LESA-USA 2011 National Executive Officer Elections
CALL FOR CANDIDATES
Greetings from the Elections Committee!
Elections Committee: includes representatives from all the LESA USA chapters and was established in January 2011. Its primary function is to administer the elections in accordance with the provisions of the Regulations Governing National Elections of LESA-USA. No member on this committee has an intention to run for office in 2011.
As we move toward our AGM, it is time to look ahead to elections in June 2011. LESA-USA is currently seeking qualified and motivated candidates for the offices of the National Executive Committee.
The following officers of the National Executive Committee shall be elected during the AGM/Convention for a three-year term of office, renewable once:
a. The President
b. The Vice President
c. The Secretary General
d. The Assistant Secretary General
e. The Treasurer
f. The Financial Secretary/Comptroller
g. The Public Relations Officer
h. The Social Secretary
i. The Assistant Social Secretary
j. The Auditors (2)
k. The Sergeant-at-Arms/Chief Whip
Candidacy Eligibility and Requirements All members of LESA-USA are eligible to run for national offices provided they meet the eligibility requirements of Article 6.0(a) of the LESA-USA Constitution.
All communication between potential candidates and the Elections Committee shall be PRIVATE and CONFIDENTIAL, except for Personal Statements and names of Candidates which shall be posted on the LESA-USA membership e-group as provided for in these Regulations.
Every LESA-USA member who is interested in running for a position in the National Executive shall send her Name, Telephone number and E-mail address to the Elections Committee Chairperson’s private e-mail address no later than March 31 of the election year. Clearly state your intention as follows:
I, _______________________________, do hereby state my intent and desire to stand as a 2011 candidate for National Office in LESA USA. The National Office for which I am standing as a candidate is _________________________.
Election Committee Chairperson’s private email is: lesausainc.membership@yahoo.com
The Elections Committee shall ascertain if, under the LESA-USA Constitution, the candidates fulfill the eligibility requirements for running for elected office and shall reply to each candidate individually in private communication.
Once a candidate has been deemed eligible to run for national office, the candidate shall immediately provide to the Elections Committee in MS Word (.doc) format: a Brief Personal Statement (1-2 paragraphs) of why she wants to serve, how she will use the position and how her candidacy will make the Association better and serve the LESA-USA community well. The Elections Committee will not be held responsible for candidates not complying with this guideline.
After all eligible candidates have been ascertained, The Elections Committee shall post the list of candidates and the vacant positions on the LESA-USA membership e-group.
The Elections Committee shall publish a profile of each eligible candidate on the LESA-USA e-group to enable the general forum know the candidates for that election cycle. In posting the profile of each candidate for national office, the Elections Committee shall attach to each profile, the Brief Personal Statement provided by the candidate.
The Elections Committee shall not publish the Resume or CV of a candidate, or any other personal information on the general forum.
The Elections Committee shall ensure that all Branch Presidents have a copy of the candidates for national office and their profiles, in order to provide the information to those who are not subscribed to the e-groups. Registered members who do not belong to a branch may obtain this information from the Elections Committee upon request.
Presidency and Vice Presidency: Candidates may choose to run for these positions as a ticket (i.e., a president and a vice president combination) or as individuals (i.e., without running partners). In the case of a ticket, if the president on that ticket earns the simple majority votes during the elections, her running partner automatically becomes the vice president. However, if an individual candidate earns the simple majority votes for president, then the votes for the individual candidates for vice-presidency will be counted and the candidate with the simple majority votes becomes the vice-president.
Election and Term of Office
Officers shall be elected by the General Assembly during the annual convention, and each officer shall hold office for a three (3) year term, or until she resigns or is removed or is otherwise disqualified to serve, or until her successor shall be elected and qualified, whichever occurs first. The term of office shall be renewable once and may be renewed for a third term upon approval, by majority vote, of two-thirds of the General Assembly at the AGM/Convention. Elections shall be conducted in accordance with the terms of the Constitution and the Regulations Governing LESA-USA elections.
Removal and Resignation of Officers
Any officer may be removed from office, as permitted by and in accordance with the Constitution and these Bylaws.
Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the NEC or to the President or Secretary of the Association. Any such resignation shall take effect at the date of receipt of such notice or at any later date specified therein, and, unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. The above provisions of this Section shall be superseded by any conflicting
terms of a contract, which has been approved or ratified by the NEC relating to the employment of any officer of the Association.
Vacancies
Any vacancy caused by the death, resignation, removal, disqualification, or otherwise, of any officer shall be filled by a special election. In the event of a vacancy in any office other than that of President, such vacancy may be filled temporarily by appointment by the President until such time as a special election shall be conducted to fill the vacancy for the duration of the term. In the event of a vacancy in the office of the President, the Vice-President shall fulfill the role of President for the remainder of the term.
Duties of the Officers
(1) The President shall:
be the custodian of the Constitution, Bylaws, Rules and Regulations of the LESA-USA and will preside at all meetings and Executive meetings at which she is present; represent the Association and its interests whenever and wherever the need may arises; ensure the implementation of committee decisions and resolutions adopted during the AGM; oversee the smooth running of the Association and all its activities; initiate disciplinary actions against any member who commits infractions or violates the Association’s Constitution, Bylaws, Rules and Regulations and policies; make appointments in case of vacancies, with the approval of the NEC; be a member of the all Standing and Ad Hoc Committees and approve, in consultation with the NEC, all financial transactions on behalf of the Association; appoint a Committee Chairperson to head each Standing or ad hoc Committee of the Association, or otherwise delegate her responsibilities as she may deem necessary; and compile a brief synopsis of her yearly activities for the LESA-USA National Annual Report; and produce an official transition report at the close of the term of office.
