Dear Members and Friends of the ERA-NC Alliance: 

In advance of our Annual Meeting on October 6th, the Nominating Committee of the Alliance is seeking Board Officers and Directors for the 2019-2020 term. 
 
We use a process of self-nomination. Any member or organizational representative who submits a membership form that is duly registered by the Alliance and who is current with any annual dues may be eligible to serve as an Officer, Director, to serve on committees, and to vote. 
 
The election process follows this message. You can join or renew your membership for 2018 here, by downloading the membership form and sending it to the Alliance at the address on the form or by using the online option.

Please share this message with anyone else who may be interested, and consider the following:
 
1. Would you like to be part of the ERA-NC leadership that is building upon the national momentum and working to make North Carolina the 38th state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment?
 
2. Are you willing to represent the ERA-NC Alliance, be visible in your community and in the state as an advocate for equal rights regardless of sex, and urge the NC General Assembly to ratify the ERA?
 
3. Are you willing to participate in monthly board meeting conference calls, serve on committees as possible, promote the purposes and objectives of the Alliance and help manage the business, property and affairs of the Alliance?
 
4. Would you consider an Officer position?  If so, which one(s)? (See Elections Process following this message.)
 
5. If you are willing to put your name in nomination for an Officer or Director, please submit an updated, brief biography to the Chair of the Nominating Committee, Ann Von Brock, by August 10th. (alvonbrock@gmail.com) 
 
6. If you are willing to be considered for an Officer position, please indicate which one in your submission along with your brief biography.
 
7. Please help recruit new Officers and Directors for the Board by reaching out to your personal network.  Those who are interested should be paid members of the Alliance and submit their brief biographies by August 10th. 
 
Thank you so much for your support of the Alliance. We are only as strong as the number of people willing to speak up and advocate for equal rights. 2019 promises to be an exciting year for the Equal Rights Amendment and we need some significant energy and commitment!  
 
Ann Von Brock, Nominating Committee Chair
828-582-4101
 
Elections Process
 
1. ELIGIBILITY: Any member or organizational representative who submits a membership form that is duly registered by the Alliance and who is current with any annual dues may be eligible to serve on the Board of Directors as an Officer or Director, to serve on committees, and to vote.
 
2. COMPOSITION AND ELECTION OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

1. At the 2018 Annual meeting of the full membership body, the body will elect seven (7) Directors and seven (7) Officers to the Board of Directors to replace those members whose terms expire at the end of 2018. The newly elected members shall be elected to serve for the 2019-2020 term by a quorum of the full body membership with a vote of:
   1. Individual ERA Supporter members afforded one vote each.
   2. Representatives designated by Lead Organizations afforded one vote each. 
2. A quorum of the full membership body is ten (10) percent of the total of individual members as of the date of the annual meeting. Robert’s Rules will be utilized at the meeting.
3. Any member who submits an individual ERA-NC membership form that is duly registered by the Alliance by dates set forth by the Executive Council and who is current with any annual dues as of the date of the annual meeting is a member in good standing and may be eligible to serve on the Board of Directors as an Officer or Director, to serve on committees, and to vote.
4. Any organization that submits a membership form that is duly registered by the Alliance by dates set forth by the Executive Council and which is current with any annual dues as of the date of the annual meeting is an organizational member in good standing. Each Lead Organizational representative must complete an individual ERA-NC membership form but is afforded only one vote as a representative at full membership body meetings.

 
3. TERMS OF SERVICE: The terms of the Board of Directors shall be two years for Officers and two years, for Directors with half the Directors to be elected each year by the full membership body with votes as specified in Section 2.a. 

1. No Director shall serve more than two full consecutive terms. A Director who has left the Board because of a term limit may be reelected or reappointed to the Board after a period of one year. 
2. Officers shall serve no more than two consecutive two-year terms. Officers may serve a third consecutive two-year term upon a special vote by the full membership body at an annual meeting.

