An email was sent out to all GDC members on June 9, 2010 to inform them of important proposed membership changes the GDC National Council voted on at the 2010 AGM in Vancouver. Following the voting, it was brought to our attention that not all GDC members were notified of the proposed Constitutional changes 60 days in advance as required in article 35.7 of the GDC Constitution:

35.7 Proposals to substantively modify a bylaw or bylaws must be circulated to every member in good standing to his or her last address or e-mail address recorded in the records of the Corporation at least 60 days prior to the meeting at which they are to be presented.

The National Executive (NEX) sought professional advice and the recommendation we received was to provide our entire membership with the motions as amended at the AGM, convene an extraordinary meeting of the GDC National Council no less than 60 days after circulating the proposals, and vote again on the amended proposals. To give every member ample opportunity to get in touch with their National Representatives and to make your opinions known, and to avoid this interfering with summer holidays and vacations, we are extending the 60 days to 90 days.

The meeting date has now been announced as Wednesday, September 15, 2010.

Please be advised that these proposals:

• eliminate the LGDC category and replaces it with a new category, Provisional, with modified criteria;
• change the name of the Associate category to Affiliate and restricts graphic designers from that category;
• delete the Graduate category;
• change the MGDC professional designation to CGD (Certified Graphic Designer) which, during voting, was changed to CCD (Certified Communication Designer).
• require the National Executive to meet at least 6 times per year

Full details are provided in the attached document for your review.

To facilitate getting feedback and guidance, Chapters are gathering feedback buy talking directly to their members but also through a survey mechanism set up specifically to gather feedback on the motions. You can complete the member-oriented survey here.