membership, renewable annually.

 

The rights of the members include electing a slate of directors and any other matter that the directors choose to ask them to vote upon. These are essentially the same rights you have had, with the exception that rather than electing the directors individually, you will now elect them as a slate. In addition, the members no longer elect new members, the officers of the Association nor the independent auditors.

 

Given that in the past it has been, at times, difficult to reach a quorum to conduct business, the threshold for a quorum of a member meeting has been reduced to 5% from 10%. 

 

The role of president of the Association has been confusing given there has also been a chair of the Board and an Executive Director. The new bylaws eliminate that confusion by replacing the president of the Association with a member representative, who is also a member of the board of directors. This is the role that I was elected to fulfill at the annual meeting. The title of the Executive Director has been modified to be President and Executive Director, and is a paid position reporting to the Board of Directors. 

 

The size of the Board has been modified from being a 15 to 32 member board to a 15 to 22 member board; there are currently 15 members of the Board.

 

Additional changes include: the Board may now remove a member of the Board for cause, rather than having to go to the members of the Association; and the bylaws can be amended by the Board.

 

I hope you will agree with me that these changes will help streamline the governing process of our Association and, equally important, create membership opportunities for more individuals to join our Association. I would also note that the Board now has a standing Governance Committee, among the duties of which will be to evaluate and recommend revisions to the bylaws as needed to ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of the governance of the organization. Thus, we can think of the bylaws as a living document, and members can feel free to encourage the Governance Committee to consider changes that may, from your perspective, further improve the functioning of Good Will-Hinckley.

 

If you would like a copy of the new bylaws or Articles of Incorporation, please let me know and I will have them sent to you.

 

I look forward to being your member representative and plan to post updated information on the Good Will-Hinckley website (www.gwh.org) as it becomes available. I encourage you to check it on a regular basis. If we have your email address, you will receive an email notification of news as it is posted as well.

 

Finally, if you are receiving this letter through the US Postal service, but you have an email address please forward me your email address at GWHAMEMREP@GWH.ORG  so we can lower our postage costs. Thank you.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

Pat Zlotin, ‘64

Good Will Home Association Member Representative