Bylaws Panel
To communicate with the Bylaws Panel please email:
Proposals to revise the HWFC Bylaws from the Bylaws Panel:
Note from the BLP: Prompted by requests from the Governance Review Council that the Bylaws Panel consider amendments to the HWFC Bylaws that would clarify the categories of decisions the Board must make at a noticed open Board meeting and the categories of decisions the Board may make at its private work sessions, the Panel developed significant amendments for Member-Owner consideration. Among other things, the Panel is proposing that all policy matters must be discussed and decided at noticed open Board meetings. The proposed amendments and explanations can be found here:
Draft Proposals for Member Owner Feedback
Member-Owners are encouraged to attend any of these Zoom feedback sessions:
Wednesday, September 21, 7 pm
Thursday, October 6, 10 am
Sunday, October 9, 5 pm
Tuesday, October 11, 2 pm
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/
Meeting ID: 875 8690 7665
Password: 919238
Member-Owners are also encouraged to contact the Bylaws Panel by email at blp@honestweight.coop.
Please note- The Zoom link for BLP Feedback Sessions is the same as the BLP monthly meeting link. These Feedback Sessions are for MOs to get to know the topics and give feedback about the proposals. Once feedback is considered, the BLP will finalize the proposals and schedule Informational sessions ahead of a Membership Meeting. Those Informational Sessions will be held on the same Zoom link as the scheduled Membership Meeting and will be advertised at that time. These specific draft proposals are not to be presented at the October 2022 Membership Meeting, but rather a later Membership Meeting. See below for more in-depth details of the process.
Is Something in the Bylaws Unclear? Do you see need for change in the Bylaws?
Our process is this:
Suggested proposals for new Bylaws, or revisions to existing Bylaws, are referred to the Bylaws Panel from the Board of Directors (BoD) or from the Governance Review Council (GRC). MOs who petition for Bylaws changes can also submit their proposed changes to the BLP for review and feedback.
The Bylaws Panel (BLP) will then reveiw the topic and determine if revisions will be initiated within 30 days of receipt of the topic.
If the BLP is to craft revisions, they attempt with all due muster and diligence to complete the revisions in 90 days.
The BLP then introduces the changes to the bylaws at Feedback sessions. This is where MOs are encouraged to review the proposals and give feedback. MOs may also email their feedback to the BLP during this time. The BLP then takes the feedback and works on ways to incorporate it into the proposals, if and where possible. If a membership meeting is close, the Board is likely setting the agenda for the upcoming membership meeting with all the components that will be on it at the same time as the BLP is seeking feedback from MOs.
Next, the BLP will present the bylaws proposals to the membership at Info sessions in the weeks preceding the membership meeting. By the time the revisions are being presented at the Info sessions, they may have been changed from the first proposals made at feedback sessions, the proposals have been finalized, the agenda for the membership meeting has already been set and sent to eligible MOs, and no changes to the bylaws revisions are able to be made at Info sessions.
The BLP will then give a presentation of the proposed changes at the membership meeting and the eligible MOs will vote. Proposed Bylaws get passed only if they are approved by two-thirds or more of the votes cast for the proposal. MOs have the final say!
Thank you to all the HWFC member-owners who engage in the Co-op's process of self-governing!
Monthly Meetings:
The Bylaws Panel meets on the third Wednesday of the month at 7 pm via Zoom when revisions are underway. Meeting dates may vary and be rescheduled. If there are no revisions to be reviewed by the BLP, they may not meet. A list of Zoom links for HWFC meetings is here.
To propose revisions to the Bylaws for the Bylaws Panel to consider, email your suggestions and questions to the Governance Review Council at GRC@honestweight.coop or the Board of Directors at Board@honestweight.coop. Specify in your email that you wish for the BLP to consider your request.
Bylaws Panel (BLP) 3rd Weds, 7 pm if and when revisions are being reviewed
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/
Meeting ID: 875 8690 7665
Password: 919238
The agenda of the October 19, 2022 Meeting of the Bylaws Panel can be found here.
Panel Members, Appointing Body, and Terms:
- Saul Rigberg, Governance Review Council - Term Expires 5/31/2024
- Richard Beer, Membership Committee - Term Expires 5/31/2024
- Erin Martin, Management - Term Expires 10/31/2022
- Daniel Hoh, Membership Committee - Term Expires 5/31/2023
- Andrea Shaye, Board of Directors - Term Expires 10/31/2023
- Julie Cohen, Management - Term Expires 10/31/2023
- Lieta Washington, Board of Directors - Term Expires 10/31/2022
- Cathy Holmes, Governance Review Council - Term Expires 5/31/2023
For questions or comments: email the Bylaws Panel at blp-AT-honestweight.coop