2014 ESRA Election Time Line & Nominating Procedures

This document details the process of the nomination of candidates and the election of two seats on the Board of Directors of English Springer Rescue America, Inc. The ESRA Board of Directors has five seats. The new Board subsequently elects the President, Secretary, Treasurer, Vice Presidents, and Parliamentarian. Not only does voting let your voice be heard, but it automatically reconfirms your membership which is required at least every other year to keep your membership active. Your vote is also needed to reach a quorum to have a valid election. Your participation is important!

1. Nominations will be accepted from July 1, 2014 until midnight July 15, 2014 PDT. This election will be for two positions on the Board of Directors. The current positions up for election are held by Nancy Remmers and Phil Sproat. The three positions not up for election are held Marv Miller, Caryn Pola, and Katie Sanders.

Procedure: Nominators contact their nominee by e-mail. The nominee replies to the nominator with his/her acceptance of the nomination and with a very short bio. The nominator forwards this reply to Susan Zuker, our Inspector of the Election, to email: [email protected] Susan validates the nominee’s acceptance and membership. Note: Only those who are members in good standing, with a signed Code of Ethics on file, may nominate or be nominated.

Board members must be active members in good standing, with a signed Code of Ethics form on file. Nominees must be willing to pay their share of Director's insurance, which could amount to $300-$500 or more per year. (To date, this payment has not been necessary.) Board members must be able to attend on-line Board meetings about once a month (usually 1-2 hours), and must be easily available for email and phone conversations. They should be able and willing to attend, at their own expense, the annual meeting at the ESSFTA Nationals once a year. Realize that this is a volunteer board and it is an unpaid office. Most Board Member’s out-of- pocket expenses are not reimbursed, including telephone costs and travel expenses.

2. Susan Zuker will report to the Board of Directors by July 27, 2014 which members have been nominated. The Election Committee Chairperson will promptly announce the nominations to the membership via the Yahoo Chat group. Full bios and casual photos from all nominees will be posted to the ESRA Candidates web page. Nominees should send those items as soon as possible, and no later than July 29, 2014 to [email protected] .

3. Voting will be from August 1, 2014 through midnight, Aug.15, 2014 PDT. Any ballots received (or postmarked) after midnight Aug. 15, 2014 PDT will not be valid.

Procedure: No later than August 1, 2014, the links to the candidate and ballot web pages will be forwarded to the membership via the Yahoo group list and via the email addresses on the most current member roster. Eligible members will vote by submitting completed ballots to Susan by e-mail or snail mail. Votes may also be submitted by simple email with the voter’s full name and his/her two choices for the Board or a statement that they “abstain” from voting, but wish to reaffirm their membership and be counted towards the quorum. Susan can be reached at the following addresses:

Susan Zuker P.O. Box 1472 E-mail: [email protected] Palm Harbor, FL 34682

4. Susan Zuker will validate the ballots by comparing the voters to the eligibility list provided. To be eligible to vote, members must be in good standing, i.e. listed on the members’ roster as of July 20, 2014 with a reaffirm date no earlier than July 1, 2012. Susan will report the results to the Board by Aug. 24, 2014.

5. A formal announcement of election results will be made to the membership on August 25, 2014.

6. New Board members will be seated on Sept. 15, 2014. Soon afterward, the Board will elect the officers for 2014-2015.

Note: Thank you, Susan, for being ESRA’s Inspector of Elections and taking on this important task.