Process for handling remaining 2015 resolutions

As posted to DPCA-Leadership listserv, 27 August 2015

Dear DPCA members,  
The Resolutions Committee has prepared a process to streamline the review, debate and adoption/rejection of Resolutions in a timely manner without the necessity of a face-to-face global meeting of DPCA members.   This process has been approved by the DPCA Excom.   Our first step is to address those Resolutions that are outstanding since the most recent global meetings.  

Seven Resolutions were submitted and reviewed prior to the most recent face-to-face global meeting but due to time constraints were not submitted for a vote.    In view of the fact that the packed agenda and limited time (2 days) of such global meetings simply do not permit adequate discussion of all texts,  the Resolutions Committee has proposed a process that would streamline the review, debate and adoption/rejection steps of Resolutions in a timely manner, independent of a face-to-face global meeting.  

This process as described below has been approved by the DPCA Executive Committee.  Its first application will be to those seven outstanding resolutions, and if successful will be applied to future Resolutions so that they can be addressed in a fair and timely manner.    Please note that these seven resolutions were all reviewed by the Resolutions Committee and posted prior to the meeting.    Any future Resolutions must be submitted to the ResCom before the rest of the process will be set in motion.

These seven resolutions are
• Resolution in support of efforts to Minimize and Challenge Political Gerrymanders
• Resolution in support of making Election Day a Nationwide Public Holiday    
• Resolution to increase opportunities and reduce confusion in Bidding for Global Meetings
• Resolution to Strengthen Diplomacy
• Resolution to Establish a Residence-Based Taxation Task Force
• Resolution for Simplified Tax Filing for Americans abroad who simply don’t owe any U.S. Income Tax
• Resolution in favor of equal Civil Rights for Americans living in Territories of the United States

THE PROCESS  

1) REVIEW -  DPCA members review the current texts online at http://wiki.democratsabroad.org/display/Resolv/DPCA+Resolutions  

2) AMENDMENTS -  We ask DPCA members to submit any amendments directly to the Resolutions Committee at resolutions@democratsabroad.org  which will review and publish these electronically.   Adequate time (approximately three weeks) is allowed for DPCA members to prepare and/or discuss these should they so wish with their country Excoms, etc. etc.     
PLEASE USE THIS EMAIL ADDRESS TO SUBMIT ANY AMENDMENTS AND ANY OTHER COMMENTS    resolutions@democratsabroad.org      

3) DISCUSSION & VOTE ON ACCEPTING AMENDMENTS -  
The amendments will be considered and voted up or down during a WebEx meeting. The meeting will be three hours long and include discussion of the resolution itself. Each of the seven resolutions will be considered in turn, with two parts:
    - Discussion and voting on each amendment
    - Discussion on the merits of the resolution as amended during the meeting
The meeting will follow a strict agenda, with 25 minutes allowed per resolution, in order to keep the meeting to its three hour maximum.

The Webex meeting will be scheduled for the convenience for our Asia-Pacific members, probably starting around 7am DC time.     The Webex meeting will be recorded for future reference.  

4)  POSTING OF FINAL TEXTS PRIOR TO VOTE TO ADOPT.    Within two day of the WebEx meeting, the ResCom will distribute (posting on the DPCA-Leadership Listserv and by email)  the final texts of all Resolutions for an up or down vote.   

5)  FINAL VOTE TO ADOPT (or REJECT) RESOLUTIONS.     This will be an online vote, using Survey Monkey or a similar, non-anonymous polling tool.  In accordance with Charter Section 3.8, there will be three possible choices -  YES (to adopt),  NO and ABSTAIN.   The voting period will be three days.

THE SCHEDULE

1)  REVIEW.  Please start now   

2)  AMENDMENTS.   Please submit to Resolutions Committee between August 24 and September 14 at resolutions@democratsabroad.prg     These will be posted by the ResCom after review, no later than September 24.  This allows for ample time for DPCA leaders to discuss - should they so wish - with their respective Excoms, etc.

3) WEBEX AMENDMENTS DISCUSSION & VOTE.    September 29.   

4) FINAL VOTE.  October 5-7.  

PLEASE USE THIS EMAIL ADDRESS TO SUBMIT ANY AMENDMENTS AND ANY OTHER COMMENTS    resolutions@democratsabroad.org    

Current members are Susan Vaillant (Chair), Will Bakker (Secretary), Carol Adamson, Dee Dee Camhi and Alleana Leonard