NECA

Efforts To Improve NECA Governance Stem From Strategic Plan

One goal expressed in NECA’s Long-Range Strategic Plan is to make the governance of our organization more effective by making it more representational and more attuned to changing conditions. To this end, in 2002 NECA commissioned Charles Rumbarger, an association management consultant, to identify a broad range of opportunities for optimizing NECA’s governance structures and practices.

Rumbarger noted the need for more focused meetings, improved use of communication and information technology, more effective outreach to the diverse segments within NECA’s membership, and other ongoing improvements in governance structures and procedures. He specifically recommended that we resolve differences between the constitution and bylaws and consolidate and simplify these documents. (A summary of his report is online at www.necanet.org/private/newsreport.cfm?ID=1707)

In 2003, the NECA Governance Task Force was established through our Executive Committee. It was assigned to review the consultant’s final report and help develop practical recommendations for NECA action. These recommendations were the topics of lively discussion at last year’s Board of Governors Meeting.

After reviewing feedback from that meeting and other sources, the Task Force began work on developing proposals to present to the governors. In addition, the task force drafted revised bylaws, a document that combines the current constitution and bylaws. (The proposed bylaws, along with current governing documents, are online in the “Governance” section on our members-only site. You may go directly to www.necanet.org/private/governance/ governing_docs/index.htm to read or download the bylaw proposal.) This new document has gone through a round of reviews by our Executive Committee, chapter governors, and others.

Subsequently, the task force also recommended several additional changes which will be presented as amendments to the revised bylaws and voted on individually at the Board of Governors Meeting. If the governors adopt revised bylaws, they will then vote on recommending that NECA’s membership dissolve the constitution. NECA’s Governance Task Force

Gerv Rose, Chairman, VP NECA District 4

Bob Doran, Capitol Electric, Kansas City, MO

John Negro, Nelson Electric, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Lanny Thomas, Allison-Smith Electric, Atlanta, GA

Mike Lindheim, Schwartz and Lindheim, Oakland, CA

Les Wuerfl, former NECA VP at Large, Stony Brook, NY

Steve Brown, Chapter Manager, Orange County ,CA

Dan Walter, Task Force Secretary, NECA COO