MASWCD
RESOLUTIONS &
POLICY DEVELOPMENT
Each year, MASWCD membership utilizes the resolutions process as a means of voicing concerns or opinions to influence change with regard to natural resource conservation policy and funding issues.
(includes all standing resolutions with sunset dates and action taken, along with Guiding Principles on a variety of topic areas)
HOW DOES THE RESOLUTIONS PROCESS WORK? ​
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1. First, resolutions are presented to the local SWCD board and must be passed by a majority vote in order to move forward to the next step which is approval at the Area level.
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2. Second, the resolution is presented at an Area meeting and must pass by a majority vote in order to move forward to the next level which is consideration at the state level.
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3. The Area Director of the SWCD that passed the resolution, then forwards the resolution passed at the Area level to the MASWCD Board of Directors—the board on which they serve.
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4. The nine MASWCD Board of Directors review all resolutions to clarify intent when necessary, consolidate identical resolutions, and identify those which may already be MASWCD policy.
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5. Upon the MASWCD Board's review of all submitted resolutions, a resolutions packet is then created and sent to SWCD members for the statewide pre-convention balloting process. Each SWCD supervisor, who is a voting member of the association, is eligible to vote once on each resolution. They may approve, disapprove or bring to the floor an amendment or discussion at the MASWCD Annual Convention. One ballot is used per SWCD to tally supervisor votes. The ballots are sent back to the MASWCD office to be tallied.
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6. Resolutions that move forward as a result of the pre-balloting process are then addressed at the business meeting at the MASWCD Annual Convention. Resolutions are voted on from the convention floor and require a majority vote for passage. MASWCD provides a parliamentarian to assist with questions and/or amendment procedures, etc.
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7. If a resolution passes, either through the pre-balloting process or on the convention floor, it is then MASWCD's policy to support that resolution.