2006 Director Election

[Sharon Faulkner]

NSS Director Elections: Your Vote is Important
Sharon Faulkner

It is that time of year again. Within the next week or so, you will receive your ballot for the 2006 NSS Directors election. When you receive your ballot, please take a few moments and cast your vote for the director candidate(s) of your choice. Your vote is important for many reasons, the most obvious being that you are electing the person(s) who will be representing you, and your interest in the Society, for the next three years. Four director positions are filled by membership vote each year. The prime responsibility of the directors is the election of the officers of the Society. The directors, along with the officers as a Board of Governors, set policies for conducting the official business of the Society. They also serve on committees and review the activities of all the committees.

For a number of reasons, the majority of the NSS membership does not participate in the annual election process. In 2004, only 16% of all election ballots (Fig. 1) were returned to Montana Spencer, chair of the Nominating Committee, for counting. Out of the 11,294 ballots mailed in 2005, only 1,975 ballots were returned, for a 17% return rate, up 1% from 2004. This means that less than 2000 NSS members are choosing the NSS leadership, which will represent you, the interest of your region, and the future direction of the Society.

When you receive your ballot this year, please consider taking the time to read the platform statements of the candidates, casting your vote, and returning your ballot. In addition, go one step further and encourage your grotto members to cast their vote, have a grotto ballot party at your grotto meeting if you have to. Have everyone bring his or her marked ballots and drop into a large envelope with plenty of postage. Seal the envelope at the meeting and have a responsible person place it in the mail. Some folks will lay their ballots aside and forget about them, give these folks a friendly reminder. Others may toss the ballot in the trash because they want to avoid speleo-politics, tell them it will only take a few moments to vote and they may then shove politics into the dark recesses of their mind for another year. If your grotto has newer NSS members, they may not know that the directors or the Board of Governors exist, much less which candidate may support his or her best interest, offer to answer any questions they may have.

Alternatively, there could be new faces and names on the election ballots. If you do not know the candidates running, ask them questions. If they will not respond to questions as a candidate, it is unlikely they will respond to questions as a director either. Is this an important attribute to you? If a person is running for re-election, look back at the BOG meeting minutes and see how they voted on issues that matter to you or that impact your region. Read their responses to membership concerns on regional or national caving forums. Did this candidate make an effort to discuss Society issues with you?

Campaign for the candidate of your choice. If you feel someone has skills or talents that will benefit the Society, or they have contributed time and effort in your caving area, do not be afraid to let others know. Since I cannot say it better, I will quote Tom Lera in his July 2004 Officers report: To the membership at large, I urge more active participation, such as running for important, influential offices and voting on Board members based on qualifications rather than merely on name recognition. There is an enormous wellspring of people available, and we need to be encouraging, not discouraging, these members to get involved.


(figure 1)
www.caves.org/committee/nominating/Return%20Rates.htm

[Sharon Faulkner]

By the way, I received my ballot for the Director's Election today. As always Montana Spencer's efficient work as the NSS Nominating Committee Chair produced a well-rounded and diverse ballot of eight candidates seeking a Director position. The candidates listed are:

Linda Baker-Devine - Maryland
Rick Bowersox - Nevada
Jay Clark - Alabama
Timothy Comer - Texas
Lee Florea - Florida
Ted Kayes - Virginia
Kathy Lavoie - New York
Eric Weaver - Ohio

Thanks to all of them for being willing to step up to the plate. To read the platforms of the candidates see: www.caves.org/committee/nominating/Platforms.htm


(Candidates are listed in alphabetical order because I like it that way.)

[madratdan]

Great stuff Sharon. I really like the new web page with the bio's on it. This is going to be a really tough decission on who to vote for. (like it should be). I wish all the candidates the best of luck. Now I just need to receive mine and sned it off. I hope ya'll do the same.

[L Roebuck]

Thanks Sharon!

Now I will be watching for my Director's Election ballot !

[guanonoggin]

Awesome linkage Sharon!

The pdf makes it totally easy to check out the candidates in advance. I'll be casting my vote for one of the dudes or dudettes as soon as I get a ballot.

All I gotta do is filter out the bogus peeps and pick a winna.

Way Good Karma ;D

[Sharon Faulkner]

Thanks.... I'm glad to see other forum users are as interested in the election as I am! I'll most definitely be sending my ballot back after doing some research.

