The proposed modifications to the bylaws of AMSAT include a provision for the secretary and the board members to deny membership renewal to any member or member society. This is included in Article 1, Section 2. The new rule is:
Section 2. Applications for membership or renewal as Member or Member Society shall be submitted to and in the manner prescribed by the Secretary. In the case of any applicant whose character, reputation, or conduct might make him or her an undesirable member, the Secretary shall refer the application to the Board of Directors (the "Board") for review; in all other cases, the Secretary shall have the authority to grant membership.
Obviously, this is aimed at the folks who dared to challenge the board (and win) in a democratic election, and of course me, for daring to campaign for them. It is a fact that many non-profit boards have never learned about the fact that there should be contentious elections - that's what democracy is about. They just see them as a threat. So, here's a rather undemocratic rule which allows them to purge opposition, so that they will not be able to vote in the next election.
Because the board doesn't want you to interfere with their addition of this rule, they have required that you register any objection to this, and other new rules, by writing a letter on paper and mailing it with a stamp. Objections you post to the BBS are useful for discussion and I encourage you to do so, but the board will not count them.
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Bruce Perens - Board Partner, OSS Capital LLC Venture Capital