Procedures for Area Governor Elections by Area Councils for the term 2010/2011 Office

 
Dear Area Governor 2009/2010,
 

Greetings! I attached here with the procedures for Area Governor Elections for the term 2010/2011 which must be held by May 07th 2010 or earlier.

Written notice as in e-mail or mail of the plan election for your area must be given to the president of each club in your area at least four weeks before election which should include the qualifications for candidates and list the voting members of the area council.

* Qualifications of Area Governor Candidates. Each candidate, if practicable, should have served at least six months as a member of a district council (club president or vice president education). “Practicable” is defined as “desired, but not required.”

* Voting members of the Area Council.The voting members of the area council are the president, vice president education and vice president membership of each club in the area. No other member of the area council has a vote.

 I have also included the Area Governor responsibilities and standards for your inclusion.

Procedures for Area Governor Elections by Area Councils for the term 2010/2011 Office.

Article VII (c) of the District Administrative Bylaws provides for the selection of area

governors either by appointment by the district governor, or by election by the area councils.

If a district wishes to have the area governors elected by the area councils, the following procedure must be followed.

Area Council Election Meeting Time. The area council meeting at which the election for area governor is conducted must be held at least two weeks (by May 7^th 2010) before the annual meeting of the district council (May 21^st 2010).

The time and place of the meeting is determined by the current area governor.

Election Notice. Written notice of the election must be given to the president of each club in the area at least four weeks before the election. Notice should include the qualifications for candidates and list the voting members of the area council.

Quorum. A majority of the voting area council members or their proxies shall constitute a quorum. If a quorum is not present, an election cannot be held unless another meeting is conducted which is properly noticed and at which a quorum is present.

Proxies. Either the club president, vice president education, or vice president membership may designate, in writing, any member of the club to act as a proxy for him or her at the area council election meeting. In the event two of those officers are not in attendance at the meeting and have not designated, in writing, active members of the club to act as their proxies at such meeting, the officer or proxyholder in attendance shall be deemed to hold the proxy of the

others and may therefore cast the club’s three votes. If two valid proxyholders are present and cannot decide among them who shall cast the third vote, the third proxy goes to the highest-ranking officer present or his or her proxy. The intent of this provision is to assure

that every club will be represented by three votes.

Voting members of the area council. The voting members of the area council are the president, vice president education and vice president membership of each club in the area. No other member of the area council has a vote.

Qualifications of Area Governor Candidates. Each candidate, if practicable, should have served at least six months as a member of a district council (club president or vice president education). “Practicable” is defined as “desired, but not required.”

Nominations and Elections. Each club in the area may submit to the area governor, in writing, any member in good standing as a candidate for area governor. The names of candidates from the clubs will be placed in nomination by the area governor at the election. Nominations will then be accepted from the floor. After the nominations are closed, if there is only one candidate, the area governor shall declare that candidate elected.

If two or more candidates are nominated, each candidate is entitled to a two-minute speech. The speeches shall be delivered in alphabetical order of the candidate’s last name. If a candidate is not present, the speech may be given by that candidate’s representative.

Each member of the area council in attendance, or his or her proxy, is entitled to one vote. No area council member or proxy may cast more than three votes, even if he or she is a member of more than one club. The area governor may act as a club proxy and may cast up to three votes. However, in the case of a tie, the area governor is entitled to only one additional vote to break the tie.

Voting shall be by secret ballot. Any candidate who receives a majority of the votes cast shall be declared elected. In the event no candidate receives a majority of the votes cast for a contested office, voting shall continue without the name of the candidate that received the fewest votes. Such procedure shall continue until one of the candidates receives a majority

of the votes. The area governor should then notify the district governor of election results.

CHECKLIST FOR AREA GOVERNORS

Decide the date for the Area Council meeting and include the Area Governor election

on the agenda.

1. Provide written notice to all Clubs of the election, including qualifications of candidates and identify voting members of the Area Council.
2. Receive nominations
3. Verify proxy holders
4. Election

- If only one candidate has nominated declare that person elected.

- If more than one candidate has nominated have the candidates give their

speeches and conduct the election by secret ballot.

1. Notify the District Governor of the election result.

Source: Procedures for Area Governor Elections by Area Councils, District Leadership Handbook Rev.1/2009 published by Toastmasters International.

Download: 1. Procedures for Area Governor Elections 2010/2011
                2. Area Governor Responsibilities & Standards

With Thanks and Gratitude,
Richard Chong @ Ritchie, DTM
District 51 Governor 2009/2010