Amendment 1: Expand Eligibility requirements for Supreme Board

The Supreme Board of Governors (SBG) has 11 seats. The Amendment adds a new pathway to board service by allowing experienced brothers the opportunity to serve on 3 additional board seats without the required one year of SBG experience. If passed, veteran Regional Governors (RGs) will be able to challenge one of six incumbents, instead of only one of three, and will act as a check on the Nominating Committee to make sure it holds candidates accountable for their performance, otherwise they will be challenged from the floor.

Here are the current members of the SBG:

  1. Immediate Past Supreme Master
  2. Supreme Master
  3. Supreme Master Elect
  4. Supreme Scribe*
  5. Supreme Exchequer*
  6. Supreme Sentinel*
  7. Three Supreme Governors without designation
  8. Two Undergraduate Supreme Governors (USG)

*Impacted by this Amendment

Why expand these requirements?

More Voices. Better Brotherhood.

Why do we need this change?

  • While the current framework is designed for stability and continuity, requiring SBG experience for so many of the SBG seats results in a rigid "ladder," where accession to more senior board positions is expected and candidates go unchallenged and unaccountable.
  • Protecting the Supreme Scribe, Supreme Exchequer and Supreme Sentinel from even the most qualified challengers promotes a static Board and hinders accountability and competition from a diverse candidate pool. Instead, SBG members are entrenched for 14 years after only 6 years of service. This is especially problematic when "protected" board members are unresponsive or fail in their duty to serve the Brotherhood.  
  • The lack of accountability to the Supreme Council makes the "protected" positions only accountable to the Nominating Committee, a small, reoccurring group of mostly SBG members and PSMs.
  • Currently, very few brothers can run for these positions and qualified candidates are instead forced to run against the most junior members of the Board. Elections should not be a competition for a few select "available" positions, it should instead be about communicating a vision for AEPi, demonstrating a proven track record of service and gaining popular support. Board members with a proven track record of service and popular support for their vision for AEPi should not fear this small increase in competition as it will enhance our discourse and recognize the efforts of the RGs.

What does this Amendment do?

  • Expanding eligibility requirements allows all AEPi members to evaluate experienced candidates in competitive elections. This will increase communication between the SBG, the RGs, other volunteers and undergraduates with regards to Board members service and vision for AEPi.  
  • This provides a check and balance to the Nominating Committee to ensure that candidates have a proven track record of performance and sufficient public support. The five years of RG experience required represents a different type of experience that adds value and diversity to the board without diluting the requirements too much.
  • This is a thoughtful approach to get more voices heard and bring a more diverse set of experience to the SBG.

What are the exact changes?

Current Provision: Article V Sections 2 (Scribe), 3 (Supreme Exchequer) and 4 (Supreme Sentinel) clause (a)

The Supreme [Scribe, Exchequer or Sentinel as applicable] shall have been, at the time of his election as such, a member of the Fraternity for at least six years and a member of the Supreme Board of Governors for at least one year.

Proposed Provision

The Supreme [Scribe, Exchequer or Sentinel as applicable] shall have been, at the time of his election as such, a member of the Fraternity for at least six years and a member of the Supreme Board of Governors for at least one (1) year or a Regional Governor for at least five years (5).