[DRAFT 3] Bylwas Revision: COMMITTEES

[- changed the opening sentence again to read better
- defined permanent committees a little better
- are any permanent committees missing?
- does anything else need changing?
- voting discussions are on the horizon...

--Nils.]

COMMITTEES
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Committees are an extension of the board of directors and take care of the
day to day business of the organization. They should not be formed for
one-time or short term situations.

Committees are governed by the board of directors and are accountable to
the board and the membership.

Committees may propose resolutions and motions within the scope of their
charter. Discussions should be held in a public forum, but the committee
may have private discussions if they are deemed necessary.

Charter
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The committee charter completely describes the rights and responsibilities
of the committee, as well as its structure, membership policies, and any
other relevant details. The charter should also provide an outline for how
discussions will be conducted, and how the membership and public are to be
informed of its actions. Charters are issued and revoked by the board of
directors. The charter shall be put before the membership for review and
discussion before it is voted on by the board of directors.

The charter shall also define the membership structure of the committee.
Both contributing and non contributing members are eligible to serve on
committees.

Permanent Committees
--------------------
Permanent committees are in charge of issues that are vital to the basic
functionality of the organization. Their charters shall not be revoked but
may be modified by the board of directors if necessary.

The permanent committees shall be as follows:

- Membership Committee
This committee is responsible for handling all membership related
issues, including verifying the identity of new members and ensuring that
the membership rules are being observed.

- Administrative Committee
This committee is responsible for maintaining the computers and other
technical systems that Software In The Public Interest, Inc. is using and
other technical resources.

--
Nils Lohner Software in the Public Interest, Inc.
E-Mail: lohner(at)spi-inc(dot)org PO Box 1326
Board Of Directors <board(at)spi-inc(dot)org> Boston, Ma. 02117 USA