Are Ya Gonna Dance?

From the publicly available online minutes of the society BOD meeting on Nov 24th:
9. Membership Committee Report and Recommendations
The following six recommendations from the Membership Committee that were circulated to the Board prior to the meeting were discussed:
1. Recommend "non-voting" membership status for paid staff.
2. Adoptees are currently granted a one-year membership; recommend that we add an option to the adoption application forms for them to "consent" to being members so they are aware.
3. Recommend that a membership cannot be bought for another person unless that person is receptive to same, as indicated by completing an application, including membership dues.
4. Standard date to renew memberships - April 1st recommended because members that are thinking AGM will also think about their membership. As we are all aware, we are inundated with solicitations pre-Christmas. After school, a major portion of the public are concentrating on many other things.
5. Recommend that we ask [name omitted], who provides computer and tech support for the Provincial Office, to develop a database for the membership that would include automatically sending out renewal notices via email and the ability to produce up-to-date membership lists whenever needed.
6. Recommend that the Chair of the Membership Committee be responsible for the Voting Members admittance to the AGM.
Following discussion, Board consensus was that the standard expiry date be January 1st, with a cut-off date of April 1st to purchase a membership and vote at that year’s AGM.
Motion by Jim Kochanoff to accept the Membership Committee recommendations, with the noted revision to the renewal date.
Motion seconded by Scott Millar.
Motion passed by majority vote.
No objections, one abstention.
In camera discussion held regarding the April 2008 AGM membership list.
It was noted that there were irregularities with the 2008 AGM membership list and that the newly approved procedures for membership applications will help prevent such irregularities in the future.
Why do I think this is worth mentioning? After all, according to the new Animal Cruelty law, para 7, (6) Annual general meetings of the Society must be open to the public.
Open yes, but if you want to vote, you still have to get a membership. And according to these rules, if you want to vote, get your membership by the first of April. No fooling.
I also really like the non voting membership idea for paid staff. In the interest of fair play it protects the staff from becoming pawns out of concern for their jobs. It also keeps the playing field more level by not giving any candidates any extra leverage. As do the new proposals for 'gift' memberships.
I didn't know about the membership for adopters but also think that's a splendid idea. Encouraging adopters to be ''part of the family' makes sense on a lot of levels. During the adoption process, they experienced first hand the level of support and customer service from the shelter. And of course every adopter is potential foster/volunteer/donor and of sometimes even a repeat adopter.
The diplomatic mention of the irregularities last year is just another reason I like the way this BOD has been doing business. Instead of wasting energy with mudslinging and making excuses, they are working at making positive change.
I know I go on and on like a stuck record, but as with anything else, if you want to have a voice then you really need to vote. Or like that old poster I have hanging around here says: Do something... lead, follow or get out of the way!