Present
Article VII - Standing Committee

Section 1.
There shall be the following Standing Committees:

Agriculture
Arts and Culture
Business, Trade and Technology
Development, Training & Employment
Environment and Sustainable Development
Finance
Health
Legislation
Membership
Projects
Public Relations
United Nations - Status of Women
Young BPW

Section 2.
Each Standing Committee, except the Finance Committee, in addition to the Chairperson shall consist of not less than four (4) and not more than six (6) members. The Finance Committee shall consist of the Finance Director who shall chair the Committee, and not less than two (2) and not more than three (3) members.

Section 3.
Standing Committee Chairpersons shall be elected by Congress, except that the First and Second Vice Presidents shall serve either as Chairperson of the Standing Committees on Membership or the United Nations - Status of Women, and the Finance Director shall serve as Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Finance; and the Young BPW Representative shall serve as Chairperson of the Young BPW Standing Committee. The members of the Committees shall be appointed by the President. No Standing Committee Chairperson or members shall serve for more than two (2) consecutive terms in the same capacity.

Section 4.
Each Federation, State Federation and Associate Club shall send to the Executive Secretary on or before the first day of each Congress a list of its nominees for membership on Action Groups, accompanied by a statement of the qualifications of each nominee and her consent to act if appointed. The Presidential Office shall inform the Federation(s), State Federation(s), and/or Associate Club(s) whenever its nominees are appointed.

Proposed
Article VII - Special Directors

Section 1.
There shall be the following Special Directors:

Agriculture
Arts and Culture
Business, Trade and Technology
Development, Training & Employment
Environment and Sustainable Development
Finance
Health
Legislation
Membership
Projects
Public Relations
United Nations - Status of Women
Young BPW

Section 2.
Special Directors shall be elected by Congress except that

No Special Director shall serve for more than two (2) consecutive terms in the same capacity.
Directors who serve on the Executive Board can only serve one term in the same capacity.

Section 3.
Any members of Board of Directors may nominate BPW members with relevant experience to be registered as an expert based on defined criteria. This nomination shall be accompanied by a statement of the qualifications and experience of each nominee and her consent to serve on an ad hoc action group if requested. Registration of experts shall be approved by the Executive Board.

Section 4.
A Special Director can form an Action Group from registered experts and other BPW members to undertake projects, to implement relevant resolutions passed at Congress, or to address new issues as they arise. Each Action Group shall be subject to the approval of the President and shall operate only during the time required to complete the task and not to exceed the end of the triennium.

Proposed amendment will take effect immediately at XXVI BPW International Congress.

All references to Standing Committee Chairs in the Constitution and By-laws shall be replaced by Special Directors, the Standing Committee system shall be replaced by Expert Action groups, and all references to Standing Committee in the Constitution and By-Laws shall be replaced by Action Group.

RATIONALE

This amendment is based on President’s report on Organisational Review and Reform Recommendations.

1. Many different issues arise in the three year lifetime of a Standing Committee. With fixed membership for three years there is no flexibility to vary the composition of a committee to respond effectively to changing situations or new developments. Ad hoc short term action groups of expert members convened as needed by a Director would provide this flexibility.
2. Our membership includes many individuals with specialist knowledge in a variety of fields. Ad hoc short term action groups would enable BPW to draw on advice from this wider range of opinion and expertise.
3. Members who are experts in their fields are usually very busy people who find it difficult to maintain the three year commitment currently required of a committee member but who would be able to participate effectively in a short term ad hoc action group to address an issue relevant to their field of practice.
4. Resolutions passed at Congress vary considerably in their intent and content. No one has specific knowledge about everything and it would be more effective to form a short term ad hoc action group of members with relevant expertise to address that resolution.