The MICE UG 50 meeting will be held Wednesday, October 28, 3:00 pm at UMN and via Zoom.
Governor Nominations
We will be holding an election for a board seat. The board
consists of three seats with staggered terms, such that one seat
comes up for re-election each year (at the fall meeting). This
year Anthony Anderberg is up for election.
As in the past, we will close nominations in advance of the
meeting so people have a chance to instruct a proxy appropriately.
Nominations will be open for two weeks, October 12 - October 25. I
plan to send reminder emails approximately at the start of and
just after the nomination period.
In the event that the election is uncontested, our practice is to
elect by acclimation at the meeting. Proxies are unnecessary in
that situation, assuming that the meeting makes quorum.
Bylaws Change
I have added to the agenda a bylaws change. The idea is that we should prohibit governors (board members) who are family members or affiliated (e.g. work for the same company). We have long done prohibited affiliated members from having multiple votes. It seems like we should also have this for our 3 person board of governors, where two affiliated governors would constitute a quorum and a majority. I believe we have a board consensus on the general idea.
Attached is the proposed change. Aside from incrementing the "Second" to "Third" in the title, and the renumbering of sections, all of the changes are on page 6, to the existing Governors section 2.2 and adding a new 2.3. The language is from our lawyer, with the following changes by me. The first change by me is substantive; the rest are typographical. I've asked our lawyer to comment on those changes.
SIX did the same thing. They said, "In light of a recent industry election in which a single employer was close to having two representatives on a Board with five seats, the SIX Board & Advisors have drafted a Bylaws revision to prevent such a risk at the SIX."
Proxies
The bylaws state that you send proxies to the Chief Manager (me,
Richard Laager), and electronic means are acceptable. So a simple
email is sufficient: rlaager@micemn.net or
chiefmanager@micemn.net.
If you send a vote by email (e.g. "We vote for <X>."), I
will treat it as an a proxy appointment, appointing me to vote on
your behalf, but restricted to only the election item and to only
vote for the candidate you expressed.
Likewise, if you submit something for the bylaws change (e.g.
"We vote in favor of the bylaws change.").
If you send a proxy with different instructions (e.g. "We appoint
<Y> to vote for us."), obviously that will be honored as
written.
UMN Details (from David Farmer)
Room 120
2829 University Avenue SE
Minneapolis, MN 55414
https://campusmaps.umn.edu/university-park-plaza
https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZgoeDvzJzUZU98Bg6
This is about 6 blocks east of the old location on University
Avenue SE, just west of the US Post Office. It is next to the
Prospect Park-Green Line Light Rail Station, which is just to the
east of the building.
Building Access:
The building's main exterior doors are University card-access
only. However, Room 120 has a separate exterior door just off the
main entrance, to the right (east), up the exterior stairs on the
University Avenue side of the building. After 2:30, knock on that
door, and someone will let you in. Otherwise, if you are early,
can't get into the building, or can't find the door mentioned,
call me on my cell at 612-812-9952.
Parking:
The Prospect Park Ramp, with public parking, is behind the
building, on the corner of 4th ST SE and 29th Ave SE, and there is
metered parking along 4th Street SE. There is also limited
short-term visitor and handicap parking in a small lot on the east
side of the Building; park there at your own risk.
https://pts.umn.edu/park-and-drive/general-information/facilities/prospect-park-ramp
Nearby Lodging Option:
There are two Hotels across the street.
Hampton Inn & Suites Minneapolis University Area
https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/mspuahx-hampton-suites-minneapolis-university-area/
Home2 Suites by Hilton Minneapolis University Area
https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/msptcht-home2-suites-minneapolis-university-area/
-- Richard Laager Chief Manager, Director Midwest Internet Cooperative Exchange LLC