Dear Colleagues,

We are writing to provide you with information and background as we open the Election Discussion Listserv in preparation for the special election, which will begin in August and close on September 25th, 2026.  During this election, you will be asked to vote on a proposal to significantly revise APsA’s Bylaws.

As APsA President and Chair of the Task Force on Restructuring, we believe these proposed changes will strengthen the Association by better supporting our mission, improving organizational effectiveness and morale, addressing current governance challenges, and enhancing our long-term financial stability.

The following is a brief summary highlighting these major revisions:

The proposed bylaw revision includes two major changes:

1. A smaller Board of Directors (16), elected by the Membership, whose mandate and role is to govern APsA except for the APsA Executive Director and two Public Directors to be appointed by the Board.
2. An Assembly comprised of representatives from all local institutes and societies as well as special groups. The Assembly will have the power to vote on recommendations that would then be sent to the Board of Directors with mandatory consideration by the Board and response back to the

For further details please review the proposed Bylaw changes.

The process to arrive at these major revisions was an arduous task involving careful and thoughtful consideration at a number of levels. These changes were proposed in principle by the TFR after eighteen months of meeting and discussion. The new governance structure proposal was then approved by two thirds of the current Board of Directors at its meeting last February in San Francisco.

This approval was followed by the TFR’s returning to the Board in April with recommendations for necessary bylaw changes. The Board approved those recommendations which were then reviewed and approved by the APsA attorney.  At the June Board meeting the TFR recommended that a special election be held in September for Membership Approval of the Board’s action to approve bylaw changes to implement the new structures of the Board of Directors and the Assembly. 

This special election would precede the regularly scheduled election of officers at the February meeting.

Therefore, we are providing you, the Membership, this material now in order to facilitate comments and discussion.  That discussion can take place on the election listserv and receive the attention and discussion that its significance warrants.  In this way all of you will have access to the proposal and, as is APsA’s practice, be fully informed to comment and discuss these changes approved by your Board of Directors. Members of the TFR will also make themselves available to answer questions, discuss concerns, and insure the revisions are clear.  Two Zoom Town Halls will also be scheduled for live discussion.

We look forward to the your participation and voting in this special election process, and moving our association significantly forward.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Best regards,

Bonnie Buchele, APsA President

Mark Smaller, Chair, Task Force on Restructuring