Highlights of the Convention

• Eighteen great breakout sessions were held.  Reviews of these are coming soon!  
• Descriptions of the Breakouts
• At the Awards Banquet, we presented the Legislator of the Year award to Senator Connie Leyva.  The Senator was unable to be present so the award was accepted by Stephanie Reid.
• Unfortunately, due to schedule problems, Senator Joe Dunn was not able to be with us as our Keynote Speaker.
• We announced our new Legislative Advocate, Esperanza Ross.  More information about her and her plans for  working with us will be posted soon under the Legislation tab.
• GSMOL Legacy Awards were presented by Zone Vice Presidents to Norma Bohannon, Betz Storey, Mary Jo Baretich and Robert Markley.
• Diane McPherson was re-elected State Treasurer and Anne Anderson was elected State Secretary.
• Betz Storey was elected Zone A Vice President, Karilee Shames was elected Zone A-1 Vice President, and Ray Downing was re-elected Zone C Vice President.

The One Member, One Vote measure passed, meaning that we will no longer have delegates – every GSMOL member will be able to vote by paper ballot. 

A measure proposed by Bob Markley, setting the quorum for a paper ballot election to be no fewer than 5% of total members who are eligible to vote, passed.  (It was formerly 50% plus 1.)

Six Policy Resolutions were proposed from the floor and passed:

1. An Election Committee shall be created to educate members and establish procedures that ensure that the One Member, One Vote is as inclusive as possible.
2. The Corporation shall send balance sheets and financial statements to Presidents of all active Chapters.  They will also be published in The Californian and made available in a secured location on the GSMOL website by the end of the current fiscal year (which will be September 30).  The financials shall compare actual income and expenses to budgeted income and expenses for the current quarter and the year to date, and also between the current and prior fiscal years.
3. The Election Committee shall investigate and establish rules for the policies of campaigning by candidates and members and a membership list protocol and to what extent membership list information will be released or made available during campaigns.
4. The Publications Committee shall also include communications with members and third parties.
5. The Board of Directors shall establish a committee to draft rules for procedures to set up a Super Chapter, which shall become part of the “standing rules” of the Corporation.
6. The Board of Directors shall reactivate the Business Information and Financial Action Team (BIFAT) Committee, to be comprised of members or persons with business or non-profit expertise.