Erskine board revises bylaws
The Erskine College and Theological Seminary Board of Trustees met May 20—just a few days following commencement exercises—against the backdrop of a quiet campus. At the top of the agenda were approval of the 2011-12 budget and revisions to the bylaws.
Economic pressures from both outside and within the institution made the budgeting process difficult once again this year according to Greg Haselden, vice president for finance and operations, who reported on behalf of the committee.
The committee had deferred proposing the budget from the February meeting, when budgets are usually approved. The trustees unanimously approved the budget as proposed by the finance committee.
The ad hoc committee charged with proposing bylaws changes also submitted revisions that addressed several areas of board governance. The committee has been working since July of 2010 when it was formed to address issues of concern to Erskine’s accrediting bodies and the denominational body that appoints trustees.
Lisa Robinson Senn ’81, chair of the bylaws committee, along with several other trustees, praised the efforts of the committee in the difficult and often tedious task of reviewing areas of concern, getting input from a wide range of stakeholders and making recommendations.
“We have literally given our blood, sweat and tears to this process,” Senn said, referring lightheartedly to a paper cut she received while preparing her copy of the revisions for the meeting.
After some discussion on implications and possible amendments to the proposed bylaws revisions, the revised bylaws as proposed and submitted by the committee to the full board were passed without amendment.
A formal motion dissolving the ad hoc committee and expressing thanks to the committee members for their work was passed immediately following the vote to approve the revisions. The members of the committee were Matt Miller, Ashley Woodiwiss, Nan Campbell, Andy Putnam, Robert Galloway, Randy Folks and Lisa Senn.
