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Constitution Committee Report

The Amendment Process
BY BILL MESSER, CHAIR

The Constitutional Amendment process has begun for members, Chapters, and State Councils. The 13th National Convention being held in Springfield, Illinois, July 17-22, 2007, promises to be exciting and challenging, with innovative ideas and progress. VVA National Secretary Barry Hagge instituted an online submissions process for proposed Constitutional Amendments in 2003, after a series of Constitutional Seminars at Leadership Conferences for membership to learn the process, ask questions, and present issues.

The amendment submission cut-off date is March 19, 2007. No submissions will be accepted after this date.

Only Constitutional Amendments submitted on-line will be accepted for review and consideration.

Step 1: Go to: http://www.vva.org/Forms/constitutional_amendment.html

Step 2: Fill out the form.

Step 3: When completed, click on "submit." You will receive an immediate receipt of your submission.

Any VVA member may submit a proposed amendment. While having the support of a Chapter or State Council is not necessary, it does enhance the chances of an amendment being accepted at the Convention. In cases where an amendment duplicates another submitted by a committee, the amendment will not be reported out, and delegates may debate and amend the committee-sponsored amendment.

Please be sure to enter your membership number on the form. This is the only way we can insure that only VVA members submit proposed Constitutional Amendments. The Nationa Constitution Committee will meet in open session following the submission deadline, review all proposed amendments, and prepare its report to the membership. The committee's report will be made available via e-mail and on the VVA website within two weeks following the April meeting.

The committee will hold open hearings at the Convention before the amendments are presented to the delegates for action. We encourage everyone to attend the hearing and to make their opinions known. To contact the committee, e-mail constitutioncommittee@vva.org