The Two-Year Term: Yay or Nay?

Hello Everyone!

The purpose of this blog is to inform you that revisions have been proposed to the Bylaws of the Junior League of Greater Winter Haven. The main objective for the revisions is to update the Bylaws to accurately state certain league practices and provide stronger language that will reinforce and better protect our membership. As a result, this will ensure that our organization has the power to swiftly react to opportunities, changes, and challenges. For more specifics on the what is being revised in the Bylaws, please reach out to me. 

Some of the Bylaw changes are not as preeminent as others but, it seems that the 'two-year term' modification musters conversation. Therefore, I will center my discussion around this particular revision. Please note: I am only presenting what I found during my research. It is not my intent in this article to be bias toward one side of the argument or the other. I want readers to draw their own conclusions and vote according to the dictates of their conscience.

According to the Association of Junior League International (AJLI), "more and more Junior Leagues are moving to a two-year term for President and, in some cases, the entire board" which AJLI without a doubt is in favor of (regardless of the size of a league chapter). However, this creates tension among Leagues, especially smaller ones, that choose to remain with one-year term limits.  Hence, I thought it best to briefly compare the benefits and challenges of longer term limits versus shorter term limits with respect to Junior League. 

1. What are the most significant benefits and challenges of longer term limits in Junior League? 

Benefits

• Takes the League to higher level of efficiency and effectiveness.
• Allows leaders to learn a position and perfect it prior to turning it over to a successor. 
• Builds confidence and leadership in the women being mentored as successors (Kontodiakos, 2014, p. 2).

Challenges

• Adapting to the change; changing behaviors, conditions, systems, etc. 
• “We are a training organization”, “We will never get people willing to [ ]".
• Longevity, commitment, burnout.

2. What are some of the benefits and challenges of shorter term limits in Junior League?

Benefits

• Brings new leaders, ideas, procedures, and influences.
• Restores rotation in office and, possibly, legislature.
• Prevents corruption and exploitation of an office position.
• Favors action over complacency. 

Challenges 

• Cycled off members at the end of one year creates enormous downward pressure on the League to stay focused on the current year.
• Difficult to gain traction in the community due to annual turnover.
• Impedes the ability to sustain community impact.
• Networking benefits would be lost.
• “One and done” only works for somethings. Plan for it front the beginning. It is a process, not a relay hand-off (Dalton, 2012).

Please take the time to review the proposed Bylaws carefully. I encourage you to be curious, explore, ask questions, and initiate discussion among yourselves. 

To be accepted by JLGWH, these Bylaws must be passed with a majority vote from eligible members at the next General Meeting as defined in Article III, Section 6. If at any membership meeting there shall be less than a quorum present, the members present may adjourn the meeting until a quorum is obtained as defined in Article IV, Section 5.

It is up to us (the League) on how we want to proceed. Please feel free to share your thoughts and comments with us. I look forward to a lively discussion!

As always, I look forward to seeing everyone soon and thank you for being a supporter of the Junior League of Greater Winter Haven.

Stephani E. Lewis

Writer of the JLGWH Blog

2019-2020

Our Mission: The Junior League of Greater Winter Haven, Inc. is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and to improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.