AIR Graduate Student Members Can Now Vote in AIR Leadership Elections

The AIR Bylaws were updated by a vote of the members present at the AIR Annual Business Meeting on Wednesday, June 8, in Phoenix.

Following the 2021 AIR leadership elections, the 2020-2021 Nomination and Elections Committee (NEC) offered a number of recommendations to enhance the inclusiveness of the association. One of these recommendations was to remove the restriction in the AIR Bylaws on graduate student members voting in AIR leadership elections. The Board of Directors Membership Committee reviewed this recommendation and proposed a revision of the Bylaws to allow graduate student members to vote. The Committee also made recommendations to change “individual membership” to “professional membership” to reflect current practice as well as to clarify that employees of organizational members, not the organizations themselves, may hold elective office.

In addition, the Board of Directors, proposed an amendment to Section 4 of the Bylaws about Procedure to make technical changes, including acknowledgment of the current publication of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised and to recognize any special rules that may be adopted by the association. 

As stipulated in Section 8 of the Bylaws, both of these proposals were approved by a majority vote of the Board, were filed with the Board Secretary 30 days prior to the 2022 Annual Business Meeting, and were submitted for vote by members present and voting at the 2022 Annual Business Meeting. Changes to the Bylaws became effective immediately after approval. 

Changes Voted on at June 8 Annual Business Meeting

1. The latest edition of Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern all meetings of the Association insofar as they are applicable and not inconsistent with the Constitution and Bylaws of the Association.

1. The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the Association in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws and any special rules of order the Association may adopt.

1. Membership categories will be individual professional membership, graduate student membership, emeritus membership, distinguished membership, and organizational membership. The Board of Directors may establish other membership categories to serve member needs.
2. All Association members , with the exception of graduate student members, may vote. and hold elective office.
3. All professional members, emeritus members, distinguished members, and employees of organizational members may hold elective office.