FAQs

Sunday, November 13, 2022
3PM ET / 2 PM CT

INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION
OF TORCH CLUBS

FALL CONVENTION

Frequently Asked Questions

Below please find the list of questions that were asked at the first information session as well as submitted through email.

Q: Why has the IATC Board decided to revisit our bylaws? Is there anything in particular that needs to be changed?
A: The bylaws have only seen seven changes in the last 18 years. The Board decided to review these bylaws because were outdated, lacked clarity and did not directly correlate to the current Torch mission. While some parts of the previous Torch bylaws were vague, others were too detailed and needed revision.

Q: As a member of Torch, why should I want to approve these bylaws? Why were they rewritten instead of just edited?
A: Our past President Dorothy Driscoll, started the initiative to revisit the bylaws. The committee members soon found out that making little edits over time was not adding to clarity or overall effectiveness. Also, these bylaws did not have updated rules regarding technology and did not address other prevalent issues in 2022. Important aspects like financial practices, rules for hybrid meetings, and disciplinary policies were added.

Q: Who has been in charge of rewriting the Torch bylaws? How long have the bylaws been under review?
A: A committee of regional directors representing three regions, a retired judge and a prior regional and current club officer partnered together to propose the bylaw changes. The team researched best practices for a year and a half to outline a new disciplinary policy, an outline for financial practices, and new rules for virtual meetings. The IATC board of directors spent many hours reviewing the proposal, adjusting and ultimately unanimously approving the proposed changes.

Q: Which part of these bylaws will directly affect me as a club member?
A: The criteria for what a ‘professional’ is in section one will be clarified. Also, the amount of time for nonpayment of dues has changed, as well as the time period before consequences occur. In updating our financial rules, clubs who pay are protected.

Q: What are Robert’s Rules, and how are they changing?
Robert’s Rules is a way of moving through an agenda and is a governmental procedure. However, Robert’s Rules can be confusing and lengthy. In some cases, they also allow for manipulation, as the order of decision-making can be changed in one’s favor. Instead, we will employ the Democratic Rules of Order. These rules are much shorter and common sense. They allow people to wait to be recognized and will allow the board to move through one issue at a time. They also ensure that there are no advantages for people who know more about the rules. Robert’s Rules, however, will still be available on the website as a resource.

Q: Are the clubs required to use the Democratic Rules or can they still use Roberts Rules?
Clubs are completely independent and have their own bylaws. They can choose any rules of order (or no rules of order). Democratic Rules of Order only applies to how IATC will be run.

Q: What are the good governance principles that have been added to the new bylaws?
A: These principles will apply to board governance. This means that when appointing a treasurer and secretary, the board will need to approve whoever is stepping into these roles. The old rules allowed for presidents to elect officers without board approval. These new rules also mandate that meeting minutes are distributed to the full board.

Q: What is the Policy and Procedures Manual being added to the website?
A: The Policy and Procedures Manual being added to the website will act as a resource that club members can reference. The information in the manual includes how your membership data is handled, dues information, and nominations and elections information. The draft of the manual is available on the Fall Convention Documents page.