The Official Voice of Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc. ®
An organization chartered by the U.S. Congress
2005
CREDENTIALS Committee ReportThe Door Keeper's Duties
BY JIM BLOUNT, CHAIR
PURPOSE
To insure the proper credentialing of delegates to the VVA National Convention and to help in the seating of the delegates in accordance with the VVA Constitution.
MEMBERSHIP
The Credentials Committee consists of the nine VVA Regional Directors and a chair nominated by the VVA national President and approved by the VVA National Board of Directors. The national staff liaison is the Director of Membership.
CREDENTIALING
The VVA member strength as of February 28 shall determine both the chapter and state council delegate count for the Convention, in accordance with Article I, Section 6, of the VVA Constitution.
No transfers of VVA members shall be authorized 90 days prior to the start of the Convention until after the end of Convention. Transfers for the purpose of starting new VVA chapters or transfers into a different chapter when a member changes his or her residence may continue.
New delegates attending their first VVA Convention must attach a copy of their DD Form 214 to their convention registration form. Delegates who attended VVA Conventions in 1999, 2001, and 2003, or are life members or state council presidents do not need to attach a copy of their DD-214. All delegates are encouraged to have a copy of their DD-214 with them at the Convention to help answer any potential credentialing questions.
When a chapter elects not to send a delegate, the chapter may transfer the delegate’s vote to another eligible VVA member in good standing from any chapter within the chapter’s state or the chapter’s state council. If a state council elects not to send a delegate, it may transfer the delegate’s vote to another eligible VVA member in good standing from any chapter within its state. Transfer authority must be in writing and signed by two chapter officers or, in the case of a state council, signed by two state council officers.
All challenges should be brought to the attention of the Credentials Committee chair. The chair will confer with the applicable regional director, state council president, and VVA membership staff for clarification of a delegate’s credentials. If a challenge cannot be resolved at that level, a meeting of the Credentials Committee will convene and arbitrate.
If VVA national has not received a copy of a state council or a chapter’s annual financial report, that state council or chapter’s delegates will not be credentialed. They will not be allowed on the Convention floor until the annual financial report has been received. Annual financial reports may be turned in at Convention. It is recommended to bring a copy of the annual financial report to the Convention.
The Credentials chair will make an oral report each morning to the assembled delegates notifying them of the total number of delegates seated that day.
SEATING
The Credentials Committee is responsible for setting up delegate chairs on the Convention floor by region and state, according to the number of delegates each state is allotted.
Delegate seating will be assigned by the following procedure: The host region will be assigned the center front section, with the host state seated in the front row or rows. The Credentials chair will then draw numbers (1-9 for each region, except the host region). The first region number drawn will be seated behind the host region, the second region number drawn will be seated behind the prior region, and so on. As soon as the first section is filled, the seating will move to the right section (stage left) and continue as before. When the right section is filled, the left section (stage left) will be seated.
All efforts will be made to keep region seating intact. Adjustments may have to be made in the order drawn depending on the size of the region and the space available. Resolution of this issue is the responsibility of the Credentials chair.
Unassigned seats may be added at the end of each region or state to accommodate delegates expected to be added after the Convention convenes.
THE BUSINESS MEETING
The Credentials Committee is responsible for establishing and certifying absences of delegates during the business meeting.
To this end, the Credentials Committee shall at all times when the delegates are in session maintain an easily identifiable presence on the main floor of the Convention.
In the event a delegate is unable to attend the Convention, or is excused during the Convention, his or her chapter or state council may register an alternate to be credentialed and seated as a delegate to the Convention, with full powers, to act in the stead of the delegate who has been excused by the Credentials Committee.
|
Visit The VVA Veteran
archives |
E-mail us at TheVeteran@vva.org