I admit I kept forgetting to vote on all of the proposed MLA by-laws changes. With this cold that I am battling, my Olympic viewing obsession, and a whole host of life's daily events it just simply slipped my mind. Thankfully the good folks of MLA have reminded me once more by email to vote and I did. If it had been a snail mail ballot, it might not have made it back in time.

I received an interesting email on the Medlib-l listserv shortly after I voted. The email was from Jonathan Lord the MLA Mid-Atlantic Chapter Chapter Council Representative Alternate and it was about voting on dues increases.

According to the email, MLA has been gradually moving into the electronic age like electronic balloting for elections and bylaws changes. It was brought up at the September 2007 MLA Executive Board meeting to allow members to vote on dues increases electronically rather than in person at the Annual Meeting. While the motion was introduced, it was defeated. However the motion to take the idea into consideration and report to the Board at the September 2008 Board meeting was approved.

Jonathan feels voting on dues increases at the Annual Meeting is unfair to a majority of MLA members. Those who are unable to attend the Meeting are excluded from voting. I have to say I agree with him. There are many valid reasons why some people are unable to attend MLA each and every year. I don't want to get into all the reasons why somebody cannot attend, instead I the focus should be more on how those who cannot physically attend can still participate. Voting is one small but important way to participate. Allowing all voting to be done electronically not only allows more MLA members the opportunity to participate in MLA's direction but it gives everybody an equal chance at submitting their vote, not just the fraction that happen to attend the meeting.

Am I totally missing something? Is voting on a dues increase any different than voting online for the MLA elections? What are your thoughts on this?
If you have an opinion on this issue, Jonathan recommend you contact your MLA Chapter Council Representatives and let them know.

Labels: MLA, Technology