Executive Director’s Commentary
By Don Eversmann, F240000
November 2005
This month I would like to provide follow-up information regarding a decision made in 2004 by the Governing Board during its meeting at FMCA’s summer convention in Redmond, Oregon, and the clarifications that were enacted by the board this past August during the convention in Minot, North Dakota.
In the fall of 2004 the Governing Board approved two Bylaws amendments that changed all of the term lengths for national officers from one year to two years. At that time, a proposal was presented for phasing in these elections. However, it was not until the Governing Board meeting in Minot this summer that the final decisions were made about how the transition from one-year to two-year terms would be accomplished.
In the past, the four nationally elected officers “” president, senior vice president, secretary, and treasurer “” were elected at the Governing Board meeting each year for one-year terms. The Governing Board members “” national directors, alternate national directors, or temporary delegates, one for each chapter “” cast their votes to determine who would serve in these four positions. With the advent of the two-year terms, the decision needed to be made as to whether these elections would be staggered, with two positions elected every year, or whether all four would be elected every other year.
The Governing Board decided in Minot this past August that all four of these positions would be elected at the same time, every other year. This decision impacted the four nationally elected officers elected at the Minot meeting; so, each will serve a two-year term of office, from August 2005 until the Governing Board votes in new officers during the summer 2007 convention. As it now stands, elections for these four positions will be held in odd-numbered years.
The Governing Board’s next item of business in Minot pertained to the two-year terms of office for national area vice presidents. The Governing Board in 2004 had decided that these 10 positions would be elected to two-year terms also. In contrast to the four nationally elected officers, though, the area vice presidents are elected by national directors from each chapter in their respective areas via mail ballot each year in the May-June timeframe. This year all 10 areas held elections, and the length of the term for each area vice president was to be determined by the Governing Board in Minot.
When the two-year term Bylaws Amendment relating to the area vice presidents was presented to the Governing Board at their meeting in Redmond last year, a proposed rotation was presented. This proposal recommended that for 2005, five area vice presidents should be elected for one-year terms, and five area vice presidents for two-year terms. The five positions that were filled for one-year terms would be filled for two-year terms in 2006.
The Governing Board in Minot agreed to this proposal. Their decision placed the following area vice presidents in one-year terms for 2005-2006. Future elections to fill these positions will be held in even-numbered years:
Eastern Area
Great Lakes Area
International Area
Northwest Area
Western Area
The following area vice presidents were placed in two-year terms for 2005-2007. Future elections to fill these positions will be held in odd-numbered years:
Midwest Area
Northeast Area
Rocky Mountain Area
South Central Area
Southeast Area
Obviously, the Governing Board decided that they wanted the four nationally elected officers to serve together. However, I believe that they also were concerned about the continuity of the Executive Board and thus decided upon the alternating-year elections for the 10 area vice presidents. This cycle will remain in effect, as in the event of an unexpected vacancy in the office of an area vice president, the national directors within that area will elect an individual to fill the unexpired term.
An individual shall serve not more than one two-year term in each of the positions of president and senior vice president, respectively, in a lifetime. An individual may serve no more than two two-year terms in each of the positions of secretary, treasurer, or area vice president, respectively, in a lifetime.
At next summer’s convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, during the Governing Board meeting, there will not be an election of national officers. However, in May-June 2006, five area vice presidents will be elected to two-year terms. This will effectively complete the transition of all national officer positions to two-year terms.