[Chapters-l] Chapter position statements on issues of public policy

[beata_panagopoulos at Harvard.Edu]

Dear Chapter Leaders,

The following policy statement can be found in the Chapter Officers Manual
http://www.asis.org/AboutASIS/chofficermanual.pdf in Appendix K.  It gives
very clear direction for what you should do if your chapter would like to
take a public stand on an issue of public policy.  Please keep on hand for
future reference!

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask!

Beata
Beata Panagopoulos
ASIS&T Chapter Assembly Director
tel. 617-496-1775
fax 617-495-1972
email: beata_panagopoulos at harvard.edu
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ASIST Board of Directors Statement Regarding
CHAPTER POSITION STATEMENTS ON ISSUES OF PUBLIC POLICY

The ASIS&T Board of Directors encourages chapters to become involved in
issues of public policy, when they pertain to the interests of ASIS&T
members at local, national and international levels.   However, to assure
that ASIS&T - as an organization - maintains a unified voice on major
issues and to protect ASIS&T' legal and tax-exempt status, specific
guidelines must be followed by all chapters.

When formulating position statements on behalf of chapters' memberships,
chapters must insure that opinions expressed are a fair reflection of the
thoughts and concerns of a representative group of chapter members.

If the issues being addressed are uniquely of local (or regional) concern
and are not likely to provoke national interest, chapters may record their
opinions directly with the appropriate local entities, provided that
statements presented clearly indicate that  the positions expressed are
those of the chapters' membership (not  of the entire ASIS&T membership),
and that the ASIS&T Executive  Director is copied on all such
communications and correspondence  and kept informed in writing of all
actions taken as a result.

In areas of national and international policy, chapter positions must be
voiced through the ASIS&T Headquarters office.  Specifically, chapter
positions on such issues must be submitted to the Executive Director.  The
Executive Director's responsibility is, first, to insure that any
statements made by ASIS&T chapters are consistent with positions taken or
held at the national level, and, second, to transmit the statements on the
chapters' behalf to the appropriate parties.  When appropriate, such
statements will be held at Headquarters until further action on the same
issues is taken by the ASIS&T Board of Directors or by other ASIS&T
chapters.