Eligible NFDA members have until September 14 to vote on a series of proposed changes to the association’s bylaws, including transitioning to an Issues Forum meeting structure intended to produce more participation from all state associations and their members.
NFDA previously shared proposed changes to the bylaws with in early-July; however, at the July 31 Policy Board meeting your representatives provided valuable insights and recommended important improvements to the proposed changes.
Changes were made, as you will see in the summary below. The updated bylaws proposal was approved by the NFDA Board of Directors, and we're asking eligible members to review them in preparation to cast their vote(s) before the September 14 deadline.
Proposed Governance Changes to NFDA Bylaws
Membership Voting Period. The voting period for membership votes on proposed changes to the NFDA Bylaws would be reduced from 30 days to 14 days.
Advocacy Committee. The size of the Advocacy Committee would be reduced from the NFDA officers and ten (10) NFDA members to the NFDA officers and seven (7) NFDA members. The coordination of funding for and contributions by the NFDA Political Action Committee will be done in consultation with the NFDA CEO, President, Treasurer and Sr. Vice President, Advocacy. The Committee will monitor the strategic action plans for the Advocacy Program of NFDA.
Policy Board. Build an open communication structure through Issues Forums that will allow for multiple voices from one state to share during the Forum. The Policy Board would evolve into a more open structure to provide expanded information sharing through the Issues Forum. Issues Forums meetings could take place at major NFDA Conferences and/or Convention or be held virtually.
State Associations retain and appoint a State Association Representative who will continue to attend the in-person voting meeting and cast the vote for the At-Large Board of Directors positions in-person at the NFDA Leadership Conference.
An Issue Forum will be scheduled during the Leadership Conference to allow each State Association Representative to cast their state’s vote in the election during the Issue Form for at-large representatives to the Board of Directors.
Leadership Development Committee. Increase the committee size by 3 people and the term by one year for a total of 3-year terms. Hold a one-time special election from members of the Policy Board to begin the revised committee.
To learn more, please visit www.nfda.org/vote.
How to Vote
Per Article XIV of the NFDA Bylaws, eligible members will have a 30-day window to vote after the proposed amendment to the Bylaws is submitted to the membership.
YesElections, on behalf of NFDA, will email eligible firm members and individual members a link to the NFDA voting site where they can cast their vote electronically. Eligible members can also log in to NFDA’s website and go to the voting site.
If NFDA does not have an e-mail address for a firm member or individual member, YesElections will send them a postcard with credentials and instructions for voting online.
Firm members have two votes and each individual member has one vote.
To pass, the amendment needs a two-thirds majority of all the votes that are cast.
Voting opened August, 16 at 9 a.m. ET and will conclude on September 14 at 5 p.m. ET.