In some associations, there are officers who’ve held their post for dozens of years and many associations wouldn’t think of electing a different slate of officers. That’s not good, because if your members share that view, beware. Apathy is at hand. If your members are convinced the leadership is a closed society, they will feel no special allegiance to the group. In addition, your organizations will miss out on a variety of fresh ideas from members willing to serve in office. The results: low morale, high member turnover and a very real potential that your members will defect to (or start) a competing group. Establishing a nominating committee can save your group. Its charge: to recommend a slate of candidates for consideration by the general membership and ensure some new faces are seriously considered when the next election is held.
Step 1 — Check your group’s bylaws and make sure that establishing a nominating committee is not in conflict with the current election process. If it is, you’ll have to run through the process of amending the bylaws first.
Step 2 — Choose one nominating committee member from your group’s current leadership. That person will be a valuable information resource in knowing which current members have held offices previously or have refused to stand for past elections. The current leader will also provide stability and ensure the work is accomplished.
Step 3 — Choose one “outsider” committee member — someone who is not perceived to be among the current leaders. Ideally that person will be familiar with many of your non-leader members. In fact, work on a nominating committee is a good proving ground for potential leaders. When committee members show a willingness to do some work and offer some good ideas, consider them for the next committee assignment, or even for a nomination.
Step 4 — You need at least three people to complete a committee. You can fill in a third, fourth or fifth committee slot (don’t go further than five unless you’re a huge fan of bureaucracy) with former leaders, proven veteran members and/or a fairly new member.
Step 5 — Select a chair for the nominating committee in the manner outlined in your bylaws. Likely your group’s board of directors will make that determination.
Step 6 — Prior to your group’s next election, a minimum of two meetings should be held. The first is needed to discuss details — offices, qualifications and the size of the slate you want to present to members. Two or three nominees for each vacancy work best. Discuss potential candidates with a mixture of established, respected members and some of the “new blood” you want to work into officer positions. The second meeting should be much shorter. Confirm you still have viable candidates for each office and draw up the final slate.
Step 7 — Have the chair of the nominating committee present the proposed slate of officers to the full membership. Members can still nominate from the floor on election day. If you committee takes a comprehensive look at available candidates and matched members’ skills to organizational needs, you will have an executive decision-making body that has a blend of the old with a drop of the new to lead you into the term.
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