2009 Election Timeline

Become a League Board Member

If you are interested in serving on the League Board of Directors, or if you know someone who would be a good representative for cyclists in your region, the Nominating Committee is now soliciting recommendations for candidates for the 2009 board elections. The 12 Directors on the board are responsible for setting broad policy and direction for the League. Six represent specific regions and are elected by League members. One seat is an at-large position, elected by members. The board selects the remaining five seats.

Three seats will be filled by election in 2009:
Region 1: (CT, MA, ME, NH, NY, RI, VT) John Allen, who currently holds the seat, is undecided about running for re-election at this time.
Region 4: (IL, IN, MI, OH) Jim Sheehan, who currently holds the seat, is undecided about  running for re-election at this time.
Region 6: (AK, CA, HI, ID, NV, OR, WA)  Amanda Eichstaedt, who currently holds the seat, is running for re-election.

Candidate qualifications that will be evaluated by the Nominating Committee include:
· Commitment to cycling—as sport, recreation, fitness, or transportation, and a knowledge of bicyclists' concerns.
· Prior involvement in bicycling-related organizations.
· Participation in League activities and programs.
· History of volunteer service to non-profit organizations, and familiarity with the issues of governance of non-profits (legal issues, board operations, etc.), preferably through service as an Officer/Director/Trustee.
· Professional level skills in a field of use to the Board and the League, such as (but not limited to): management, fundraising, marketing, communications, finance, human resources, or law.
· Of "good moral character" – someone whose presence on the Board would not result in any embarrassment to the League.
· An ability to bring other substantial resources to the League, such as influential connections with potential donors, business or political leaders.

Timing of the 2009 elections will be as follows:
· September 19, 2008: Deadline for recommendations/applications
· September 26, 2008: Nominating Committee reports to the Board, recommending a slate of candidates.
· November 1: Through a petition process, members who have not been recommended by the Nominating Committee may gather signatures to be placed on the ballot. Petitions must be submitted within 30 days of the Nominating Committee's report. (see Bylaws, Article III Section 7 for details).
·         December 1:  Ballots available to Members online.
·         January 30, 2008: Voting ends.
·         February: Ballots tallied and final results announced.
·         March 10: newly-elected Directors take office, at the Annual Meeting (held in connection with the National Bike Summit, in Washington D.C.)

October 2004 Bylaw Amendment

Whereas, the Board desires to clarify certain details of the Election procedures, as outlined in Article III of the Bylaws, and

Whereas, the Board has determined that it is in the best interests of the League and its Members to minimize the lapse of time between the nomination of candidates for election and the election itself, as well as to minimize any time lapse between the election of a Director and the date when that Director’s term begins,

Now, therefore, it is

Resolved, that Article III, Section 6 of the Corporation’s Bylaws be amended by deleting the last sentence of said Section and replacing it with the following sentence:

“The Nominating Committee shall present its report to the Board in writing no later than February 1. The Committee’s report shall recommend candidates for election by region or at large, as well as candidates for appointment to the Board.”

And further

Resolved, that Article III, Section 8 of the Bylaws be deleted in its entirety and replace with the following:

“Section 8 - Election:

At the Annual Meeting of the Board, the Board shall establish a timetable for the following year’s elections. Such timetable shall include a deadline for the Nominating Committee’s report, subject to the requirements of this section and Article III, Section 6.

Ballots for the election of Directors elected by region or at large shall be in a form and be made available to members in a manner as determined by the Board, provided that such ballots shall be available to members on or before April 30 of any year in which an election is to be held. The deadline for return of all ballots to the Corporation shall be at least 30 calendar days following the date ballots are made available to members, but in no event later than June 15.

In order to be valid the return date of any ballot shall be as indicated by postmark or other clearly ascertainable evidence as the Board may determine. To be elected Director, a candidate for election by region must receive the highest vote total in the region in which he/she seeks election, as certified by an independent organization selected by the Board or a select committee of the Board.”