TO: National President, National Executive Committee, National Amendments Committee, and National Legal Counsel
Executive Summary
This memorandum provides a formal analysis of Proposed Constitution Amendment Number 3 (New E-Membership Category and Description). While the intent to expand the organization’s digital reach is commendable, codifying non-paying digital followers as "members" under Article IV introduces severe legal, ethical, and operational vulnerabilities.
I am submitting this comprehensive written brief directly to this leadership body because I do not believe I will be provided adequate time to fully explain this rather complex matter before the National Assembly on the convention floor. Given the multi-layered nature of our public financial filings, historical reporting precedents, and corporate governance risks, this critical issue requires a level of deliberate review that a brief floor microphone window simply cannot accommodate.
To protect our historic legacy, maintain absolute transparency with regulatory bodies, and safeguard the institutional voice of our grassroots councils, it is imperative that the organization avoids deceptive reporting practices. This document outlines the core structural arguments against the amendment as written and offers a formal Friendly Amendment to achieve the organization's growth goals with absolute transparency and integrity.
Core Arguments Against Amendment No. 3 as Written
1. The Ethical and Veracity Argument: Overcoming a Legacy of Inflation
As a historian of this organization, I must note that the practice of exaggerating our physical size is a multi-decade structural habit that we must finally correct.
- The Historical Precedent: On March 28, 1971, public reporting in the Grand Prairie Daily News claimed our organization had "more than 400,000 members world-wide."
- The Modern Disconnect: Today, our active searchable database lists only 341 active councils. Furthermore, while the IRS Form 990 does not require a physical headcount, it mandates the disclosure of Membership Dues Revenue under penalty of perjury. Our 2024 Form 990 filings show a dues revenue stream that mathematically accounts for approximately 10,300 dues-paying members nationwide.
- The Imperative of Non-Deception: Formally amending our supreme governing document to legally define unpaid social media followers or email subscribers as "members" creates a severe veracity crisis. It codifies an easily exposed public relations fiction into our constitutional framework.
2. Confronting the "Perceived Power" Fallacy
Proponents argue that reporting actual, dues-paying membership figures would create a negative perception, damaging our legislative influence in Washington. This is a dangerous fallacy.
- Credibility is Built on Data Integrity: In modern advocacy, sophisticated lawmakers, federal grant-making bodies, and corporate partners operate on data integrity, not inflated press releases. Relying on an easily exposed, 60-fold inflation of strength invites devastating public exposure.
- Real Power vs. Digital Audience: True political influence stems from our capacity to mobilize disciplined, active voters at the ballot box and in congressional hearings. A mailing list of passive online followers who have no financial stake or localized chapter organization holds zero real-world leverage.
3. Protecting the Voice of Active, Dues-Paying Members
Placing this digital tier under the constitutional definition of "Membership" creates an unintended vulnerability for our governance.
- Valuing the Grassroots: Our traditional members pay local, district, state, and national dues, attend regular meetings, and conduct frontline civil rights work. Giving a "free membership" title to someone who simply clicks an online button devalues the commitment of our dedicated volunteers.
- Structural Precedent: Even with the best intentions today, grouping online supporters with dues-paying members under Article IV leaves open the possibility that future rule changes could inadvertently shift the balance of power away from our historic, grassroots local councils.
The Solution: A Friendly Amendment for Transparent Reporting
We can fully track and celebrate our massive online audience proudly and honestly without calling them members. This motion introduces a friendly amendment to reclassify this category entirely using two professional, non-deceptive terms:
- "Digital Advocates" (The Specific Tier Name): This completely removes the word "Member" from the digital tier, establishing an honorable title that clearly states these individuals support our online campaigns but do not pay dues and do not hold internal voting power.
- "Total Mobilized Constituency" (The Combined Reporting Term): For public relations, corporate sponsorships, and legislative testimony, the national office can truthfully combine our real members and digital supporters under this composite metric. This allows leadership to truthfully state: "Our organization commands a Total Mobilized Constituency of over 575,000 individuals nationwide, driven by our active local councils and a vast network of digital advocates."
Formal Motion for Friendly Amendment
I move to amend Proposed Constitution Amendment Number 3 by striking the words "E-Members", "E-Member", and "E-Membership" wherever they appear, and inserting the words "Digital Advocates", "Digital Advocate", and "Digital Advocacy" in their place.
The amended section of ARTICLE IV, Section 6 shall read as follows:
ARTICLE IV Members Section 6 – Digital Advocates: Individuals who affiliate with and support LULAC through digital platforms, including social media and official online channels, but who are not enrolled in a local Council and do not pay membership dues, shall be recognized as a Digital Advocate. Digital Advocacy is established to expand access, engagement, and national participation in the mission of the Organization.
- a. Digital Advocates:
- (1) Are not required to pay National, State, District, or Council dues;
- (2) Do Not have voting rights, shall not hold elected office, or be counted toward quorum or delegate strength at any level of the Organization;
- (3) Are formally recognized as part of the LULAC digital outreach network and included in national communications, campaigns, and initiatives;
- (4) Are subject to the policies, mission, and code of conduct of the Organization while participating in any official LULAC activity.
- b. Benefits of Digital Advocacy:
- (1) Community Networking; (2) Issue Engagement; (3) Education on Community Networking; (4) Ease of transition into a local Council; and (5) Inclusion in Active engagement opportunities impacting the nation.
- c. Combined Public Reporting:
- For the purposes of national advocacy, legislative testimony, corporate sponsorships, and public relations, the combined total of active, dues-paying Council Members and registered Digital Advocates shall be explicitly and exclusively reported as the Organization's Total Mobilized Constituency to ensure absolute transparency and prevent deceptive reporting.
Conclusion
Honesty does not diminish our stature; it protects it. By clearly distinguishing between our Members (the financial and operational backbone of our 341 councils), our Digital Advocates (our online supporters), and our Total Mobilized Constituency (our overall public impact), we present a sophisticated, modern corporate governance structure to the world.
This framework satisfies the rigorous due diligence of corporate donors, protects our legal standing, and honors the frontline volunteers who keep the lights on in our communities. I respectfully urge the Executive Committee, the Amendments Committee, and Legal Counsel to adopt this friendly modification before it reaches the floor.
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