All NASW members are invited to participate in the annual business meeting, and regular members are invited to vote on proposed bylaw changes.
We will have a virtual, online meeting Monday, October 4 11:30-12:30 ET. Doors will open at 11:00 ET for informal social time.
We hope that you will join us to recap and celebrate the ongoing work of our committees, offer cheers for the announcement of the annual Diane McGurgan Volunteer Service Award, and get up to date on the organization's finances.
Details on how to join the virtual meeting are below. Please read the instructions early and test your tech well-ahead. Polls open September 20 and close at 12:30 ET on October 4.
What's up for a vote?
We invite members to vote on recommendations from the Membership Committee and board to update the membership structure outlined in our bylaws. The goal of these recommendations is to provide for a more inclusive professional community and reflect changes in the field. A rationale for the proposed changes, FAQ based on comments submitted during the member comment period, and, a line by line markup of the bylaws are available at nasw.org/2021bylawvote.
Members will have the opportunity to vote on individual proposed changes. In other words, it will not be an all or nothing vote for the entirety of the changes presented.
How do I make my choices?
With a virtual meeting, there will be no paper ballots. Everyone will make their choices online via eballot. If you have made your choices online in the past, the process is very similar.
On September 21, all regular members of NASW receive a personalized link via email to the online proxy system. The email will be sent from eballot.com with the subject line "Make your choices in the 2021 NASW votes by October 4." The email contains a link unique to you. The system will ask you to enter a username and password provided in the email invitation. The process should take you fewer than 10 minutes. The online form can be accessed from any smartphone or device that has full browser capabilities. The link is unique to you and will expire after your choices are submitted. Once submitted, your choices may not be altered. Periodic reminders will be sent to those who have not yet voted. As long as you submit the form by 12:30 PM ET on Monday, October 4, it will be counted.
The system will give you a confirmation number. This number is proof to you that your vote has been successfully transmitted to eBallot’s secure database.
How do I attend the virtual meeting?
The virtual meeting scheduled for Monday, October 4 at 11:30 ET will be held on the virtual platform Remo. Remo is a networking and presentation space that looks like a conference room floor plan, and attendees can move around the space to meet and video chat with others. This is a new platform to many so please read the details carefully and test your tech well-ahead of the meeting. We will be using Remo for some of our ScienceWriters2021 so this is a great chance to get familiar with it.
Doors will open at 11:00 ET for 30 minutes of informal social time. Attendees can mingle via video by clicking on virtual tables and joining the conversation with up to 5 other people who have landed at the same table. Move around as much as you wish. The meeting will begin at 12:30 ET. When presentation mode is on, all attendees' cameras and mics will be automatically turned off and everyone will see the main screen.
The link for the meeting is: live.remo.co/e/nasw-2021-annual-membership-meet You must use the email that matches the one associated with your NASW membership.
The meeting is available on mobile devices, desktops, or laptops; tablets are not supported. Make sure your browser is updated to the latest version. Check your tech and troubleshoot ahead of time via remo.co/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Event-Guide-for-Remo-Attendees-FINAL-200610.pdf
You can register at the link well-ahead of the meeting (i.e. now) and take time to create a profile if you choose, simply visit live.remo.co/e/nasw-2021-annual-membership-meet and click on "Confirm my attendance."
As with any online event, please do not wait until one minute before the start to test your tech or show up. You can log in early, make sure everything is working, and then turn off your camera and mic until the meeting starts.
You do NOT attend this online event to vote. Use the personalized link provided in your email from eballot.com to make your choices before 12:30 PM ET on Oct. 4. (Voting is limited to regular members, and all members are welcome to attend the business meeting.)
We look forward to seeing you online soon.
-Tinsley Davis
Executive Director
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