[Genealib] NYGB Chairman Comments on Controversy

[Joy Rich]

This is posted on Diane Haddad's blog "Genealogy Insider" at
http://www.familytreemagazine.com/insider/PermaLink,guid,20a3868d-9967-441e-8f9c-379aabbfe3be.aspx .

Also see Dick Eastman's blog at
http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2007/07/nygb-proposes-t.html#comments for
reactions from NYG&BS members and others.

Joy Rich

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Monday, July 16, 2007
NYGB Chairman Comments on Controversy
Posted by Diane

After speaking with New York Genealogical & Biographical Society (NYGB) board chairman
Waddell Stillman, I'm updating Friday's coverage of the controversial proposal to
eliminate member voting.

The proposal is a response to members' attempts to stop the sale of the society's
headquarters building (finalized in March), but Stillman says it's not retaliation. "We're
updating our form of governance so the society isn't exposed to a repeat of the loss of
funds. If we stood by and ignored the six-figure loss we incurred, we'd be shirking our
duties as fiduciaries."

NYGB trustees say "a handful" of members delayed the sale, causing a loss of investment
income based on the $24 million sale price.

If passed, the proposal will do away with proxy voting system, which Stillman says New
York State laws require. (The society must mail ballots to members, who can send back
their votes, cast votes at a meeting, or designate meeting attendees to vote on their
behalf.) The board would appoint new officers rather than hold elections.

Before issuing the proposal, NYGB's board surveyed other non-profit organizations and
consulted with the New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS), whose members passed
a similar measure-after a similar debate-several years ago. NEHGS has an advisory board in
addition to its board of directors.

"I WOULDN'T KNOW WHAT OUR BOARD WOULD SAY ABOUT ADOPTING THAT STRUCTURE, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T
FULLY CONSIDER IT," says Stillman.

He says NYGB members will still have access to the group's services and online resources,
though

HE DOESN'T YET KNOW WHAT THE SOCIETY WILL DO WITH ITS RESEARCH COLLECTIONS

and financial assets. (The board has two years from the building sale date to move.)
"After we take care of housekeeping matters and governance . we will face those huge
questions and we'll benefit from all the debate."

That debate won't lead to reduced membership, he predicts. "I think people will act in
their self-interest and then continue to enjoy the benefits of membership."

Stillman also posted to Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter blog-visit to read his and
others' comments.


7/16/2007 4:09:11 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0]