Re-open of nominations for office

[Friendsof thelibrary]

Our by-laws state that at our November meeting, nominations may be taken from the floor for our officer positions. This is in addition to the slate that is presented in writing to the members at this meeting, of persons stating in advance that they wish to run for an office. My questions, can someone who has stated in advance of their intention to run for one office, change their mind at the meeting and say they want to run for a difference office? Question 2, at our December meeting, when we vote for our new officers for the next year, can we re-open nominations, to be taken from the floor, right before we are suppose to vote?

[Rob Elsman]

Our by-laws state that at our November meeting, nominations may be taken from the floor for our officer positions. This is in addition to the slate that is presented in writing to the members at this meeting, of persons stating in advance that they wish to run for an office. My questions, can someone who has stated in advance of their intention to run for one office, change their mind at the meeting and say they want to run for a difference office? Question 2, at our December meeting, when we vote for our new officers for the next year, can we re-open nominations, to be taken from the floor, right before we are suppose to vote?

Q #1: Yes, or they may, if they wish, run for both offices.

Q #2: Yes; in fact, the president should read the names of those already nominated and ask if there are any further nominations.

[hmtcastle]

This is in addition to the slate that is presented in writing to the members at this meeting, of persons stating in advance that they wish to run for an office.

And note that it's the job of the nominating committee (presuming there is one) to select candidates (usually one per open office), not to simply "rubber stamp" anyone who expresses an interest in the job.

It can also be helpful not to think in terms of a "slate" (though it's a common term), lest it mislead some into thinking that the "slate" is voted on as a whole when, in fact, individual candidates are nominated for individual offices and voted on individually.

[Tim Wynn]

Friends of the Library,

See RONR(10th ed.), p. 421, l. 7-10.

(I too have a rather cordial relationship with the library)