Protecting the Integrity of the LULAC Movement: Why Words, Membership, and Governance Matter
The strength of any organization is tested in the moments where its governance meets its future. At our recent LULAC National Convention, we faced a defining moment regarding how we expand our movement and how we define those who join us.
A proposal was introduced to create a new membership category. While the concept of growth is vital, the language we use to define our members is just as important. During the legislative process at the conference, there was initial confusion regarding whether my motion to amend the proposed constitutional amendment was permissible from the floor of the National Assembly. Despite this procedural friction, the initial proposal used the term "Emember." I fought to change this to "Digital Affiliate." While this may seem like a technical detail, words define our mission and our integrity.
To be blunt: an "Emember" is not a member in the traditional, active sense that has built LULAC for decades. A regular LULAC member is a volunteer who pays national, state, district, and local dues; attends council meetings; and performs essential grassroots advocacy work. An "Emember," by comparison, typically fills out a simple four-line application form and receives social media updates about LULAC. Conflating the two by calling both "members" risks being deceptive to our stakeholders and our partners. If we misrepresent the nature of our base, we dilute the value of the hard work performed by our active, dues-paying, and boots-on-the-ground membership.
We must remain focused on what matters: growing our councils and our regular membership organically through legitimate, active councils—not through paper or "ghost" councils that exist in name only. True growth is measured by the strength of our local councils and the depth of our grassroots engagement.
The path to this outcome involved some complex parliamentary procedure. Ultimately, leadership allowed this non-substantive wording change to the original proposed amendment without requiring a formal vote from the assembly, and I insisted that this change be openly stated before the general assembly for the official record. I want to thank our national leadership for their statesmanship in this matter. By choosing to prioritize the integrity of our governing documents, they set a fantastic example for the young leaders who will one day take up the mantle of this organization.
It is especially encouraging to see this new generation stepping up; as evidenced by today’s elections, our young adults are increasingly assuming significant national leadership roles. This transition is vital to our evolution, and it is imperative that we provide them with a constitution that is precise, modern, and honest.
By passing this amendment with the correct terminology, we have established a clear, modern door for new supporters to join us without undermining the status of our core membership.
Moving forward, our commitment is simple: growth must be paired with transparency. Our stakeholders deserve to see the actual metrics of our progress. We will be clear about who our new "Digital Affiliates" are versus who our "Active Members" are, where they are joining us from, and the specific impact they are making. We will continue to share these numbers openly, ensuring that our growth is both honest and sustainable.
I am proud of how we handled this debate. We proved that we can navigate difficult procedural hurdles while remaining unified in our mission. I look forward to our continued collaboration in ensuring our constitutional standards remain as robust as our mission.
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