Dear Amy: The Secretary Corner

Hey Boomer! Remember Ann Landers? Fellow Midwesterner, Eppie Lederer, aka Ann Landers, was a media celebrity and cultural icon for 55 years as a syndicated advice columnist originating in the Sun Times. Competition for advice sometimes came from the pen of her twin sister, . , Ann Landers’ daughter, who has written the advice column, Dear Prudence, for online magazine, Slate, is channeling her mother and launching AnnLanders.com for all you Gen Xers and Millennials. The site targets Boomers, Gen Xers and Millennials alike with counseling and sage advice under the adage, ‘Common sense ‘ain’t so common!’ Mental health, parenting, aging, manners, work, spirituality – it’s all covered.

While I can only aspire to have as much common sense as these eloquent gurus. I plan to be here for the next several Pulse additions, answering your questions regarding our 2 scheduled Annual Business Meeting Sessions (yes 2!) coming up on June 15 and June 20, and to provide you with the preparatory information you need to vote on SVS Bylaws amendments, as well as other business matters.

Tomorrow, Friday May 15, all SVS members will receive the official notice of our Annual Business Meeting Sessions. Please note that the Annual Business Meeting this year is virtual and has been divided into two sessions, the first on June 15 and the second on June 20. The agendas for both sessions, the business meeting rules, and the proposed Bylaws amendments are all linked to this notice.

The focus of Business Meeting Session 1, June 15, 2:00pm CT, will be presentation and voting on SVS Bylaws amendments. I strongly encourage you to read the amendments carefully. The SVS Executive and Strategic Boards of SVS have put forth and strongly support recommended amendments that will provide for online voting and a more inclusive election of officers. As an important reminder, only Active and Senior members in good standing and registered for the Annual Business Meetings may vote. Your membership dues will need to be current to ensure your right to vote.

Upon passage of the Bylaws the SVS will introduce the Candidates selected by the Nominating Committee and open the polls for 5 days so all members eligible to vote may engage and participate in the selection of the next Vice President and Treasurer of SVS.

The focus of Business Meeting Session 2, June 20, 2:00pm CT, will be a State of the SVS address by President Kim Hodgson, Reports form the Secretary and the Treasurer, and Presentation of the Slate of Officers for 2020-2021 including announcement of election results.

More to follow in my next column! I am happy to answer any questions that you may have regarding the Bylaws amendments or other Business Meeting matters!

Stay well, Amy B Reed, MD SVS Secretary