OGM Proxies — Goal achieved!

Many thanks for your support!
We are glad to announce that we have reached the required number of proxies. Also, the OGM voted unamimously to adopt the constitutional changes. Thank you very much for your support!
Proxy Collection Project
Dear members,
As we hope you are aware, JALT is in the midst of a very important project to collect proxy forms from all JALT members. If we get these proxies we can make important changes to the JALT Constitution. These changes will allow us to collect future proxies by email.
The proxy is a substitute for your attendance at the upcoming Ordinary General Meeting, which will be held at the JALT conference in Nagoya.
To help ensure that JALT can get enough proxies, it would be great if _every_ JALT member turned in his or her proxy.
If you have not yet turned in your proxy, here are a few ways for you to turn it in:
Use the postage paid envelope which arrived with your September/ October mailing of The Language Teacher:
* Fill out the proxy, sign it, seal it and mail it to JALT Central Office with the postage-paid envelope.
Turn in your proxy at a Chapter event in October:
* If you can’t find your proxy form, then use the one that is downloadable from this page. * After printing it, fill it out, sign it, and bring it to the Chapter event you are attending.
Use the proxy form and postage-paid envelope that will arrive in the November/December issue of The Language Teacher:
* Fill out the proxy, sign it, seal it and mail it to JALT Central Office with the postage-paid envelope.
Explanatory letters, which were included in the September/October TLT, and which will not be distributed in the November/December TLT, are available below in Japanese and in English. A printable proxy form is also available for download.
In addition, the below FAQ may be helpful.
Thank you again for your support, and if you have any questions at all, please let us know by sending an email message to jco (at) jalt.org.
Sincerely yours,
JALT Board of Directors
————————————-FAQ————————————-
== Questions and Answers about the Proxy Collection Project ==
What is the proxy?
* The proxy is your substitute for attending the Ordinary General Meeting at JALT2010 and also allows you to vote for constitutional changes that we hope to pass at the OGM. The changes are detailed in the documents linked to this message.
I’ve been a JALT member for many years, but this is the first time I’ve been asked to sign and send in a proxy. Why do we suddenly have to do this?
* In short, we did not know that we had to do it until now. As soon as we discovered that it was necessary to have a majority of members present at the OGM, in person or by proxy, we made plans to collect proxies from all members.
Will I have to do this every year?
* If we get enough proxies (1,400 in all) then we will be able to implement electronic collection of proxies. That would mean that we can have members fill out a web form to send the proxy, which will be convenient and economical for all concerned. It will also help members participate in JALT more effectively.
I think my membership has lapsed. Should I still turn in a proxy?
* Please send a message to membership-office (at) jalt.org to ask for your membership status. If your membership has lapsed, you can send in your proxy at the time that you renew your membership. JALT Central Office (JCO) will have details for you.
Several of my colleagues and I want to send our proxies in together. Is that OK?
* Certainly! Please send in as many proxies in one envelope as you like.
Do I have to mark a vote?
* No, but it is a somewhat complicated. You can send in the proxy without a vote and you will be counted as present for quorum purposes, which is very important. But an unmarked vote will end up being a “No” vote, as an abstention on a constitutional vote is counted as “No”.
I plan to be at the OGM. Do I still need to turn in a proxy?
* Yes! The proxy ensures that if you could not make it for some reason that your presence for quorum and your vote will be counted.
I don’t know my membership number.
* Not a problem! If you send in the proxy without the number, JCO will fill it in for you. Or, you can find the number on your TLT address label. Finally, feel free to email membership-office (at) jalt.org to ask for your membership number.
What’s the deadline?
* We would like to get the mailed proxies by 10 November. We can accept proxies after that time, but we would really like to get the required number before then so we can go into the JALT2010 conference without worrying about how to collect the remaining proxies.
I’m still reading, and I have a different question.
* Great! Thank you for reading this far, and please send your question to jco (at) jalt.org.
Thank you very much for your support.
== End ==