Communicator September 2009
2009 Assembly Approves Bylaw Revision Fifty-six members of the American Institute of Parliamentarians gathered in New Orleans to debate and decide on a revision of the organization’s governing documents.
Table of Contents Accrediting Department
7
Accrediting Exam Deadlines
7
Board Action
4
Bookstore
2
Calendar of Events
8
Contacts
2
Dahm’s Workshop
6
Member Profile
5
New Members
6
PJ Authors Honored
7
PJ Preview
7
President’s Letter
1
Upcoming Events
3
President James “Jim” Jones, CPP-T, presided over the event. Education programs were organized by Teresa Dean, CPP-T, Education Director. The bylaws revision, as amended, was adopted by a vote of 35-7. Some of the key changes proposed and approved in the revised bylaws were: • Elimination of AIP regions as of June 30, 2010. • Making the –T designation a full certification under the control of the Accrediting Department.
PRESIDENT’S LETTER
READY, SET… When I ran track in school, these words let the runners know that the race was about to begin. They filled us with anticipation as we waited for the gun to go off that would set us on our way. A similar feeling of anticipation has overtaken us in AIP. After a successful annual session we now wait with anticipation as we embark on a year that will be filled with exciting new opportunities for our membership. Coming out of New Orleans with revised bylaws, a revamped strategic plan, and renewed enthusiasm from our membership, AIP is definitely ready to make the coming year another year of success and growth. The new look of this quarter’s Communicator is just a small outward indicator of the changes happening in AIP. We will also be rolling out a different look for the Parliamentary Journal and the website. These changes reflect the continued improvement AIP is making in providing comprehensive useful information to our members. Also, this year the education department will present a series of educational events across the United States and Canada. This is a key step in AIP carrying out its strategic mission. This eight-event
• Anniversary billing of members. Current members will have dues billing dates of June 1. New members will be billed annually based on the date they join. The assembly also adopted related provisos: • Money budgeted for Regions is to be used for area seminars. (ed.: see page 8 for a full calendar of events.) • The board of directors has been asked to review the concept of Regions and Chapters and their relationship with AIP. They are to bring a recommendation to the 2010 Annual Session. (Continued on Page 4)
by JAMES “Jim” JONES, CPP-T
“road show” will reach out to both our members and the public and will be focused on meeting their needs. Each event will be based on a particular theme in order to maximize the learning opportunity. Our member services committee has begun its “1K run” project looking to return AIP to the 1,000 membership level by next year. The first step in this process has been increasing our retention rate from past years. Through a letter and phone call campaign the committee has already passed its goals in this area, providing a good foundation to make the jump back to 1,000 members. Find a way to participate in these exciting times. Grow with AIP. Get in wherever you fit in. AIP is back in the starting blocks. So—ready, set, GROW!