All of the following proposed changes to the MULSA constitution passed by a vote on the membership on August 20, 2010.

Proposal 1
Plain-language explanation: Part A of the proposal reinstates a definition of MULSA membership in Article III without creating multiple levels of membership or ongoing notification requirements for MU Libraries employees. Part B moves language related to invitations to MULSA-sponsored events from the Constitution to the Bylaws and condenses it slightly in order to conform to the new Article III. The Bylaw provides for MULSA members to invite a guest instead of family, and separately, allows, but does not require, the MULSA Board to invite people who still socialize with MULSA members but who don’t meet membership requirements, such as former employees who worked elsewhere before retiring, to parties. Part C disallows MULSA members who are not current full-time employees (e.g., student employees, etc.) as MULSA officers.

A. The following wording shall be stricken from Article III of the MULSA Constitution:

Article III, Section 1: All employees of the MU Libraries, Law School Library, Western Historical Manuscripts Collection, State Historical Society of Missouri Library System Office, University Archives, UMLD and their family or one friend are invited to regular MULSA-sponsored events, including but not limited to the Annual Picnic and the Holiday Party, at no charge. The Executive Board shall strive to adhere to that standard for all sponsored and cosponsored events. The Executive Board may require fees for exceptional events, but shall not treat employees’ families differently from a single invited guest of the employees choosing.

Section 2: Other invited guest of regular MULSA-sponsored events will be former MU Libraries employees of Emeritus status and selected people voted on by the Executive Board, at no charge.”

That wording shall be replaced with:

Article III, Section 1. Membership shall be voluntary. All employees of the MU Libraries will be included as members upon appointment and will remain members until and unless they notify the MULSA Secretary that they no longer wish to be considered members. Membership is also open to individuals who are members of the following groups, upon request by the individual to the MULSA Secretary:
• Students and employees of the MU School of Information Science and Learning Technologies
• Student employees of the MU Libraries
• Employees of the Library of the State Historical Society of Missouri
• Employees of the Western Historical Manuscripts Collection
• Employees of the MU Law Library
• Employees of the Library Systems Office
• Retirees from the MU Libraries

Section 2. Members receive communications from the Board, are invited to participate in MULSA-sponsored events and projects, and to vote on matters concerning MULSA and the disbursal of funds raised by MULSA.

B. A new Bylaw, based on the language from the previous (i.e., previously approved but now stricken) Article III, shall be added between Bylaws II and III. That new Bylaw shall read:

MULSA members, student employees of the MU Libraries, and their families or one friend are invited to regular MULSA-sponsored events, including but not limited to the Annual Picnic and the Holiday Party, at no charge. The Executive Board shall strive to adhere to that standard for all sponsored and co-sponsored events. The Executive Board may require fees for exceptional events, but shall not treat employees’ families differently from a single invited guest of the employee’s choosing. Additional invited guests of regular MULSA sponsored events may be former MU Libraries employees and selected people voted on by the Executive Board.

C. The following wording shall be added to Article IV, Section I:

Only MULSA members who are full-time employees of the MU Libraries are eligible for any Executive Board position.

Proposal 2
Plain-language explanation: The proposal broadens the language on awards, as intended by the Board but not carried forward into the published May 2010 ballot language for the annual meeting. It allows the MULSA Board to offer awards for the purpose of improving morale but leaves open the details of the award(s) given, in recognition that specific awards can change or be replaced over time.

The following language of the current Bylaw IV shall be stricken:
An award or prize will be given out each month to two employees of the MU Libraries. The manner or reason for the award/prize will be decided by the MULSA Board. This award or prize will be general in purpose in nature and for the purpose of improving employee morale. The amount spent on each person will not exceed $25.00.

That language shall be replaced by the following:
The MULSA Board may give awards or prizes to individual employees or units of the MU Libraries for the purpose of improving employee morale. The manner or reason for the award/prize will be decided by the MULSA Board. The amount spent on each person will not exceed $25.00.

Proposal 3
Plain-language explanation: The proposal aligns the Bylaws with the practice of using MULSA funds in amounts over $300 to cover event-related expenses while retaining the vote requirement for spending more than $300 for items that may benefit a more limited amount of members, e.g., staff lounge appliances, etc.

The following language shall be added to the Constitution Article VI, Section II A (on electronic votes) and Bylaw I (on purchases):
Expenses related to social events to which all MULSA members are invited shall be exempt from the $300 limit on funds that can be spent without a membership vote.

Proposal 4
The Constitution and Bylaws shall be renumbered in accordance with changes resulting from the passage of the preceding ballots.