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Features

Policy and Procedure highlights the necessity for ongoing revisions and improvements to our governance
structure, ensuring that it remains relevant and effective in guiding our organization. Simplifying our
governing documents will enable us to streamline our governing processes and appropriately organize our
guidelines, policies, and procedures.
Time considerations: Time considerations regarding proposed amendments play an important
role in the revision. The current method of amending our governing documents—including preparation,
notification, decision-making, and implementation of the changes resulting from approved amendments—
is time-consuming. Extended timeframes were evident in the past three international conventions. For
instance, in 2018, 112 proposed amendments were presented at the International Convention in Austin,
Texas (DKG News, 2018). At the 2022 International Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana, 120 proposed
amendments were submitted; however, “due to time constraints and members’ votes to stop the process
because of those constraints, 45 fell to the ground” (DKG News, 2024, p. 1). During the 2024 International
Convention held in National Harbor, Maryland, 94 proposed amendments were put forward. The persistent
and high volume of proposed amendments to the governing documents indicates a substantial need for a
comprehensive revision. This multi-year trend suggests that the current documents may not adequately
address the evolving needs and concerns of the organization and highlights the importance of reviewing
and simplifying them to ensure they remain effective and relevant. Reducing the time required to consider
amendments will allow for better use of members’ time during international conventions.

Why is it important to revise governing documents?

Governing documents are the laws adopted by an ...DKG members
organization for its own governance (NAP, 2023). The aim of
revision is to create a document that is clear and understandable
and that requires no interpretation (Slaughter, 2023). As Stout are not afraid to
(2024) pointed out, “A challenge for some volunteer leaders
is to truly hold a mirror up to themselves and ask the hard face obstacles,
questions: What is not working for the organization?” (p. 17).
Although asking these difficult questions might be challenging, and revising
DKG members are not afraid to face obstacles, and revising
the governing documents is a proactive, positive, and brave
step toward recognizing what is not working and taking action the governing
to address identified issues. Total revision of the governing
documents involves closely examining the organization’s current documents is a
framework, offering members an opportunity to reflect on what
is functioning well and what areas may need improvement.
A thorough evaluation of these documents will help identify proactive, positive,
specific issues and challenges, facilitating discussions about
potential solutions. and brave step...
Ultimately, this revision is crucial for ensuring that the
governing documents continue to align with DKG’s goals and
serve the best interests of members. The intention of the Revision Task Force is the development of a new
document that will enable DKG to spend time on the core objectives of the organization—as captured in
its Purposes, Mission, and Vision—rather than repeatedly focusing on constitutional language. Instead of
spending hours considering hundreds of proposed amendments, international conventions may focus more
exclusively on gatherings for members to collaborate, brainstorm, problem-solve, share ideas, and identify

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