Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Name Change
Frequently asked questions regarding name change and Articles of Incorporation vote. See the current Articles of Incorporation here. NAME CHANGE Why are you changing your name?
Earlier this year, the national organization changed its name to NARAL Pro-Choice America. The staff and Board of Minnesota NARAL agree that it is also time for us in Minnesota to change our name to NARAL Pro-Choice Minnesota. The new name makes it clear that we are an organization with a broad mission. Using the word “pro-choice” prominently demonstrates our core belief that Choice is a fundamental American freedom. Does this change cost money to the organization?
The costs associated with the name change are minimal. We timed the vote for the end of the year so we can use up most of our stationary with the current name and buy materials with the new name in bulk in preparation for the new year. Has Minnesota NARAL changed its name before?
Yes, four times, to be precise. Shortly after Carolyn Qualle gathered a group of activists and neighbors to discuss ideas for legalizing abortion in 1966, we were formalized into the Minnesota Council for the Legal Termination of Pregnancy (MCLTP). In 1972, MCLTP changed its name to the Minnesota Organization for the Repeal of Abortion Laws (MORAL), reflecting its stance on repealing legislation that limited reproductive choice. In 1974, MORAL changed its name to the Abortion Rights Council of Minnesota (ARC) in response to the change in abortion laws due to the Supreme Court ruling in 1973. In 1991, the organization changed its name again to Minnesota NARAL to reflect the longstanding affiliation with NARAL, then known as the National Abortion Rights Action League. When will the change take effect?
If the membership approves the change in the vote due by Nov 14th, Minnesota NARAL will immediately be known as NARAL Pro-Choice Minnesota. Does the vote change the name for Minnesota NARAL Foundation and Minnesota NARAL Action Fund?
Any changes to the Foundation or the Action Fund (the PAC) must be approved by those entities’ Board of Directors. The Boards of the Minnesota NARAL Foundation and the Minnesota NARAL Action Fund have already expressed their intent to follow the name change should it be approved. A formal vote by both Boards are expected to change them into NARAL Pro-Choice Minnesota Foundation and NARAL Pro-Choice Minnesota Election Fund by the end of the year. Are you changing your website address as a result of the change?
Our new home page is located at www.prochoiceminnesota.org, but you will continue to be able to reach the website from www.mnnaral.org for several months. Our email contacts will also reflect that change, but not for a few months. If the name change is not yet official, why is it all over the website?
You may have noticed that we just overhauled and improved our website. We hope you like it! The new site was a long-scheduled upgrade. We had the name change reflected in the new website in anticipation of the vote in order to conserve funds by having the web designer only modify the website once. ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION Does the name change mean or the update in the Articles of Incorporation mean any change in focus or purpose of the organization?
No. Our mission remains the same: To develop and sustain a constituency that uses the political process to guarantee every woman the right to make personal decisions regarding the full range of reproductive choices, including preventing unintended pregnancy, bearing healthy children, and choosing legal abortion. Why are you updating the Articles of Incorporation?
To save funds and resources, we decided to merge the process of changing our name with modernizing our Articles of Incorporation. The Articles have not been updated for decades and no longer reflect standard practices of organizations with a 501(c)4 tax status. The update of the Articles is simply designed to keep with normal operating procedures of membership-based non-profits at the recommendation of our attorney. VOTING QUESTIONS Are there specific requirements for the ballot to be counted?
The ballot must have the included label of your name so we can be assured that all recorded votes are from current members and that there are no multiple votes. Ballots must be received by postal mail by close of business, November 14th. Any ballots received afterwards, even if they have an earlier postmark, will not be valid. Who can vote?
Those who paid their membership dues during the past 12 months (October 3, 2002 to October 3, 2003) have been mailed a ballot. Only those members are permitted to vote according to our bylaws. How do I know if I’m a current member?
If you receive the ballot in the mail by the end of October, you are a member in good standing. If you don’t receive a ballot, but believe you are a current member, contact info@mnnaral.org. If you are not already a current member, you are ineligible to vote (see below), but please consider renewing or joining today in order to support the vital work we do. Can I vote if I join before November 14th?
Only those who gave in the 12 months preceding October 3, 2003 are eligible to vote. Are ballots anonymous?
Each ballot must have your name in order for us to certify it as a valid vote. However, all votes will be kept confidential.
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