All Resolutions Passed at Extraordinary General Meeting in Cologne 

Eight resolutions were proposed in advance and voted on at the Cologne Retreat. Five passed by acclamation, and only one proposal garnered any votes against. In this controversial proposal, the word “present” was removed to allow for voting at an AGM by proxy voting, video conference, or other technology. The proposal was to change the Bylaw wording: “Policy issues shall be decided by a two-thirds vote of those present and voting” to: “Policy issues shall be decided by a two-thirds majority of votes.”

Some argued that to maintain a strong community, we want those who actually show up to have the most say. Others pointed out that AGMs only held at Fall Retreats would exclude those who could only come in the spring. The motion to approve the new wording passed with 34 votes in support, 4 opposed and 6 abstaining. The previous wording and newly adopted wording are shown below.

  1. Previous: The budget proposed for the forthcoming fiscal year will be presented and voted upon at the Annual General Meeting.  The fiscal year and the program year shall coincide and shall be from 1 September until 31 August of the following year.
    Accepted: The budget proposed for the forthcoming fiscal year will be presented and voted upon at the Annual General Meeting.  The fiscal year and the program year shall coincide and shall be from 1 January until 31 December.
  2. Previous: The officers of the association shall be President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Recording Secretary. They will be elected at the Annual General Meeting held each Spring, and their term of office shall be from 1 September until 31 August of the following year.
    Accepted: The officers of the association shall be President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Recording Secretary.  They will be elected at the Annual General Meeting held each Fall, and their term of office shall be from 1 January to 31 December of the following year.
  3. Previous: Their term of office is from 1 September until 31 August of the following year. It is the responsibility of the member fellowships and the unaffiliated members to appoint their respective representatives to the CC, and to ensure that they are voting members of their respective groups prior to and during their term of office.
    Accepted: Their term of office is from 1 January until 31 December of the following year. It is the responsibility of the member fellowships and the unaffiliated members to appoint their respective representatives to the CC, and to ensure that they are voting members of their respective groups prior to and during their term of office.
  4. Previous: There shall be an Annual General Meeting of the EUU membership in the Spring of each year.
    Accepted: There shall be an Annual General Meeting of the EUU membership in the Fall of each year.
  5. Previous: When there are sufficient reasons, and after counselling with the CC, the President may also call for a General Meeting in the Fall.
    Accepted: When there are sufficient reasons, and after counseling with the CC, the President may also call for an Extraordinary General Meeting in the Spring.
  6. Previous: The President of the association, or in his absence the Vice-President, shall chair the CC meetings. All members of the CC, except the chair, are voting members. The chair shall vote only to break a tie vote between CC members.
    Accepted: The President of the association, or, in the President’s absence, the Vice-President shall chair the CC meetings.  All members of the CC, except the chair, are voting members. The chair shall vote only to break a tie vote between CC members.
  7. Previous: Voting for officers is open to all members of EUU, and election of officers will be simple majority of votes.  Policy issues shall be decided by a two-thirds vote of those present and voting.  Members of the EUU attending the Annual General Meeting shall automatically constitute a quorum.
    Accepted:  Voting for officers is open to all members of EUU, and election of officers will be simple majority of votes.  Policy issues shall be decided by a two-thirds majority of votes.  Members of the EUU attending the Annual General Meeting shall automatically constitute a quorum.
  8. Previous: The name of this religious organization shall be European Unitarian Universalists.  The abbreviation EUU may be used.
    Accepted: The name of this religious organization shall be European Unitarian Universalists.  The abbreviation EUU may be used as well as the designation EUU – Unitarian Universalists in Europe. 

Changes to the French By-Laws

Article 8 Organisation interne de l’Association / Administrative Structure

  1. Le Bureau

2nd & 3rd sentences:

Previous: Les membres du Bureau sont élus lors de l’Assemblée générale annuelle de l’Association tenue chaque printemps.  Le mandat des membres du bureau débute le 1er septembre et s’achève le 31 août de l’année suivante.

translation: They will be elected at the Annual General Meeting held each Spring, and their term of office shall be from 1 September until 31 August of the following year.

Accepted: Les membres du Bureau sont élus lors de l’Assemblée générale annuelle de l’Association tenue chaque automne.  Le mandat des membres du bureau débute le 1er janvier de l’année suivante et s’achève le 31 décembre de la même année.

translation: They will be elected at the Annual General Meeting held each Autumn, and their term of office shall be from 1 January of the following year until 31 December of that year.

 

  1. Le Conseil d’Administration (CA) / Coordinating Council (CC)

3rd paragraph:

Previous: Leur mandat débute le 1er septembre et s’achève le 31 août de l’année suivante.

Translation: Their term of office is from 1 September until 31 August of the following year.

Accepted: Leur mandat débute le 1er janvier de l’année suivante et s’achève le 31 décembre suivant.

Translation: Their term of office is from 1 January of the following year until 31 December of that year.