[Eg-oversight-board] Election process, officer elections, and executive sessions

[Sharon Herbert]

Thanks for all of these ideas, Grace. I'll have to ponder some of this  
too, but I think more important that a reminder about  
registering/nominating gets out today, given the timeline. I think the  
brief reminder you've outlined below looks good, thanks!

As far as recommended timelines for future elections and other issues  
re: nominees/resignations, I'd like to ponder a bit.

Thanks,
Sharon
Quoting Grace Dunbar <gdunbar at esilibrary.com>:

> Hi,
> I promised to send out an email regarding EOB elections.
> For starters, I want to provide a quick review of the voting process.
> We are currently accepting nominations for the Board.  The deadline is this
> Friday.
> Like in years past, folks have to register to vote.  The deadline for
> registration is this Friday and the link to the registration form is here:
> https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/EOB2016 . That list will capture the email
> addresses we need to send the link to the election on OpaVote.
>
> This year, as it was last year, voting process is approval style (
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Approval_voting).  You should vote for the
> four candidates that you feel will best represent the community and the
> project's interests.
>
> Last month I sent out an email that proposed we adopt an election timeline
> that is something that has a little more specificity than can be used
> year-to-year.  Right now the wording is, "Each year, the Board shall
> promulgate procedures for nominating and electing new Board members."
> (2.4d)
>
> I'd like to suggest something a little more structured, such as:
> Election processes should begin 6 weeks prior to the annual conference or
> April 1st, whichever comes first.
> Nominations and voter registration shall be managed in weeks 1-3.
> Week 4 shall be set aside for voting and Weeks five and six shall be for
> new member notification and officer elections.
> Newly elected officers will take office at the end of the Evergreen
> Conference for that calendar year. If no Evergreen Conference is held
> during a calendar year, office terms will begin and end at midnight EDT on
> April 30.
>
> Does anyone have any thoughts positive or negative on election of officers
> prior to the conference?  If no objections, do you have thoughts on how we
> should structure voting for the chair, vice-chair, secretary, and
> representative?  I would assume we would nominate and vote on each position
> separately.  Maybe take nominations for Chair Monday am, vote Monday pm -
> take nominations for Vice-Chair Tuesday am, vote Tuesday pm, and so on?
> That would allow someone who ran for a position to run for another position
> if they weren't elected to the first.  Or we could do all nominations and
> then handle it via STV
> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_transferable_vote>, RCV, or Approval
> voting.  Thoughts?
>
> I would also like to toss out a few ideas that I'd like to hear feedback on.
>
> How do you all feel about a proposal that members newly elected to the EOB
> (e.g. in their first ever EOB term) may not be nominated to core roles of
> Chair, Vice-chair, Secretary, or Conservancy Representative?  They can,
> however, be nominated to serve as committee chairs.
>
> Also, the Board has been called upon to appoint several new members when
> elected members have resigned.  Personally, I find the Board appointment
> process to be an issue as it has the potential to change the dynamic of our
> elected board.  Would there be any interest in proposing a change to the
> rules of governance to require special elections when a Board member leaves
> with more than 6 months left in their term?
>
> This would require some additional language around the structure and terms
> of special elections, but I wanted to see if the idea was compelling before
> writing further language.
>
> Lastly, I do think we need to add some language to the Rules of Governance
> about how to manage the occasional executive session.
>
> I know I've tossed out a lot of ideas; I'd love to hear your thoughts on
> any and all of them.
>
> Cheers!
> Grace
>
>
>
> --
>
> Grace Dunbar, Vice President
> Equinox - Open Your Library
> gdunbar at esilibrary.com
> 1-877-OPEN-ILS  |  www.esilibrary.com


-- 
Sharon Herbert
Sitka Manager
BC Libraries Cooperative
Tel: 1-855-383-5761 x1013
Email: sharon.herbert at bc.libraries.coop
Website: http://bc.libraries.coop