Midyear and Yearend Meetings Myron A Iseminger Undersecretary

Midyear and Yearend Meetings Myron A Iseminger, Undersecretary Tamara K Boward, Policy and Projects Manager

Definition of Terms • As suggested by the title, Divisions hold Midyear Meetings in the middle of the year. They hold Yearend Meetings at the end of the year. • Similarly, the General Conference holds Spring Meeting in April and Annual Council in October.

Definition of Terms: Spring Meeting “A meeting of the Executive Committee, known as the Spring Meeting, shall be held annually for the purpose of receiving the audited financial reports of the General Conference and for transacting regular Executive Committee business. ” (General Conference Working Policy BA 10 05)

Definition of Terms: Annual Council “A meeting of the Executive Committee of the General Conference, known as the Annual Council, shall be held yearly for the purpose of considering budgets from the divisions and making appropriations, and for the transacting of business pertaining to the general policy of the worldwide field. ” (General Conference Working Policy BA 05 05)

Distribution of Information Many items that are discussed at the General Conference meetings are then shared at the Division meetings.

Distribution of Informational Items • Major Initiatives. Examples: Total Member Involvement, Believe His Prophets • Reports • From General Conference departments • From smaller committees, which meeting during pre-meetings

Distribution of Informational Items (continued) • Church Manual Amendments (not finalized until General Conference Session) • General Conference Constitution and Bylaws Amendments (not finalized until General Conference Session) Items Requiring Division Consideration or Action • Working Policy Amendments (including Model Constitutions, Bylaws, and Operating Policies

Staying Up-to-Date • Division policies should be updated to remain in accordance with General Conference Working Policy • Constitution and Bylaws amendments and Church Manual amendments are finalized at General Conference Session so the wording of these cannot be used to amend Division documents until after the Session.

Document Requests Often the General Conference receives requests from the divisions for documents being discussed at a Spring Meeting or Annual Council BEFORE they are voted. • Division meeting preparation • Translation needs

Document Requests However, following the meeting of the General Conference Executive Committee • Minutes are written; • Minutes are reviewed for accuracy by the Assistant Secretary, Undersecretary, Assistant to the President, an Associate Treasurer, and the NAD Secretary; • Minor editing takes place; • Items are placed on the portal for access by the divisions.

Document Requests This process takes time! We are moving as fast as we can! It is important to wait until items are voted and final editing is done: • Items are amended on the floor • Confusing to have the wrong version of the document • Wrong information can be communicated to the field.

Interpreting the Reference Line The reference line is found at the top of every General Conference action and indicates: • The source of an item • The committees that HAVE reviewed the item • The committees that WILL review the item • The initials of the General Conference officer responsible for the item.

Interpreting the Reference Line Example: SEC/Pol. Rev&Dev/ADCOM to MAI-GCDO 16 AC+16 AC(DIV) This item • Started in Secretariat (SEC) • Passed through Policy Review and Development Committee (Pol. Rev&Dev)

Interpreting the Reference Line Example: SEC/Pol. Rev&Dev/ADCOM to MAI-GCDO 16 AC+16 AC(DIV) • Passed through General Conference ADCOM (ADCOM) • Myron’s initials next indicate that he is responsible for this item. (MAI) • Everything prior to his initials show the HISTORY of the item. • Everything after his initials show the FUTURE of the item.

Interpreting the Reference Line Example: SEC/Pol. Rev&Dev/ADCOM to MAI-GCDO 16 AC+16 AC(DIV) • Will still go to the meeting of General Conference and Division officers at the 2016 Annual Council (GCDO 16 AC) • Will be finalized at the 2016 Annual Council (16 AC) • This item will need to be shared at the meetings of the Division (DIV).

Accessing Voted General Conference Items Karen J Porter, Associate Secretary

Questions and Discussion