How to submit a motion?

Motions may be submitted through the designated online tool from 1 January until 1 September of the year in which the General Assembly is convened.

1. Who can submit a motion?

Motions can be submitted by:

• Full Individual members of the EL*C network
• Full NGO Members, of the EL*C network
• The EL*C Board

2. What kind of motions can you submit during this period?

A motion in the general context of an NGO’s General Assembly (GA), in particular for the EL*C’s GA, is a formal proposal submitted by a full member (individual or NGO) asking the Assembly to make a decision on a specific issue. If adopted, the EL*C Board is formally tasked by the membership to do this.

A motion can be about:

a) The actions that EL*C undertakes.

In this case, members could ask to hold a discussion on EL*C strategic directions and as a result approve a resolution on a specific issue. Members could also ask EL*C to stop certain actions/activities that it has undertaken.

IMPORTANT: Unless a change in the governance is also requested (see below), actions approved by members have to be in line with EL*C Statute.

b) The governance i.e. the structures on which the organisation is working.

In this case, members might require to change the statutes and other internal documents, for example members can ask to modify the purpose of the organisation or define different membership fees.

The following documents can be amended:

• EL*C Statutes
• Standing orders of the GA and the LMC
• Resolution on membership

IMPORTANT: Modifying the Statutes requires a different procedure and a larger majority than the other motions. Changes to the Statutes must be in line with the Austrian Law.

3. How can you present a motion for the next EL*C General Assembly

Step 1. Submission of Motions

• As an individual member of EL*C, you can submit a motion via this form: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ELC-Individual-Motion
• As a nominated representative of a full NGO member of EL*C, you can submit a motion on behalf of your organisation via this form: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ELC-NGO-Motion

Step 2: Endorsement of Motions

• In case you submitted a motion proposal as an Individual member:
  • In the first two weeks of September, Individual Members will be invited to participate in an online survey to endorse motions submitted by Individual Members.
  • A motion will only proceed if it receives the support of at least 5% of all Individual Members.
• In case you submitted a motion proposal as the representative of an NGO member:
  • A meeting of the Lesbian Movement Committee (LMC) will be convened to discuss the list of NGO motions.
  • The day following this meeting, all NGO Members will be invited to participate in an online survey to endorse the submitted NGO motions.
    • The survey shall remain open for a minimum period of three (3) days.
    • A quorum of fifty percent (50%) of full EL*C NGO Members must be reached for the vote on a motion to be valid.
    • Endorsement of an NGO motion requires a simple majority (50% + 1) of the votes casted.

Step 3: Decision of the Board

At the end of September, the Board shall meet to decide which of the motions endorsed by Individual Members and by the LMC shall be placed on the Draft Agenda of the General Assembly. During this meeting, the Board can label any motion as Crucial=Dykecisive (see article 9. of the Standing Orders of the GA and LMC document).

Step 4: Final LMC meeting:

A second meeting of the LMC shall be convened to confirm the Final Agenda of the General Assembly. During this meeting, the LMC shall also confirm the Board decision to label specific motions as Crucial (Dykecisive).

• The participants should try to reach a consensus. In case of a difference of opinion between the Board and the LMC about a motion presented or excluded by the Board, an online vote open to all LMC members shall be organized as follows:
• The day following this meeting, all NGO Members shall be invited to participate in an online survey
• The survey shall remain open for a minimum period of three (3) days.
• A quorum of fifty percent (50%) of EL*C NGO full Members must be reached for the vote on a motion to be valid.
• For the LMC to overrule the Board decision, a vote requires a simple majority (50% + 1) of the votes casted.

Step 5: Preparatory Workshops

During the week preceding the General Assembly, online workshops shall be organized for discussion of the motions accepted onto the Final Agenda. The number and structure of workshops shall be determined according to the number of motions submitted.

Workshops shall be governed by simple procedural rules:

• Only full individual members (including the EL*C Board and Staff), and full NGO representatives can attend the Preparatory Workshops,
• Each workshop shall have a chairperson designated by the Board, and two minute-takers should be elected,
• Interventions shall be time-limited to ensure broad participation.
• The chairperson may call to order any participant using offensive language or obstructing the discussion.
• The purpose of the workshops shall be to allow both Individual Members and NGO Members to discuss and, where possible, to reach consensus on motions.
• The minute takers submit the final short minutes of the meeting at the end of each workshop and those notes are approved by the majority of the participants.

Step 6: General Assembly

If a motion requires a vote at the end of the process, it will happen during the General Assembly.