 
4. ELECTIONS:  The annual meeting will be October 6, 2018. Elections will be held at the annual meeting. Those elected will take office January 1, 2019.  (Venue and lodging details provided below.)

1. Candidates may run for an Officer position and a Director position. Officers will be elected first. In the event a candidate is elected as an officer, their name shall be removed as a Director candidate.
2. Eligible members interested in running for any position(s) will self-declare as candidates, sending a concise biography to the Nominating Committee Chair in a message that also designates the position(s) for which they are running by August 10th. 
3. The Nominations Committee will coordinate efforts to ensure that the eligible, self-declared candidates for Officers and Directors are posted on the ERA-NC Alliance website. Additionally, the Nominations Committee will interview candidates for Officer positions and nominate a slate of Officers. Other nominations for Officers and Directors can be made from the floor at the annual meeting.

 
5. ANNUAL MEETING DEADLINES:
August 10 – All candidate names, bios are to be to the Chair of Nominating Committee – Ann Von Brock (alvonbrock@gmail.com)
August 20 – All candidacies received to date will be vetted for eligibility.
Sept 6 – All eligible candidates’ names received, will be posted to website (30 days before meeting)
Sept 23 – All eligible voters will have submitted appropriate membership forms to Membership Chair to be received and duly registered in advance of the Annual Meeting. – Questions? Contact: Virginia Adamson (membership@era-nc.org)
Oct. 6 – Annual Meeting (nominations can be taken from floor)
 
6. JOB DESCRIPTIONS:
Officers

1. The Co-Presidents shall be the chief officers of the Alliance and shall jointly have general charge and supervision over and responsibility for the affairs of the Alliance. Each Co-President will act in the absence of the other or with written notification by the other that she/he is unable to carry out her/his duties.
2. The Co-Presidents shall perform all the duties required and may interchangeably preside over all meetings, sign all official documents, and execute all other duties that usually devolve upon a president.
3. The First Vice-President shall preside at all meetings in the absence of the Co-Presidents or at their request. The First Vice President shall serve as Chair of the Fundraising Committee. The First Vice-President shall succeed to the office of Co-President in the event of a vacancy in that office during the two-year term of office. Upon completion of the term of office, the First Vice-President shall transfer all appropriate records to the successor.
4. The Second Vice-President shall preside at all meetings in the absence of the Co-Presidents and First Vice-President. The Second Vice-President shall be Chair of the Public Relations Committee. This office shall succeed to the office of Co-President in the event of vacancies in the offices of Co-Presidents and First Vice-President. Upon completion of the term of office, the Second Vice-President shall transfer all appropriate records to the successor.
5. The Third Vice-President shall preside at all meetings in the absence of the Co-Presidents and First and Second Vice-President. The Third Vice-President shall be Chair of the Membership Committee. This office shall succeed to the office of Co-President in the event of vacancies in the offices of Co-Presidents and of the First and Second Vice-Presidents. Upon completion of the term of office, the Third Vice-President shall transfer all appropriate records to the successor.
6. The Secretary shall keep all minutes of the meetings of the Alliance. The Secretary shall perform such other duties and possess such powers as are incidental to the office or as shall be assigned by the Co-Presidents or the Board of Directors.
7. The Treasurer shall accurately keep all financial records, maintain all banking accounts, make deposits, issue properly authorized payments, and make regular written and oral reports on money received and expended to the Board of Directors or Executive Council as directed. The Treasurer shall make all records available for audit and shall turn over all records to the succeeding Treasurer within thirty (30) business days of the end of the term of office.

 
Directors
The Directors exercise powers and authority to manage the business, property, and affairs of the Alliance. Directors perform such lawful actions and duties as it deems proper and appropriate to promote the purposes and objectives of the Alliance. Directors may delegate as necessary such affairs, business, and property to the Executive Council. Directors appoint chairs of standing or ad hoc committees by a majority vote unless otherwise specified by the bylaws. Directors are expected to attend meetings and actively serve on committees to include acting as committee chairs when appointed/elected.