AMENDMENT SUBMISSION FORM Name: __Johali Muzaliwa_________ Chapter Affiliation: __University of Houston Law Center_____________ Please check one: National Constitution Amendment __
National Bylaws Amendment _X__
Resolution ___
Current National Constitution/Bylaws language, article, or Section (if Applicable): ARTICLE IV Section 4. Regional Convention General Assembly. Each Region must convene a Regional Convention at least once each year prior to the National Convention. Proposed Amendment or Resolution: ARTICLE IV Section 4. Regional Convention General Assembly. Each Region may convene a Regional Convention at least once each year prior to the National Convention. If a Region elects not to have a Regional Convention, the Region must nevertheless conduct the Frederick Douglas Moot Court Competition and the Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial Competition. Moreover, if the Region elects not to have a Regional Convention, Regional Business must be conducted during Regional Day at the National Convention. Rationale: The Regional Convention is by far the most expensive event put on by RMBLSA. For the past several years, the Convention has cost the Region in excess of $25,000 per year. With declining attendance at the Convention, the amount of money, time, and energy spent on planning and running the Convention could be much better spent on smaller, more local, and more targeted programs. Moreover, with the declining RMBLSA (and NBLSA) membership and declining corporate sponsorship, an annual Regional Convention is no longer financially feasible. The amendment gives the Executive Board the discretion to put on the Convention if they have the budget, time, and manpower to do so and they think it worthwhile; otherwise, the Board can choose to forego the Convention while still holding the competitions, which are much cheaper and easier to put on than a full scale Convention. Impact: (Please include all financial implications) The main reason for this amendment is to save the Region money and to give the Regional board a certain amount of flexibility. The Executive Board will not have to worry about going into the red because they have to put on a Convention for which they do not have the funds. Moreover, even if they do have the funds, if the Board believes that the money could be better spent on other programs, such as scholarships, bar preps, or community service events, the Board will have the option of expending funds on such programs instead.