Bylaw change under consideration

By GREG BROWNELL
Sports Editor
Glens Falls (N.Y.) Post Star

Story posted on May 7, 2008

The APSE's executive committee gave preliminary approval to a proposed amendment to the organization's bylaws during the winter meetings.

The proposed amendment changes the status of general interest sports Internet sites, allowing them to become full members of the organization. Currently, Internet sites can join APSE only as associate members.

As full members, Internet sites would gain the right to hold elected office and vote in elections, as do newspaper members.

Internet sites were first admitted to APSE after a bylaw change in June of 2006 allowed them to become associate members, so long as those sites "apply generally accepted newsgathering practices and have a fulltime staff of no fewer than three people." Membership is subject to the approval of the executive committee, with dues paid at the highest category of membership. Those provisions would remain under this proposed amendment.

Before gaining final approval, bylaw changes must be approved by the executive committee during two separate meetings. Between those meetings, the proposals must be presented to the membership, either by publication in the newsletter or at a general session. In this case, this article serves as the method of presentation to the membership.

This proposed amendment may be brought up for final approval during either executive committee meeting atthe summer convention.

Comments about the proposed change may be directed to any member of the executive committee – national officers, region chairs or past presidents – who would vote on the matter this summer.

Here is the text of the proposed bylaw amendment:

A proposed amendment to the bylaws of the Associated Press Sports Editors, offered in executive committee on Feb. 26, 2008. If passed, eligible for final approval at the 2008 summer convention.

RESOLVED, that upon final adoption of this motion, the APSE bylaws are changed in the following manner:

Under 2. MEMBERSHIP, take the second paragraph of (E), and move it so that it becomes the second paragraph under (A). Strike the word "Associate" from that paragraph.

Insert the following paragraph at the end of 2. MEMBERSHIP:

G. The term "newspaper," as used in these bylaws, will refer to newspapers and Internet sites that are full members of APSE.

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Greg Brownell is Sports Editor of the Glens Falls (N.Y.) Post-Star. You can reach him at (518) 742-3277 or via e-mail at brownell@poststar.com

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