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SLATE OF CANDIDATES FOR ELECTED POSITIONS 
2016-2017

The members of the Nominating Committee, Allison Andersen, Judy Hook, and Maureen Maliszewski, submit the following slate of candidates for the congregation's consideration for election at the Annual Meeting on Sunday, May 22, 2016:

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

President
Teresa Jordan (1-year term)

Vice President
Tom Miller (first year Vice President; following year President)

Associate Treasurer
K. Redford (first year Associate Treasurer; following year Treasurer)

NOMINATING COMMITTEE
Our bylaws require the congregation elect three members to the Nominating Committee. Allison Andersen was elected for a 2-year term last year and will continue to serve for the upcoming year. There are two positions open on the Nominating Committee, but only one identified candidate.  Nominations from the floor will be required to fill the third position.

Maureen Maliszewski  (second 2-year term)

Vacancy

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

In compliance with our bylaws, UUFD hereby notifies its membership of proposed amendments to our bylaws and the slate of candidates (see above) for elected offices prior to the May 22 congregational meeting. 
 
EXPLANATION OF PROPOSED BYLAWS AMENDMENTS


Please review the proposed amendments to the bylaws that the congregation will consider at the Annual Meeting after worship on Sunday, May 22, 2016. Plan to attend one of the discussion sessions to clarify any questions prior to the Annual Meeting. The Bylaws Discussions are scheduled at UUFD on Sunday, May 1 at 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. and on Sunday, May 15 at 9 a.m. and 12 p.m.

STYLE ELEMENTS OF PROPOSED BYLAWS AMENDMENTS DOCUMENT
Existing bylaws wording is printed in black type. Wording proposed for deletion is struck though with a black line. New wording appears in red type. Comments along the sidebar call attention to changes with a brief explanation.

FORMAT AND ORANIZATION CHANGES
Two format changes are proposed. First, the word "section" will be added to each numbered paragraph in each article. This will make it easier to reference a particular location within the bylaws.  Second, adding titles to each numbered section will facilitate locating information within the bylaws document.
Much of the struck-through wording has been reorganized or rephrased for brevity without changing meaning.

OTHER CHANGES TO NOTE:

DECREASING AGE FOR MEMBERSHIP - See ARTICLE V, Section 1.
Decreasing the eligible age for membership from 18 to 16 years will permit younger people to formally join our beloved community.  There is at least one young person in our congregation who has demonstrated dedication to our faith through service and conference participation far beyond most of our adult members, and yet she is prohibited from membership due to the current age limitation. Decreasing the eligibility age will open membership to such dedicated young people.

PROXY VOTING ELIMINATED - SEE ARTICLE VI, 7. and ARTICLE VII, 7.
Proxy voting will be eliminated for board meetings and congregational meetings. Congregational best practices warn against proxy voting. With proxy voting, some members vote without having heard the discussion - thus depriving others of their right to influence the group's decisions. Informed voting is crucial to democracy embraced in our Unitarian Universalist Fifth Principle.

WHO MAY REPRESENT UUFD IN THE COMMUNITY - See ARTICLE XVI, Section 2. This removes the requirement of a congregational vote before anyone can speak on behalf of the fellowship and replaces it with a method in which our Unitarian Universalist principals can be represented within the larger community.

ITEMS FOR POLICIES
Bylaws are characterized by brevity, covering only the "bare bones" of structural organization. The following items in the current bylaws will be addressed within policies.: ARITCLE VII, Section 3; ARTICLE VII, 11. ; ARTICLE IX, Section 2; and ARTICLE XI - Service Contracts.



Important Dates

Bylaws Discussions 
Sunday, May 1  9:00 am
Sunday, May 15  9:00 am and 12:00 noon
UUFD

Annual Meeting
Sunday, May 22, following worship service
UUFD