LCW Members Petition Board to Overturn Hospital Merger Vote

People are understandably angry about the undemocratic way in which officers of the Local Council of Women, working with representatives of Bloomington Hospital, silenced the pre-vote discussion guaranteed to members by LCW Bylaws (see earlier posts below and links to news reports and broadcasts, on the left). LCW and Hospital attorneys also flaunted the bylaws by ignoring a legitimate and seconded motion protesting this denial of LCW members' rights, made by former LCW board member and attorney Guy Loftman.

Did you know that if only 36 more people had voted NO on June 16, the merger would have been blocked, forcing the hospital and LCW to enter into the kind of open public discussion that a change of this magnitude deserves?

There is still something people can do. Mr. Loftman has drawn up a petition to the LCW board which asks the LCW President to call a special meeting of the membership for the purpose of considering the following resolution:

WHEREAS, the Local Council of Women Bylaws state that members shall have the right to “pose questions, join in all discussions and vote” on business; and,

WHEREAS, the membership was not allowed to join in the discussion of the resolution presented at the Local Council of Women meeting on June 16, 2008 prior to the vote thereon;

THEREFORE, it is hereby decided that:
1. The decision made at the June 16, 2008 meeting of the Local Council of Women was made in violation of the Bylaws of the Local Council of Women.
2. Because of such violation, the decision made at the June 16, 2008 meeting of the Local Council of Women is hereby declared null and void.

Click here to download a printable pdf version of the petition.

For this kind of petition to be successful, 10% of LCW members must file one. Approximately 100 petitions will be needed to get this meeting called.

Petitions may only be submitted by LCW members. Not a member yet? Click here to download a printable LCW membership form. The membership form should be returned, with dues payment, to the LCW post office box as indicated on the form, except that the zip is 47407, NOT 47402.

Please DO NOT send petitions to the LCW postbox. Petitions should be sent to the City Clerk's office.

Please print and submit your petition as soon as possible. If you are just now joining LCW, please attach a note to your petition giving the date on which you sent in your membership application and dues.

To those who may question that petitions are being gathered into a folder at the City Clerk's office:

City Clerk Regina Moore was asked, and agreed to be a repository for these petitions. City Hall is a building in which all are invited, and welcomed, and the Clerk's Office is a central location easily accessible to citizens. The Clerk's office has acted in the past as a gathering place for other petitions and information. It's daily activities include in person, email, US Mail and phone inquiries about all kinds of information in all areas of government. It is literally the front door of governmental and public information for many citizens and Clerk Moore is happy to have her office act as an impartial and safe haven for petition gathering. This office should not be construed as having advocacy or non-advocacy for the petition, but a public and open place for these petitions to be gathered.

Please alert your friends and neighbors about how they too can do something to prevent a merger and possible relocation without substantial public input.