Nominating Committee

[gapeech123]

According to our by-laws, the president appoints a nominating committee for our yearly election of officers. She has appointed herself and the wife of the vice president. Each of them (the president and VP) is now nominated for the other position, as they have exhausted their terms in their current positions. Is there anything prohibiting her or the VP's wife from being on the nominating committee?

[jstackpo]

Nothing in RONR. No sexism in that book.

[Josh Martin]

Is there anything prohibiting her or the VP's wife from being on the nominating committee?

No. But in the long run, you might want to amend your Bylaws, as RONR recommends that the President should not appoint the nominating committee or serve on the nominating committee. RONR doesn't have an issue with the VP's wife serving on the committee.

[David A Foulkes]

And just to be sure, there is nothing preventing the membership from nominating other people at the election meeting (assuming the chair does properly open the floor for nominations then), and certainly nothing stopping the membership from electing other people to those positions, possibly by write-in votes if ballot voting is used. If you feel you've had enough of the current P and VP, regardless of their office, that's what the voting is about.

[gapeech123]

Not what I as hoping for, but thanks for the clarification!

[David A Foulkes]

Not what I as hoping for, but thanks for the clarification!

Should we assume the VP's wife is also a member of the organization?

[gapeech123]

And just to be sure, there is nothing preventing the membership from nominating other people at the election meeting (assuming the chair does properly open the floor for nominations then), and certainly nothing stopping the membership from electing other people to those positions, possibly by write-in votes if ballot voting is used. If you feel you've had enough of the current P and VP, regardless of their office, that's what the voting is about.

The problem is, the P and VP, each with a maximum term of 2 consecutive years, have just switched places for the last 6 years. Each year, the P appoints a committee, they solicit a slate, and anyone else is discouraged or talked out of running. It's a school band program, so many members are new and feel intimidated. When they did the same thing for this year's election, some of us had finally had enough. We made sure that others submitted their names to the committee. Since the P is on that committee, along with the wife of the VP, it's been an uphill battle. We're unsure if they will be on the ballot at all. Next Tuesday is sure to hold lots of band-mom drama!

[gapeech123]

Should we assume the VP's wife is also a member of the organization?

Yes, she is also a member.

[Josh Martin]

The problem is, the P and VP, each with a maximum term of 2 consecutive years, have just switched places for the last 6 years. Each year, the P appoints a committee, they solicit a slate, and anyone else is discouraged or talked out of running. It's a school band program, so many members are new and feel intimidated. When they did the same thing for this year's election, some of us had finally had enough.

Situations like this are exactly why RONR recommends that the President should have no role in the nominating committee.

We made sure that others submitted their names to the committee. Since the P is on that committee, along with the wife of the VP, it's been an uphill battle. We're unsure if they will be on the ballot at all. Next Tuesday is sure to hold lots of band-mom drama!

You can just bypass the nominating committee entirely. When the elections actually happen, the President should call for additional nominations from the floor. If he neglects to do so, raise a Point of Order and a subsequent Appeal if necessary. A majority vote is sufficient to overturn the chair's ruling. Even if they are not nominated, you can write their names in on the ballot, even if there is no official space for a write-in vote. The nominating committee only has the first word in the election process. The general membership has the last word.

[gapeech123]

Situations like this are exactly why RONR recommends that the President should have no role in the nominating committee.

You can just bypass the nominating committee entirely. When the elections actually happen, the President should call for additional nominations from the floor. If he neglects to do so, raise a Point of Order and a subsequent Appeal if necessary. A majority vote is sufficient to overturn the chair's ruling. Even if they are not nominated, you can write their names in on the ballot, even if there is no official space for a write-in vote. The nominating committee only has the first word in the election process. The general membership has the last word.

Thanks Josh! That will be helpful!