Constitution Committee

BY LESLIE DeLONG, CHAIR

The deadline for submission of proposed Constitutional Amendments was March 25 (120 days prior to the start of the Convention, per the VVA Constitution). No more proposals were accepted. On Friday, April 19, the National Constitution Committee met in open session at the Sheraton Hotel in Silver Spring, Maryland, to discuss the proposed amendments.

After a full review and discussion of the proposed amendments, the committee is preparing its report to the membership. The report will contain copies of all proposed amendments, along with an explanation of the committee’s recommendations regarding each one. The committee’s report will be made available via email and on the VVA website no later than June 13.

At the Convention in Jacksonville, the Constitution Committee will conduct an open hearing on the proposed amendments before they are presented to the delegates for action. We encourage all interested individuals to attend the meeting and to make their opinions known. Following the hearing, each proposed amendment reported out of the committee will be read at a general session of the Convention. At that time a motion will be open for debate by the delegates. Once the debate is closed, the delegates will vote on the proposed amendment.

Constitutional amendments require an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the delegates present and voting in order to pass. If an amendment is referred back to the committee, the committee will review and revise the proposed amendment according to the wishes of the delegates. The proposed amendment will then be brought before a general session of the Convention a second time, and the same process of debate, amendment, and vote by the delegates will take place. After the proposed amendments and resolutions reported out of committee are debated and voted on, proposed amendments not reported out may be brought before the delegates by following applicable Convention rules.

The Constitution Committee thanks you for taking an active part in making Vietnam Veterans of America a dynamic service organization that is responsive to the needs of its members and dedicated to its founding principles.