By Weldon L. Merritt, PRP-R, CPP-Ret
The Santa Fe Parliamentary Unit (SFPU) recently adopted an amendment to its bylaws changing the unit’s name to the Land of Enchantment Parliamentary Unit (LOEPU). Why the change?
When SFPU was chartered in 2003, the only other NAP unit in New Mexico was the Albuquerque Parliamentary Unit (APU), meeting in Albuquerque. SFPU was chartered to give NAP members and potential members in northern New Mexico a chance to meet and study without having to travel to Albuquerque. At the time, both APU and SFPU met exclusively in person, so it was much more convenient for those in the Santa Fe area and other northern New Mexico locations to be able to meet in Santa Fe rather than having to travel to Albuquerque.
When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, everything changed. With in-person meetings being prohibited or severely restricted, SFPU, like most other units, began meeting virtually. More recently, as pandemic-related restrictions were lifted or eased, it again became possible to meet in person. In the meantime, however, SFPU members had become used to meeting electronically, and there was almost unanimous sentiment among the members to continue doing so. Although technically still a traditional (non-electronic) unit, SFPU has continued meeting electronically as authorized by an “emergency” clause in its bylaws. Eventually, the unit expects to officially become an electronic unit when a proposed NAP Bylaws amendment is adopted to allow such a transition.
What has all of that to do with changing the unit’s name? The members decided that if the unit is going to continue meeting electronically, there was no reason to restrict membership to Santa Fe and northern New Mexico. While the membership was never formally restricted, as a practical matter, few potential members outside the Santa Fe area were attracted to join. So the unit decided to also change its name to “Land of Enchantment Parliamentary Unit,” capitalizing on New Mexico’s official nickname, in an attempt to attract a wider membership from throughout New Mexico (and possibly even beyond).
Changing the unit’s name alone will not, or course, be enough to attract more members. But it is a first step. The unit also intends to develop a robust website to serve members’ needs, and over the next few months, will actively campaign to attract more members. Time will tell if the unit’s efforts pay off.
