Seasoned Business Items (SBI)

Background

One of the casualties of cancelling Spring Sessions was the opportunity for the yearly meeting to gather as a body for business. Some of the items on the business agenda had been expected to receive routine approval and had been placed on the Seasoned Business Items list (formerly the consent agenda). In the clerk’s opinion, these matters were straightforward enough that they could possibly be approved without discussion. 

 

The matters at hand are the approval for the clerk to endorse two travel minutes, a second reading of the Trustees handbook page, and nominations from the NYYM Nominating Committee.

 

The clerk, in conjunction with Friends planning for Summer Sessions online, proposes that these matters be approved using a version of the Seasoned Business Items process modified to work online. This would be the first time that NYYM has approved matters without meeting in person.

 

How We Will Proceed

The following was approved at Spring Sessions 2019 to be a clear explanation before each SBI list is presented for approval (minute 2019-04-30):

 

Seasoned Business Items lists are similar to “consent agendas” of the business world. The list of items is published in advance with an expectation of approval without discussion at an upcoming business session. These are items that the Clerk believes need a decision or need to be recorded in our minutes but do not require any consideration during the business session. Anyone may seek clarification from a contact person in advance, if one is designated by an item on the list. Anyone may request that the Clerk remove any item from the Seasoned Business Items list. This can happen up until the time when we are ready to approve the list. The Clerk will first ask if any items need to be removed from the list. The Clerk will then ask for approval of the entire list. No explanation is needed when asking for an item to be removed from the list just before approval. When asking for an item to be removed from the list in advance, it would help the Clerk to know why. Items removed from the Seasoned Business Items list are added to the regular agenda.

 

In the absence of Spring Sessions, the items are being published now, in mid May. Publication is on the NYYM website, by email to NYYM’s global list, and printed and mailed to people who have attended any of the last six sessions and are known to prefer paper. Responses are due by June 8th, 2 weeks after publishing the list.

 

Individuals have the option of inquiring about any item or asking that any item be removed from the list and placed instead on the agenda for the next business session. Note that the next business sessions will be Summer Sessions and the plan is to conduct that business by videoconference in July.

 

How To Participate

There are multiple methods to ask questions, give feedback, or request that an item be transferred to the regular business agenda. You can use the form at the bottom of this page. You can write to Helen Garay Toppins, [email protected], or call the office, 212-673-5750.

 

On June 9th, any items not removed from the list will be considered approved for purposes of our minutes and to enable these concerns to go forward. As these are Seasoned Business Items, the default response is approval. All NYYM Friends are invited to participate in this process as they are led.

Spring Sessions 2020 Seasoned Business Items

 

Seasoned Business Items Feedback Form