Q & A for the Nominating Process
Q: Who may apply for the National Council?
A: Any alumna in good standing.
Q: Who may apply for the National President position?
A: Only a member currently serving in a National Council position is eligible to apply for the National President position.
Q: When may I apply?
A: Staring November 15, 2010
Q: Where do I find the application and instructions?
A: Here on the website or contact the Chairman, Lynda Cook, at 317-705-0065 or
doctorcook1946@aol.com.
Q: When is the application due?
A: It must be received by the chairman at 501 Copley Place, Indianapolis, IN 46290-1050 by February 2, 2011.
Q: When is slating?
A: April 8 and 9, 2011. The committee will call each applicant and notify her if she has been slated or not. There will be a follow-up letter explaining the floor nomination process.
Q: Will everyone know I applied?
A: No, not unless you choose to tell people. The Transitional Nominating Committee is pledged in writing to absolute confidence.
Q: I understand that there is a big change in who can nominate candidates?
A: Actually a candidate can be nominated by the same people as always (another sister, a chapter, or an alumnae association). But now in addition to that list, a person may also self-submit their name and application.
Q: May I be nominated from the floor?
A: Yes, if you have already gone through the current application process and notified the chairman in writing of your intent to run from the floor at the national convention. She will keep this information in confidence. The notification is for planning the logistics of Forum at Convention.
Q: What is Forum?
A: It is time during a business session where the candidates for a contested office answer questions from the Nominating Chairman.
Q: Is the Nominating Committee being slated or standing for election at the Convention?
A: No, the National Council has appointed a committee that will serve until 2013.
Q: How will I know all the details of the new Policies and Procedures for the Nominating
Committee?
A: On this website is a complete set of the Policies and Procedures that the National Council adopted this year as well as a timeline for this cycle of nominations.
Q: Does the National Council choose the slate of candidates?
A: No, the National Council sets the policies and the Nominating Committee independently carries out the policies. Then the NC has no input into the process.
Q: How does the Nominating Committee learn their jobs?
A: A profession consultant trained the committee on selection processes, interviewing, and all of the information needed for them to do a professional job.
Q: On the Ethics Statement it mentions the “Duties” that I must agree to. What are those?
A: Certain things are required of any governing board member by law and by prudent and ethical practices. The “Duties” are a part of Risk Management for a NFP organization. We follow them because they protect our organization from legal judgments. They are defined as:
- Duty of care: describes the level of competence expected of board members; requires that board members exercise reasonable care in the decision making process; “the same care that an ordinary prudent person would exercise in a like position and under similar circumstances.”
Exhibited by: attending board meetings regularly; show independent judgment when voting; understand organizational activities; rely on accurate sources for information; delegate only to responsible individuals; follow up on all activities
- Duty of loyalty: a standard of faithfulness to the organization; must give your allegiance to the organization when making a decision; making sure that no conflict of interest exists; not putting personal interests above the organization’s interests.
Exhibited by: disclosing any conflict of interest; disclosing any personal interests; letting a disinterested majority make the decisions; not discussing confidential board information with outsiders
- Duty of obedience: making sure the organization remains obedient to its purposes; defining the organization’s mission and vision
Exhibited by: understanding the articles of incorporation, the bylaws, the standing rules, the policies, the mission, and the vision; a board member should use his/her best, reasonable judgment concerning how to best fulfill the organization’s purpose; making sure that the activities remain pointed to the purpose as donors use this to know their gifts are used appropriately.
Q: If I have additional questions, who should I call?
A: Contact only the Chairman. This is for consistency of answers and for us to know what we need to revise as information for the next cycle.