Transcript Challenges Facing Rural Mobile Broadband

Enhancing Your Membership:
What RCA is Doing for You
Webinar on RCA’s Bylaws and Membership Enhancement
March 3, 2010
Steven K. Berry
CEO/Executive Director, Rural Cellular Association
David Nace
RCA General Counsel; Lucas, Nace, Gutierrez & Sachs, LLP
Blue Ribbon Committee
• The RCA Board of Directors appointed a Blue
Ribbon Committee, consisting of Board
members, to review RCA bylaws and make
recommendations to the Board that enhance
RCA membership, improve Board representation
for all sectors of membership, and ensure that
RCA is structured as a world-class advocacy
entity for RCA members.
• Some recommendations of the Blue Ribbon
Committee requiring a member vote have been
included in the current Amendment.
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Goals of the Bylaw Amendment
• To improve membership experience for all
carrier members.
• To expand RCA’s footprint by attracting
additional associate members.
• To maintain the vital role small carriers play in
driving the Association.
• To approve Bylaw Amendment before RCA
Annual Meeting.
– Otherwise the Bylaw Amendment voting will take
place at the RCA Annual Meeting.
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Bylaws Changes:
Expanded Board of Directors and
Executive Committee
• The Board of Directors has been expanded from
the current 11 Directors to a minimum of 19
Directors and a maximum of 25
• Increased Board opportunities for Carrier and
Associate members
• President and CEO serves on the Board
• Reserved Director positions for each class of
member within Carrier and Associate
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Current Board of Directors
RCA Board
Of
Directors
(11)
Carrier Member
(10)
Associate Member
(1)
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Enhanced Board of Directors
RCA Board
of Directors
(19-25)
Carrier
Member
(12-15)
Under
250k Subs
(5)
Maximum
Dues Payer
(2)
Remaining
Positions
(5-8)
Maximum
Dues Payer
(2)
*All Board Members have one vote
Associate
Member
(6-9)
RCA
President
and CEO
(1)
Under
300 mil
Revenue
(2)
Remaining
Positions
(2-5)
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Current Executive Committee
Executive
Committee
(4)
President
Vice President
Secretary-Treasurer
Immediate
Past President
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Enhanced Executive Committee
Executive
Committee
(9)
Chairman of the
Board
(Carrier)
Immediate Past
Chairman
(Carrier)
Vice Chairman
(Carrier)
SecretaryTreasurer
(Carrier)
Additional
Executive
Committee
Members
(4)
(Carrier or
Associate*)
RCA
President
And
CEO
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*Minimum 2 Associate
Tenure of Directors
• Directors will be divided into 3 classes to
ensure continuity and rotation of terms.
– 1 Year Class (6)
– 2 Year Class (6)
– 3 Year Class (6)
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Board of Directors Meeting
Frequency
• The Board of Directors will meet 3-4 times
per year
– RCA Annual Convention
– RCA BTC Convention
– RCA Board Retreat
– Optional 4th Meeting
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Executive Committee Meeting
Frequency
• The Executive Committee will meet no
less than every 8 weeks between
meetings of the Board of Directors.
• The Executive Committee will provide dayto-day guidance with the Board of
Directors
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Additional Conforming Corrections
to RCA Bylaws
• Additional changes, detailed in the
summary, have been made to ensure
smooth operation of the Association and to
place RCA on a comparable level to other
leading trade associations.
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Further Analysis of Bylaws
Amendment
Please see the reference material being
sent to you.
All the bylaws information will be posted
following this session on the RCA website
under the “Members Only” tab.
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Beyond the Bylaws:
What RCA is Doing for You
Enhancing Benefits to Members through:
• Developing a New Website
– An interactive hub where members can connect
• Creating Benchmark Surveys
– Helpful measurements that members can use for
measuring against the norm
• Meeting with key offices on Capitol Hill
• Lobby Day – June 17th or 18th
• Actively Recruiting New Members
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More of What RCA is Doing
• Updating Membership Directory
– Exclusive to RCA members
• Determining Congressional Profiles
– Identification of key congressional districts for each
member
• Utilizing Social Media
– Twitter, LinkedIn
• Discounts for RCA Members
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Getting the Most from RCA Events
• Annual Convention and Exhibition
– April 27-30, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada
• Business and Technical Conference
– October 12-14, 2010 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Opportunities to:
– Get Significant Discounts on Registration and Exhibit Booths
– Take Advantage of Educational Opportunities in Breakout Sessions
– Network with Fellow Members
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