EXISTING
One quarter (1/4) of the Voting Membership, including proxies, shall constitute a quorum at any scheduled membership meeting.
PROPOSED
One fifth (1/5) of the Voting Membership, including proxies, shall constitute a quorum at any scheduled membership meeting.
PROPOSED (strikeout of eliminated text/bolding of new text)
One quarter (1/4) fifth (1/5) of the Voting Membership, including proxies, shall constitute a quorum at any scheduled membership meeting.
EXPLANATION AND JUSTIFICATION
There is a serious danger that it may become impossible to change By-Laws in the future due to quorum requirements and declining Voting Member participation. In 2005 there were 188 Voting Members (quorum=63, 1/3), 63 of whom voted on By-Laws to drop the quorum to 1/4. In 2008 there were 280 Voting Members (quorum=70, 1/4), 74 of whom voted on By-Laws. 1/5 may address the quorum issue for the time being, and as voter participation declines with increasing Membership (and increasing consumer-mentality), further adjustments will become hopefully become evident enough in advance that the quorum can be lowered if need be. Prior approval by one third of the CI Directors and the requirement of mailing proxies six weeks before a vote provide protection against possible dangers of take-over by a small minority due to an excessively low quorum (see proposed changes to the procedure for amending by-laws).
This is important. Everyone needs to vote on this, even if you don't vote for any directors or for any other amendment. It may be hard to get a quorum in order to lower the quorum. Now is the time to act.
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