Our WILPF Bylaws Protect and Define Us: Five Proposed Bylaws Amendments on WILPF Members’ Ballot

By Darien De Lu
President

November 2024

Are you one of the rare people who pay attention to our WILPF Bylaws, knowing that they shape our organization? This year’s ballot contains not only a record number of Board candidates but also more proposed Bylaws amendments than usual. While most of the amendments clarify practices and procedures already in use, a couple propose significant changes.

These two key changes primarily relate to the national board. The first proposed amendment introduces a new qualification for running for or being appointed to the board. Under this proposal, all board applicants must have been an active member of a national-level WILPF committee for at least twelve months.

The required committee experience may include participation in one of our seven issue committees (listed here), on a Board Standing Committee (outlined in Part VI of our Bylaws, available here), or through service on an ad hoc committee. (Ad hoc committees, by definition, are formed for specific purposes and often exist for only a few years. WILPF members can always contact the WILPF President at President@wilpfus.org for further information about these committees.) Involvement with any of these committees helps members become more knowledgeable about WILPF’s national structure and functioning.

This proposed board qualification change is part of a broader amendment that includes additional revisions. Similarly, the second key amendment related to board effectiveness also introduces other updates. However, the focus of this amendment is the expectation that board members should attend all board meetings. Regular attendance is essential for effective board functioning, ensuring continuity in board business and representation of perspectives from the Board Standing Committees on which members serve.

Both proposed changes are intended to protect WILPF. Requiring board candidates to have at least one year of active committee involvement ensures they understand how WILPF operates and demonstrate a clear commitment to the organization. Likewise, establishing an expectation of full meeting attendance—and specifying that missing meetings without good cause may result in removal from the board—reinforces the seriousness of board service.

The other proposed amendments focus on smaller yet meaningful updates. One simple amendment changes the name of the current Membership Development Committee to the Membership Committee. This change isn’t just about shortening the name—it helps avoid confusion with another Board Standing Committee, the Development Committee.

Another amendment focuses on defining WILPF by clarifying naming conventions for new WILPF branches. Branch names help communicate what WILPF stands for. The first naming option is to use a local geographic name (e.g., a city or broader geographic region). The second option is to honor a deceased activist whose work aligns with WILPF principles. These naming conventions reflect the dual national and local nature of WILPF and underscore its values.

The fifth proposed amendment codifies current procedures. It formalizes existing board practices related to board appointments and clarifies the definition of the “current year’s Board term,” distinguishing it from the standard three-year term for most positions.

The (ad hoc) Bylaws Committee spent much of the past year evaluating which amendments were necessary and feasible, as well as developing their specific wording. Now, as member ballots arrive in the mail later this month, it’s up to you—the WILPF US members—to decide: Do these amendments achieve their goals of helping to protect and define our organization?