You recently received FCLB information presenting the slate of officers proposed by the Nominating Committee and the bylaws revisions proposed by the Board of Directors.

As you may know from our communications over the past two years, we have been engaged in a thorough review of our bylaws and we are submitting fairly extensive changes for your consideration at the 2001 annual business meeting. I would like to explain one particular issue in some detail.

If the membership approves the proposed amendments, a significant correction in the term of the Treasurer will take place. Some years ago, this position got "off-cycle" – if an individual ran for Vice President after serving as Treasurer, the resulting vacancy became a board appointment until the next annual meeting. A correction is proposed to enable our member boards to elect the Treasurer every two years, so this position would go through the Nominating Committee and election process at the same time as the other offices.

The current bylaws will remain in place until the end of the this year's Annual Business meeting, when the revised bylaws (if adopted) would take effect. In order to phase in the cycle correction, the Board of Directors will appoint one more time to fill the office of Treasurer, should Dr. Richard Cole (current Treasurer and only announced candidate for Vice President) be elected to serve as Vice President.

I encourage any member who is interested in serving in this position, or who might recommend a candidate, to let the Board of Directors know. You may submit a letter of interest and a resumé to our Greeley executive offices, or call your District Director. All persons interested in filling the position of Treasurer for a one year term (2001 - 2002) via board appointment will be thoughtfully considered by your Board of Directors. Following this appointment, the position will be filled in 2002 by election for a one year term until the new bylaws take effect.