Bylaws Change Notification

As per the CFCA bylaws ARTICLE VI, Amendments, Section 1 - The Full Board shall have full power to alter, amend or revise this constitution, providing that notice of such alteration, amendment or revision shall have been posted to the website with notification sent to voting members at least sixty (60) days prior to the vote for approval by a majority of the Full Board. A two-thirds majority vote of the members entitled to vote, who are present and voting, or whom respond via an electronic voting process, shall be necessary for the adoption of any such alteration, amendment, or revision.

The board of directors were notified on August 18, 2025, and will vote via electronic vote on Friday, October 17, 2025, following the 60-day notice. You can find a redline version of the bylaws here: Redline CFCA Bylaws - 8.13.2025

TO: The Full Board of Directors
FROM: Presidents Council
DATE: August 18, 2025
SUBJECT: Proposed Bylaw Change – Open Annual President-Elect Elections to All CFCA Members
 
Background

The CFCA has undergone substantial structural and organizational improvements in recent years, including:

• The transition to professional association management under SMA
  
• The launch of a CFCA Consulting and Training Division
  
• The formation of the non-profit Cal Fire Chiefs Foundation
  
• The reorganization of CFCA into three functional branches
  
• The restructuring of CFCA Sections to enhance engagement and alignment

In conjunction with these developments, the Presidents Council—comprising the President, President-Elect, Past President, and Executive Director—now meets weekly to ensure leadership continuity, operational transparency, and accountability.

Current Bylaw Provision in Question

Under current CFCA Bylaws, Section 1(e) of the Division Elections provision states:
“Alternating every two (2) years between the Northern Division and the Southern Division, each division shall elect a President-Elect and a Division Director every four (4) years.”
This provision restricts eligibility for the President-Elect position to one division every two years, regardless of candidate qualifications or interest levels across the membership.

Issue

This alternating election schedule:

• Limits member engagement and leadership opportunities
  
• Reduces the candidate pool and potentially overlooks qualified members
  
• No longer aligns with CFCA’s current leadership model, which now includes broader representation and consistent oversight through the Presidents Council

In the current cycle, we are electing a Southern Division Director and seeking a Northern Division President-Elect—an arrangement driven by legacy alternating rules rather than the needs of the Association.

Recommendation

The Presidents Council recommends removing Section 1(e) under Article IX (Nominations and Elections) to eliminate the alternating divisional restriction for President-Elect. This change will:

• Open annual elections for President-Elect to all qualified CFCA members, regardless of division
  
• Promote broader leadership development and inclusion
  
• Align CFCA governance with its modern operational structure and strategic direction