March 2021 - 24

Proposed ACBL Bylaws Amendment
The following is a proposed set of changes to the ACBL Bylaws. Members
wishing to comment on these may contact their District Directors at
districtXdirector@acbl.org using their district number in place of the " X. "
ARTICLE IX: BOARD OF GOVERNORS
9.1 Purposes. The purposes of the Board of Governors are:

9.1.1 To act as a forum for the expression of opinion by the
membership.

9.1.2 To identify the needs and concerns of the membership.

9.1.3 To act as a liaison between members and both the Board of

Directors and ACBL management to ensure the needs and

concerns of the membership are addressed.

9.1.4. To improve communication and coordination among Districts

and Units.
9.2 Duties. To further these purposes, the Board of Governors shall:

9.2.1 Establish the following standing committees:

i) Club and teacher support, growth, and development.

ii) Membership growth and retention.

iii) General matters relating to the play of bridge.

9.2.2 At the request of the Board of Directors and/or ACBL

management, lead or participate in other committees as needed.

9.2.3 Establish such other committees as are necessary to address the

interests of the membership.

9.2.4 Propose resolutions for consideration (and, if necessary,

reconsideration) by the Board of Directors reflecting the needs

and concerns of the membership.

9.2.5 Report important issues from Board of Governors meetings to

District and Unit members.

9.2.6 Perform such other duties as may be specified elsewhere in these

Bylaws or as may be assigned by the Board of Directors or ACBL
management.
Membership. The following shall make up the membership of the Board
of Governors.

9.3.1 Effective January 1, 2024, there shall be three Representatives

from each District who shall be elected for a term of three (3)
years.

9.3.2 All persons who were members of the Board of Governors as of

January 1, 2021, by virtue of their former status as First or

Second Alternate Director to the Board of Directors shall remain

members of the Board of Governors until one year following the

date on which their terms would otherwise expire or until they

resign or are deemed to have resigned. If a member referred to

in this provision resigns or is deemed to have resigned before

January 1, 2024, he or she will not be replaced on the Board of

Governors. No further elections shall take place for these
positions.

9.3.3 All persons who were members of the Board of Governors as of

January 1, 2021, by virtue of their former position of President

of the Board of Directors shall maintain their membership

(subject to subsection 9.7.3). If, by virtue of subsection 9.7.3 such
member is deemed to have resigned, he or she will not be replaced
on the Board of Governors.

9.3.4 All past Chairs of the Board of Governors shall also be members

(subject to subsection 9.7.3). If, by virtue of subsection 9.7.3, such

member is deemed to have resigned he or she will not be replaced

on the Board of Governors.

9.3.5 All other members of the Board of Governors as of June 1, 2021,

shall maintain their membership on the Board of Governors

until their terms expire (subject to subsection 9.7.3). If a

member's term extends beyond January 1, 2024, his or her

membership shall be counted in the three Representatives

referred to in subsection 9.3.1. If a member referred to in this

provision is deemed to have resigned in accordance with

subsection 9.7.3 at any time, that member will be replaced in

accordance with subsection 9.3.7.

9.3.6

9.3.7

9.3.8

9.4

Officers. The following shall be the officers to be selected from the
membership of the Board of Governors:

9.4.1 Chair, who shall be responsible to Chair all meetings, make

appointments to committees, attend all regular and special

meetings of the Board of Directors with voice but without vote

and with the same compensation and reimbursement of expenses

as a member of the Board of Directors, and perform such other

duties as the position requires.

9.4.2 Vice-Chair, who shall be responsible to assist the Chair in the

execution of duties, to perform the duties of Chair should the

Chair be unable for any reason and to perform such other duties

as the Chair requires.

9.4.3 Secretary, who shall be appointed by the Chair and approved

by the Board of Governors. The Secretary shall be responsible to

give timely notice of all meetings, take minutes of all meetings,

monitor attendance at all meetings, distribute all correspondence

to the membership of the Board of Governors and to perform

such other duties as the Chair requires.
9.5

Officer Elections and Term of Office. At its Fall meeting in even numbered years, the Board of Governors shall elect one of its members as
Chair and one as Vice-Chair. The term of office shall be two years commencing on January 1 of the year following the election. The Chair may
be elected to no more than two consecutive terms.

9.6

Voting Privileges. Each Board of Governors member shall have one vote.
No proxy voting is permitted.

9.3

24 | Bridge Bulletin | March 2021

Each Representative must:
i) be a member in good standing of the ACBL; and
ii) be a member of a Unit located within the District which he
or she represents and must remain a member of a Unit located
with the District during their term.
If a vacancy referred to in subsection 9.3.5 occurs in any District,
the President of the District shall be immediately notified and the
District shall appoint a replacement member for the duration of
the term of the member.
No member of the Board of Directors shall have a voice or vote on
the Board of Governors.

9.7 Meetings.

9.7.1 The Board of Governors shall hold three regular meetings

annually in conjunction with the North American Bridge

Championships. Regular meetings may be held in person as well

as electronically. A member will also be deemed to have attended

a meeting if that person participates in the meeting in a manner

that allows for contemporaneous communication. Notice of

regular meetings shall be given by the Secretary at least thirty

(30) days prior to the meeting.

Special meetings may be called by the Chair of the Board of

Governors. Notice of the date, time, method, and agenda of

special meetings shall be given to each member of the Board of

Governors at least thirty (30) days prior the meeting. Business

transacted at special meetings shall be noted on the agenda

furnished with the meeting notice. Special meetings may be held

in person or electronically, but meetings held in person may be

attended electronically.

9.7.2 A quorum at a meeting of the Board of Governors shall consist of

thirty (30) members of the Board of Governors representing a

majority of ACBL Districts.

9.7.3 Any member who fails to attend two thirds of all meetings

available electronically in a calendar year shall be deemed to have

resigned and shall not be eligible to serve as a member of the

Board of Governors until the next regularly scheduled election

The Chair may grant an exception in the event of extenuating
circumstances.

March 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of March 2021