Post by RCA Webmaster on Jun 12, 2023 6:07:35 GMT -5
Decorum in debate is also guided by Robert’s Rules of Order, which states:
When a question is pending, a member can condemn the nature or likely consequences of the proposed measure in strong terms, but [the member] must avoid personalities, and under no circumstances can [the member] attack or question the motives of another member. The measure and not the member is the subject of the debate.
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Proposal for 2023 ABM
No: 3 Title: Proposal to add language to the section entitled How to Grow a Meeting – A Suggested Checklist on page 78 & 79 of the Basic Text to examine accessibility & other concerns
Submitter: RCA Literature Committee’s Ad Hoc Committee on Diversity and Inclusion Type: Amendment to Fellowship Approved Literature.
Motion:
The Committee moves to edit the section of the Basic Text entitled “How to Grow a Meeting – A Suggested Checklist,” at pages 78 and 79, which offers guidelines to individual groups. Ballot Proposal Three is to add the following statement:
“When selecting a physical meeting location, such as a place of worship or a meeting hall, preference should be given wherever feasible to those locations that are accessible to persons with different abilities, such as those with doors, ramps and rest rooms that are accessible to wheel chairs, adequate lighting, good acoustics, etc.”
Submitter’s Rationale:
If passed this proposal would implement a recommendation made by the RCA Literature Committee’s Ad Hoc Committee on Diversity and Inclusion (“Committee”). The Committee was appointed at the direction of the RCA Board of Directors to look for ways to help make RCA more diverse, inclusive, and welcoming to all, including in its website, literature, and meetings. RCA’s rules require the approval of the fellowship to make changes to RCA’s Basic Text. That is why this ballot proposal has been submitted to you for your consideration.
The Basic Text includes a checklist of 21 things that can be done to help to grow an individual RCA meeting. However, it presently does not suggest actions which can be taken to make meetings more accessible to persons with different abilities, such as challenges with mobility, vision, and hearing.
The Committee offered the following reasoning to the RCA Board of Trustees in support of its recommended revision:
“The Americans with Disabilities Act, and, presumably, legislation and rules in other countries, contain requirements for accessibility in places of public accommodation. We need always be mindful of those who may have challenges with mobility, vision, hearing, and other issues.”
.
Board of Trustees’ Comments on Proposal Three
The Board unanimously endorses Ballot Proposal #3 for the reasons stated in the submitter's rationale, which is based on the report of the Literature Committee's Ad Hoc Committee on Diversity and Inclusion
Structure Committee’s Comments on Proposal Three
The Americans with Disability Act already delineates these measures but our Fellowship is international so it is good to raise awareness of these issues. Meetings DO need to have these things in mind. But this is another instance of changing our basic text to accomplish something that may periodically be changed in the future. This issue would be better addressed in an Inclusion pamphlet or Starting a Meeting pamphlet which could be updated as needed.
0 Yays 6 Nays
When a question is pending, a member can condemn the nature or likely consequences of the proposed measure in strong terms, but [the member] must avoid personalities, and under no circumstances can [the member] attack or question the motives of another member. The measure and not the member is the subject of the debate.
====================================
Proposal for 2023 ABM
No: 3 Title: Proposal to add language to the section entitled How to Grow a Meeting – A Suggested Checklist on page 78 & 79 of the Basic Text to examine accessibility & other concerns
Submitter: RCA Literature Committee’s Ad Hoc Committee on Diversity and Inclusion Type: Amendment to Fellowship Approved Literature.
Motion:
The Committee moves to edit the section of the Basic Text entitled “How to Grow a Meeting – A Suggested Checklist,” at pages 78 and 79, which offers guidelines to individual groups. Ballot Proposal Three is to add the following statement:
“When selecting a physical meeting location, such as a place of worship or a meeting hall, preference should be given wherever feasible to those locations that are accessible to persons with different abilities, such as those with doors, ramps and rest rooms that are accessible to wheel chairs, adequate lighting, good acoustics, etc.”
Submitter’s Rationale:
If passed this proposal would implement a recommendation made by the RCA Literature Committee’s Ad Hoc Committee on Diversity and Inclusion (“Committee”). The Committee was appointed at the direction of the RCA Board of Directors to look for ways to help make RCA more diverse, inclusive, and welcoming to all, including in its website, literature, and meetings. RCA’s rules require the approval of the fellowship to make changes to RCA’s Basic Text. That is why this ballot proposal has been submitted to you for your consideration.
The Basic Text includes a checklist of 21 things that can be done to help to grow an individual RCA meeting. However, it presently does not suggest actions which can be taken to make meetings more accessible to persons with different abilities, such as challenges with mobility, vision, and hearing.
The Committee offered the following reasoning to the RCA Board of Trustees in support of its recommended revision:
“The Americans with Disabilities Act, and, presumably, legislation and rules in other countries, contain requirements for accessibility in places of public accommodation. We need always be mindful of those who may have challenges with mobility, vision, hearing, and other issues.”
.
Board of Trustees’ Comments on Proposal Three
The Board unanimously endorses Ballot Proposal #3 for the reasons stated in the submitter's rationale, which is based on the report of the Literature Committee's Ad Hoc Committee on Diversity and Inclusion
Structure Committee’s Comments on Proposal Three
The Americans with Disability Act already delineates these measures but our Fellowship is international so it is good to raise awareness of these issues. Meetings DO need to have these things in mind. But this is another instance of changing our basic text to accomplish something that may periodically be changed in the future. This issue would be better addressed in an Inclusion pamphlet or Starting a Meeting pamphlet which could be updated as needed.
0 Yays 6 Nays