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Proposed Bylaw Amendment - 2025

At the April 11, 2025 Board meeting of the Virginia Chapter of APA, the Board recommended forwarding to the membership a proposed bylaw amendment. The full proposed changes may be found here, but a summary of the proposed changes may be found below. The changes are largely reflective of current practices of the Board with the most significant new component related to the ability to remove a Member Advocate. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to Andrew Hopewell at president@apavirginia.com.

Summary of Proposed Virginia Chapter of the American Planning Association Bylaws

  • Article IV – Board of Directors - Composition: Adds numbering to Board positions.
  • Article IV – Board of Directors – Duties & Responsibilities: Changes timing of review of statements of board member duties and responsibilities from annually to in conjunction with updates to the work and development plans (biennial). Removed presentation of annual report at annual chapter meeting as report is sent to all members at the start of each calendar year.
  • Article IV – Board of Directors – Executive Committee: Adds numbering to Executive Committee members.
  • Article IV – Board of Directors – Student Representative: Removed reference to the Student Representatives Committee as a later change makes this body optional. Also adds the ability for an ex-officio student representative to vote if the voting student representative is absent.
  • Article IV – Board of Directors – Faculty Representative: Removes requirement to consult with department chairs as currently department chairs put forward their faculty representatives. Also adds the ability for an ex-officio faculty representative to vote if the voting faculty representative is absent.
  • Article IV – Board of Directors – Departure from the Board: Makes clear reference to existing bylaw language of reasons a board member may be terminated from their role. Also adds additional clarity to process for removing a board member.
  • Article V – Finances – Chapter Budget: Shifts the budget adoption date back by a month to align with the Chapter Board meeting schedule as the fall meeting occurs in October.
  • Article V – Finances – Annual Financial Report/Audit: Extends the time to prepare a financial report or audit report to 100 days after the close of the fiscal year to align with the winter meeting occurring now in January rather than December.
  • Article VI – Sections – Section Directors: Changes the method of appointment of Section Directors from a Board vote to a 2-year appointment by the VP of Sections and also removes the 4 year term limit.
  • Article VII – Committees – Generally: Removes obligation to have a self-governing Student Representatives Committee.
  • Article VIII – Member Advocates – Responsibilities: Makes clear that Advocates are only dealing with Chapter events or with Chapter members acting in a capacity for the Chapter Board.
  • Article VIII – Member Advocates – Term: Provides a process for a Member Advocate to be removed by their peers if they are failing to meet the positions responsibilities and expectations.
  • Article IX – Elections – Balloting: Removes outdated language related to the process that has been made redundant by the utilization of APA National’s on-line voting. Also makes clear that write-in candidates are permitted.