Understanding, Reviewing and Amending Bylaws

Course Description: We will review the importance and function of your union bylaws; what they should and should not include; how to review, evaluate and amend them; their place in relation to other governance policies and laws; and, when and how formal bylaw interpretations may be made. You will receive tools like a checklist of considerations and requirements and sample bylaw language and supporting policies.

Instructor: Patti Legault-Frank has been a consulting Parliamentarian and Governance Specialist and an instructor at The Labor Guild since 1981. In addition to local, state, and international labor unions, she has also consulted to credit unions; school committees; professional and social organizations. Her Labor Guild courses have been on Union Meetings with Robert’s Rules of Order; Reviewing and Amending Union Bylaws; and, on Union Elections. Her union consulting on organizational governance has included reviewing and refining governance documents (bylaws and rules, policies, and procedures); Officer, Executive Board, and member training; rendering formal parliamentary opinions when internal governance documents are silent or ambiguous; and, serving as parliamentarian at membership meetings and annual conventions.

As a prelude to consulting, Legault-Frank was with the Massachusetts Teachers Association from 1976 to 1986, where she was both the Governance Specialist and also represented eight local affiliates in contract negotiations and enforcement. While at MTA, Legault-Frank also served as President and Negotiations Chair of MTASO (MTA Staff Organization), the independent union comprised of her fellow staffers.