Members:
We wish to inform you of an error we made in the bylaw vote that was recently taken. In that vote, the membership overwhelmingly approved a change to the by-laws that allows the Co-op to send notices to members via email. What had slipped through the cracks was the fact that a revision to the bylaws had already been made in 2017 addressing this issue. Our explanation of how the new proposal changed the existing bylaws excluded the 2017 changes. Fortunately, there is little difference between the language adopted in 2017 and what was just approved by the membership.
Below is (1) the language of the 2017 revision and (2) the language we had proposed in the vote:
- (2017 version)
B. All members have a duty to provide TPSS Co-op with their current email and postal addresses, and phone number when joining and to notify TPSS Co-op of any change of their contact information within 45 days of such a change. Any failure to notify TPSS Co-op of a change of contact information pursuant to this Article 2.3.B shall release TPSS Co-op from its duty to notify the member(s) of any regular or special meeting or any vote by the general membership to be conducted by ballot or otherwise.
- (2019 proposed version)
B. Upon joining members must provide TPSS Co-op with their address, phone number and e-mail address, and must keep them current, notifying TPSS Co-op of any changes within 10 days of such a change. Any failure to notify TPSS Co-op of a change pursuant to this Article 2.3.B shall release TPSS Co-op from its duty to notify the member(s) of any regular or special meeting or any vote by the general membership to be conducted by ballot or otherwise.
As can be seen, the only real difference is that in the 2017 version there was a 45-day period in which to update your address and we changed that to 10 days in the proposed revision.
The Board apologizes for our oversight and any confusion it might have caused. However, given that our error was relatively minor and given that the membership did approve the change overwhelmingly, it is our opinion that the most recent vote should be honored and the proposed changes made part of the official bylaws.
While the Bylaws do not specifically address this type of issue, Section 10.1 of the Bylaws does allow members to petition for changes in the Bylaws. Consistent with this provision, we could hold another vote to change the time period for member updates back to 45 days if the membership chooses to invoke this procedure. If at least 10% of the 122 members who voted support a proposal to reconsider the 10-day language within 30 days of this notice there will be a re-vote. If fewer than 12 respond, the Bylaws will stay as they were most recently amended (including the 10-day language).
You can read the full updated Bylaws here.
Please do note that members are always welcome to change their address and/or email or any other information on their account at any time and such changes will be honored once made.