[L Roebuck]

Yippie! I got my NSS Director's Election ballot in the mail today.

Next is the process of reviewing each candidate and evaluating each one's merits. Then I can vote for the caver I think will serve the NSS the best! ;D

[Karstscience]

A job well done by the Nominating Committee Chair and staff on the creation of the election web page. It provides a good preview for members waiting to receive a ballot.

Hopefully, the creation of the web page will generate more membership interest in participating in the voting process. I've long thought some instances of voter apathy could be due to NSS members not understanding how their votes, or lack of votes as the case may be, might effect policy and procedure decisions, election of officers, and ultimately the future direction of the Society.

[Brian Roebuck]

karstscience said:

A job well done by the Nominating Committee Chair and staff on the creation of the election web page. It provides a good preview for members waiting to receive a ballot.

Hopefully, the creation of the web page will generate more interest in membership participation in the voting process. I've long thought some instances of voter apathy could be due to NSS members not understanding how their votes, or lack of votes as the case may be, might effect policy and procedure decisions, election of officers, and ultimately the future direction of the Society.

I used to frequent the other forum and I really liked being able to ask BOG members questions in a public forum to see what their real views were. Eventualy one could ascertain their true colors by how they responded (or not) to various issues. Alas the board crashed and the BOG went away. So did I. In any case I would like to see those same BOG members avail themselves to become a visible part of caving again by posting on this board. The NSS members that really do care would still like to ask questions and get to know you better. Afterall the society belongs to all of it's members correct?

[Sharon Faulkner]

I agree Dr. Beaner. I liked conversing with existing BOG members on previous forums and it certainly gave me a head start when it came time to choose between candidates on election ballots. Any of the Board would be welcome to join discussions taking place on this forum.

In regards to the current Director Election ballot, I have voted and my ballot will go out with today's mail pickup.

[Sharon Faulkner]

From Montana Spencer, NSS Nominating Committee Chair.

Cavers,

Now is the time to dig out your NSS Board election mailing, read over the bios and platform statements, contact the candidates via our website at: www.caves.org/committees/nominating if you have questions for them before you vote, cast your vote for no more than four candidates, and mail it!

Ballots must be RECEIVED BY June 1, 2006.

Please encourage your fellow NSS members to vote as well. The annual return rate for cast ballots is less than 20%. We are still awaiting ballots from the 10,000 members who have not yet voted!

The 12 directors and 5 officers represent all OUR interests and the decide FOR us the future direction of the Society when setting policy and amending existing Acts. If you don't exercise your voting privilege by choosing representatives who share your opinions and concerns, in effect, you are saying you don't care what happens to the NSS, your membership dollars, or what type of membership services you may or may not receive among many other things.

Do your part. Have a voice. Show the Board you care. VOTE TODAY!

Montana Autumn Spencer
NSS Nominating Committee Chairman
[e-mail]

THIS E-MAIL MAY BE REPRINTED IN ITS ENTIRETY TO ANY OTHER CAVING FORUM OR PUBLICATION.

[Taylor]

Good website by the Nominating Committee. Participation in voting may increase if the NSS advances to the point of secure online election voting capability. Easier said than done I imagine. However, I've voted and returned the ballot, thanks for the reminder.

[Sharon Faulkner]

I hope everyone has voted and returned their ballot by now, but if not, here is one last reminder from Montana Spencer, chair of the NSS Nominating Committee.

If you're one of those beloved, procrastinating cavers who works best under a last minute deadline, then you should feel the adrenaline coursing through your person about now!

Please RUN and dig out your election mailing from that good-intentioned pile of "i'll-get-to-that-tomorrows", go to a quiet spot, read the bios and platform statements, and cast your vote(s) for up to four candidates, stamp it, and mail it RIGHT AWAY!

Today is one week away from the deadline for RECEIPT of cast ballots. Since we lose two mail service days for Sunday and the holiday Monday that only leaves five days for your ballots to travel to Indiana. Most ballots (even from our southwestern states), have been taking 2-3 days from the postmark date to arrive, so it is NOT too late to vote as long as you mail it right away.

Thank you all for your interest in the NSS and the election process! Watch for election results to be posted by the end of June.

Montana Autumn Spencer
NSS Nominating Committee Chairman

[L Roebuck]

I know my ballot made it because I voted and returned it weeks ago. ;D