At the Vashon-Maury Island Community Council meeting last month, Steve Graham requested substantive discussion of the bylaw changes five colleagues and I suggest for the organization. We are proposing an overhaul — not a line-by-line update, but a new set of bylaws to replace what is now in place.

Coincidentally, the meeting illustrated some of the problems with existing bylaws that we’re trying to address. Following a depressing update on the effect lower tax revenues will have just on Island road maintenance, Joe Ulatoski suggested inviting Joe McDermott, our representative on the King County Council, to give us the big picture of how declining revenues will affect life on Vashon Island. Joe was not quite sure if his suggestion required a motion. There was no quorum — a frequent problem these days — and for a moment, how to proceed seemed uncertain. I recalled earlier disputes when discussion at VMICC was allowed only when an active motion was on the table.

Next, we learned that the proposed bylaw changes are stuck in a procedural conundrum. The current bylaws require review and a report by the Governance Committee. Action on the motion cannot proceed until a month after this report is delivered. But there is currently no Governance Committee. What now?

In its current form, the community council has become unworkable and irrelevant. Our community council needs new life, beginning with a different set of rules.

The proposed change is a start, a work-in-progress: barebones bylaws to allow flexibility within legal requirements. It’s an invitation to figure out how to bring Islanders together to engage with opportunities and solutions that relate to the direction and future of our community. It empowers six elected community leaders to run meetings, make decisions and adopt structure, procedures and policies that work best to engage more people in the civic affairs of our Island. It provides a way to register alternative perspectives and a way to recall elected council members.

Not everyone can attend evening meetings or accept committee commitments. To dismiss those whose lives, interests and preferred ways of engaging absent them from VMICC meetings as uninterested in community life is to write off large parts of our community — people who regard themselves as active and committed participants in community life, people who care about Vashon-Maury Island and want their voices heard.

Too often, the current town hall form is plagued by issue-specific, reactive meetings, packed by whichever side invites the most friends, and then lacks a quorum to consider issues relating to the long-term health of our community. Why not try something different? Why not experiment with new tools? Why not allow the use of various means to gather input, invite participation and encourage the sharing of ideas – beyond in-person meetings, outdated bylaws and Robert’s Rules?

With VMICC stripped of official recognition by the county as a quasi-governmental voice, the intention is to begin to create an atmosphere of trust and collegiality that fosters creativity and community resilience. As a volunteer advisory board, common-sense, practical structures can foster dialogue and collaboration in an atmosphere of respect for leaders and integrity in service for the benefit of the community.

I envision Community Council as an advisory board that makes a strong commitment to

• listen, seek ideas and engage with active and interested members of the community

• anticipate and respond to problems and opportunities that relate to the direction and future of our community,

• make decisions about how to pursue and advocate for community opportunities and solutions, and

• lobby and influence state, county and regional stakeholders on behalf of our community.

The new bylaws are not an attempt to re-make the community council in the image of All Island Forum. AIF has an entirely different focus that could prove helpful as the community council evolves into an effective action-oriented group. I see VMICC in partnership with many Island organizations, actively working with existing groups that have energy, resources and expertise in particular areas.

Perhaps, as VMICC gets its feet back on the ground and begins to function well, the creation of some new working groups may be wise: a council of elders to advise and support; a bi-annual meeting of community leaders in health, education, the arts, social services, local economy, environment to discuss community priorities; a sanctioned circle to resolve conflicts and mend relationships.

But this is down the road. For now, the proposed new bylaws for VMICC offer a place to start. Over the course of its 80-year history, Vashon Maury Island Community Council has re-made itself numerous times. Events of the last two and a half years make it clear it is time again.

The proposed bylaws invite us to begin re-visioning our community council. I’m interested: Do we have the courage to explore the possibilities and see where we can go together?

— Mary G.L. Shackelford is a longtime Islander who’s been active in both the VMICC and the All-Island Forum.

The Vashon-Maury Island Community Council will vote on the bylaw changes at its meeting on Monday, Dec. 17. The Governance Committee will give a report on the proposal at the council’s meeting on Monday, Nov. 19. Both are at 7 p.m. at McMurry Middle School.