NPA adopts new bylaws to augment future growth
WASHINGTON – The Natural Products Association on Monday announced the approval of new bylaws that will govern and steer the organization into the future. The new by-laws were approved by the full membership on Feb. 17, 2017.
“NPA has being growing and doing more with less over the last three years. In order to sustain that growth for the future, a new by-laws structure was necessary and approved by an overwhelming majority of both the current board and full membership alike to ensure NPA has the architecture to grow and continue to meet the challenges of the future," stated Daniel Fabricant, executive director and CEO, NPA. "It is well-known that NPA leads the industry in advocacy, member services, education/training and providing regulatory assistance, but we are looking to these by-laws to become a model for association governance and a beacon of fiduciary strength in the future."
One of the bigger changes in the by-laws reduced the size of the board from 22 directors down to 9, eliminating the need for a separate but smaller executive committee to move association business. The by-laws also expand what this Association has traditionally allowed as retailers and suppliers to avoid excluding potential revenue sources.
Other changes include:
The general powers and duties of the board of directors and it’s officers have been updated to better reflect the duties and governance of a volunteer board primed for growth;
Annual dues will be paid in January to allow the president/CEO, formerly executive director/CEO, and staff to develop an accurate, balanced budget on an annual basis in order to preserve the Association’s assets for the future;
Streamlines the process for amending by-laws to make the Association adaptable to changes to better meet the needs of a fast-growing and changing industry; and
New governance polices have been put in place for the way business will be conducted at board of directors meetings.
NPA’s previous bylaws, originally adopted in 1987, were revised 36 times over a span of three decades. The new bylaws streamlines NPA's governance document from 26 pages to 13, bringing them more in-line with modern trade associations, NPA noted.