There shall be a limited duration joint task force of the boards of the Greater Oregon, Oregon Capital and Portland Metro chapters of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) to be known as the Oregon Statewide Governance Committee (the “Committee”) with purpose, composition, authority, duties and responsibilities as follows:

A. Purpose

The purpose of this limited duration Committee is to investigate whether our collective governance challenges would be solved by forming or merging into one statewide chapter, and if so, to recommend — and spearhead — a pathway forward.

B. Composition of Committee

The members of this Committee shall be appointed by the boards of the Greater Oregon, Oregon Capital and Portland Metro chapters of PRSA. Each respective board is entitled to two (2) appointees. The chair of this committee shall be determined from among the appointees by consensus and the endorsement of all three boards.

 

Members of the Committee shall serve until the Committee’s scope of work is completed or their earlier resignation or removal. Each respective board has the authority to replace its appointed representatives at any time.

C. Committee Meetings

The Committee shall meet as often as it deems appropriate to perform its duties and responsibilities under this charter. Any member of the Committee may call meetings of the Committee. The Chair of the Committee, in consultation with the Committee members, will determine the frequency and length of meetings and develop the Committee’s agenda. The Committee shall maintain written minutes of its meetings, which will be filed within the PRSA Portland Metro Chapter’s Google Drive archives.

D. Authority and Resources

The Committee may request any officer of one of the three Oregon PRSA chapter boards to attend a Committee meeting or to meet with any members of, or consultants to, the Committee. The Committee has the right at any time to obtain advice, reports, opinions, or other non-monetary support from Oregon PRSA chapter members, North Pacific District board members, PRSA board members, or PRSA staff. The Committee also has the right to form subcommittees without consulting with, or obtaining approval from, any of the three Oregon PRSA chapter boards in advance, as long as the subcommittee is tasked with addressing an element or elements of this charter.

E. Duties and Responsibilities

The Committee shall:

1. Investigate whether one statewide governance structure would be of more benefit to members than the current structure, to be completed by June 30, 2016
2. If the answer to the first is “yes,” then:
   • Recommend a statewide governance structure for all Oregon PRSA members, including but not limited to, Bylaws, pathway to board service, board terms and term limits, to be completed by August 31, 2016
   • Build a roadmap and implementation plan (“Plan”) for one statewide chapter by July 31, 2016.
   • Lead the transition to a Jan. 1, 2017 single chapter governance structure by the 2016 National Leadership Assembly following Plan approval from the Oregon chapter boards.
3. Oversee statewide programming subcommittee, which shall recommend statewide structure of professional development programming, including:
   • Statewide virtual programming options and opportunities
   • Regional in-person programming committees
4. Oversee Bylaws subcommittee, which shall:
   • Compare/contrast Bylaws of each chapter, identify points of differentiation
   • Recommend resolution for conflicting elements, when/where applicable
   • Compare/contrast against latest Bylaws “template” from National, identify where/when modifications should be made
   • With input from Executive Committee, develop revised Bylaws for a “PRSA Oregon” chapter
5. Oversee research subcommittee, which shall discover member perceptions and preferences for statewide governance, statewide programming, regional programming, and engagement (volunteer) opportunities
6. Provide monthly updates to respective boards, including the District and National boards
7. Facilitate communication among members of each Oregon chapter

Last revised 5/31/16

Approved May 31, 2016 by the Greater Oregon Chapter, May 24, 2016 by the members of the Oregon Capital Chapter, and  April 20, 1016 by the Portland Metro Chapter