I would like to second Ted's solution to the difficulty encountered by the Nominating Committee this year. Another problem with finding 2 strong candidates to run against each other is that one potential leader must lose the election, thus discouraging these talented members from seeking leadership positions in the future. Ann Ann B. Abid, Head Librarian Ingalls Library The Cleveland Museum of Art 11150 East Blvd. Cleveland OH 44106 216-707-2537; (fax) 216-421-0921 Please note that my former email of [log in to unmask] has been changed to [log in to unmask] Messages directed to the former address will still be received correctly, but updating of your records would be appreciated. -----Original Message----- From: Ted Goodman [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2001 9:07 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Nominations slate Dear ARLIS/NA members, The Executive Board has been examining the election procedure to determine how the Society might better encourage its members to make the commitment to serve on the Board. We have discovered that our election procedure is unusual for societies of our size and nature. Quoting Robert's Rules of Order "The bylaws should not tie the hands of the committee to find more than one person to fill each slot. The committee should be instructed to find the best candidate for each office." Our current practice has had the effect of wasting talent, and discouraging members from running for office. I quote from the 1999 Annual Report submitted by Ann Abid "While the committee was eventually successful in identifying 2 members to run for each office, a great many members were contacted without success as the slate was compiled. The committee would like to alert the Society to the need to encourage leadership in the Society as a goal of membership." From the 2000 Annual Report submitted by Marilyn Berger "The committee did eventually name 2 strong candidates for each position, but many potentials were contacted. Attracting leadership to the Society remains a problem..." The current Nominating Committee, chaired by Sherman Clarke, informed the ARLIS/NA Executive Board at the Mid-year Board meeting that it could not fulfill its charge (Bylaws C-26.a) to nominate a slate of candidates, two for each office to be filled. Therefore, in accordance with ARLIS/NA Bylaws Article XVI Parliamentary Procedure, which dictates that Robert's Rules of Order (Revised) in the latest edition, shall govern the Society in all cases to which it can apply, the ARLIS/NA Executive Board following Robert's Rules Chapter 8, has authorized the Nominating Committee "to find the best candidate for each office." Thus, I am informing the membership that this year there will be a slate of one candidate per office and Sherman Clarke, Nominating Committee Chair will accept nominations "from the floor" via ARLIS-L, telephone voice-mail, fax or US Mail after the slate has been presented. "Floor" nominations may be entered by petition of ten members eligible to vote and shall be filed with the Nominating Committee. Following this, if there are any "floor" nominations, headquarters will prepare a ballot, which will be mailed to all current members for voting. Results will be tabulated and announced on ARLIS-L and in UPDATE. If there are no "floor" nominations, the slate of single candidates put forth by the Nominating Committee will be considered as approved by the membership and will be elevated to their respective offices at the ARLIS/NA Annual Business Meeting in St. Louis. I am appointing Vice-President Daniel Starr to chair a Presidential Task Force to investigate the issue of nominations, elections and revision of our Bylaws to bring them into line with Robert's Rules of Order before next year's election. Additionally, I want to thank Sherman Clarke and his committee, Tom Young, Natalia Lonchyna and Janine Henri for their service. I would like to say that this approach should not be seen as a failure of this nominating committee in any way. A slate of two candidates for each position makes it harder for the society to have a diverse board, since you can't balance the need for diversity with the fact that the most popular candidate wins. I think the way we resolve this, if it produces a model for choosing future slates, will show that this committee has the courage to recognize a long-standing problem and present a solution that benefits the society and all future nominating committees. Feel free to call or email Sherman Clarke, Daniel Starr or me with any questions or concerns. Ted Goodman, President ARLIS/NA [log in to unmask] __________________________________________________________________ Mail submissions to [log in to unmask] Administrative matters (file requests, subscription requests, etc) to [log in to unmask] ARLIS-L Archives and subscription maintenance: http://lsv.uky.edu/archives/arlis-l.html Questions may be addressed to list owner (Kerri Scannell) at: [log in to unmask] __________________________________________________________________ Mail submissions to [log in to unmask] Administrative matters (file requests, subscription requests, etc) to [log in to unmask] ARLIS-L Archives and subscription maintenance: http://lsv.uky.edu/archives/arlis-l.html Questions may be addressed to list owner (Kerri Scannell) at: [log in to unmask]