Proposed Amendments for Bylaws – 2026

NAYGN Bylaws: Proposed Amendments for 2026

Background

NAYGN has Bylaws that govern operation of the organization, and the Board of Directors ensures NAYGN adheres to these Bylaws. The Bylaws are reviewed annually to determine what updates are needed to better meet the needs of NAYGN.

Amending the Bylaws requires approval from NAYGN members. The adoption of an amendment requires the affirmative votes of not fewer than two-thirds of the members voting, and the total vote shall not be less than 20% of the total voting membership of the Corporation.

Proposed Amendments

NAYGN’s Board of Directors is proposing the following amendments to the Bylaws as part of the 2026 Election.

Amendment #1:

Proposal: For NAYGN Bylaw B6 – CORPORATE OFFICERS, change the title of an officer.

Reasoning:

NAYGN’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Officer title was established to strengthen its internal culture and ensure fairness across the organization. The position focused primarily on fostering an inclusive environment, addressing systemic barriers within the nuclear industry, and ensuring all members felt represented and supported.

Over the years, the role has evolved considerably as the needs and priorities of NAYGN have expanded. The position now places greater emphasis on global collaboration, workforce development, and industry awareness—areas that require relationship-building, strategic communication, and educational outreach far beyond traditional DEI functions showcased on NAYGN communications.

Today, the responsibilities of the DEI Officer centers on promoting awareness of nuclear careers, developing initiatives that highlight the accessibility and diversity of opportunities within the nuclear industry, and fostering collaboration among international young-generation networks. This work includes building bridges across cultures, coordinating global engagement programs, and amplifying the shared mission of developing the next generation of nuclear leaders.

The nature of the position has therefore shifted from an internally focused DEI framework to one that is outward-facing and strategic, advancing inclusion through education, visibility, and international partnership.

As NAYGN continues to grow its global footprint, the “DEI” label no longer fully captures the scope or intent of this evolving role.

The mission now emphasizes cross-cultural understanding, workforce awareness, and engagement on a global scale, uniting individuals and organizations around a common purpose of innovation, sustainability, and representation within the nuclear sector.

This broader focus reflects a natural progression of NAYGN’s commitment to inclusivity: one that achieves diversity not only within its membership, but through meaningful collaboration and awareness-building across borders and disciplines.

For this reason, NAYGN’s Board of Directors has proposed a Bylaws change to NAYGN members to rename the “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer” to “Workforce Awareness Officer”. For questions and feedback, please contact Sonia Chakraborty at dei@naygn.org.

Amendment #2:

Proposal: For NAYGN Bylaw B6 – CORPORATE OFFICERS, make an editorial change in how the two Operating Officers are referred to.

Reasoning:

The US Operating Officer and Canadian Operating Officer used to have a title National Affairs Officer.

A past revision to NAYGN’s Bylaws did not fully correct the original title. The Bylaws should be updated to better reflect the existing officer titles. The Bylaws will be updated for all instances.

Amendment #3:

Proposal: For NAYGN Bylaw B9.2.a– CONSITUENT UNITS, make an editorial wording change.

Reasoning:

NAYGN is a continental organization rather than a national organization, so the proposed wording better reflects NAYGN as a whole.

The use of “initiatives” instead of “program” is selected to highlight how a chapter can elect what continental opportunities they would like to participate in.

Amendment #4:

Proposal: Remove all reference to NAYGN “Procedures”, and modernize language to incorporate new technologies.

Reasoning:

NAYGN does not maintain official “Procedures”.

The operation of NAYGN is based on the Bylaws & Rules as well as guidance documents and committee charters that provide greater detail on how to perform required activities.

Additionally, printing and distributing hard copies is no longer an efficient way to conduct the organization.