(2) The Vice President shall:
assist the President in all matters pertaining to the activities of the Association perform the role of President whenever the President is unavailable. However, the Vice President shall not be a member of the Finance Committee; perform functions as assigned by the President; assume the presidency in case of vacancy due to abdication or resignation by or removal of the President. Such an assumption of presidential responsibility shall be limited to the remainder of the President’s term of office; perform all duties incident to the office of Vice President and such other duties as may be required by law, by the Constitution, or by these Bylaws, or which may be assigned to her from time to time by the NEC; and compile a brief synopsis of her yearly activities for the LESA-USA National Annual Report; and produce an official transition report at the close of the term of office.
(3) The Secretary General shall:
run the secretariat of the Association and take minutes of all meetings at which she is present; be responsible for informing the branches of the date and time of the AGM;
be responsible for communication any information as instructed by the President or the NEC to the branches or members as the case may be; ensure that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws or as required by law be the custodian of the records and of the seal of the Association; keep at the principal office of the Association the original, or a copy, of the Constitution, these Bylaws as amended or otherwise altered to date and the Regulations Governing LESA-USA Elections; keep at the principal office of the Association or at such other place as the NEC may determine, the Minutes book of the Association and shall make it available to a requesting member as stipulated in the Bylaws of the Association; keep at the principal office of the Association a membership book containing the name and address of each and any member, and, in the case where any membership has been terminated, she shall record such fact in the membership book together with the date on which such membership ceased written request the Bylaws, the membership book, and the minutes of the proceedings of the NEC; perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as may be required by law, by the Constitution, or by these Bylaws, or which may be assigned to her from time to time by the NEC; and compile a brief synopsis of her yearly activities for the LESA-USA National Annual Report; and produce an official transition report at the close of the term of office.
(4) The Vice Secretary General shall:
assist the Secretary General and perform her duties in her absence.
(5) The Treasurer shall:
be a member of the Finance Committee and shall be the primary custodian of the funds/assets of the Association; maintain up to date financial records of the Association and enforce all financial policies of the Association as may be determined by the Finance Committee; collect all membership dues and other fees, issue receipts for funds received and shall deposit the funds into the Association’s account.; receive and disburse funds as approved by the President in consultation with the NEC; in consultation with the Finance Committee, shall prepare quarterly financial reports for the Association which shall be communicated to the members through the Branch Presidents. The Treasurer shall also present an annual financial report to the General Assembly during the AGM; maintain a bank account in the name of the Association and shall be a signatory on the Association’s accounts; perform all duties incident to the office of Treasurer and such other duties as may be required by law, by the Constitution, or by these Bylaws, or which may be assigned to her from time to time by the NEC; and compile a brief synopsis of her yearly activities for the LESA-USA National Annual Report; and produce an official transition report at the close of the term of office.
(6) The Financial Secretary/Comptroller shall:
keep separate records from that of the Treasurer on all monetary transactions conducted by the Association; act in the place of the Treasurer when the latter is absent or unavailable; take minutes of all Finance Committee meetings and shall keep a Minute book for the Finance Committee; initiate discussions on questionable transactions and shall make a request for an audit by the Auditors whenever she deems necessary; assist the Treasurer in reporting of the Association’s financial situation on a quarterly basis to the branches and annually at the AGM; perform all duties incident to the office of Financial Secretary/Comptroller and such other duties as may be required by law, by the Constitution, or by these Bylaws, or which may be assigned to her from time to time by the NEC; and compile a brief synopsis of her yearly activities for the LESA-USA National Annual Report; and produce an official transition report at the close of the term of office.
(7) The Public Relations Officer shall:
be responsible for promoting and publicizing the activities of LESA-USA; coordinate any and all activities between the Association and other partner organizations or groups that seek to support and promote the objectives of LESA-USA; in consultation with the NEC, shall solicit funds from corporations and other secondary sources in the form of sponsorships, grants and donations; solicit appropriate media for informing members and non members if Association-related activities. She shall advertise the activities of the Association as the need may arise; perform all duties incident to the office of Public Relations and such other duties as may be required by law, by the Constitution, or by these Bylaws, or which may be assigned to her from time to time by the NEC; and compile a brief synopsis of her yearly activities for the LESA-USA National Annual Report; and produce an official transition report at the close of the term of office.
(8) The Social Secretary shall:
be responsible for communicating all social events of the Association related to the members and their families. Such events include, but are not limited to: marriages, births, deaths, other religious events, illness and new arrivals in the USA. The Social Secretary shall use the LESA-USA e-group as her primary mode of communication; however she may use any other means of communication as she may deem necessary; perform all duties incident to the office of Social Secretary and such other duties as may be required by law, by the Constitution, or by these Bylaws, or which may be assigned to her from time to time by the NEC; and compile a brief synopsis of her yearly activities for the LESA-USA National Annual Report; and produce an official transition report at the close of the term of office.
(9) The Vice Social Secretary shall:
assist the Social Secretary in all her duties and act in lieu and place of the Social Secretary when the latter is absent or unavailable.
(10) The Auditors:
The Association shall have two (2) auditors, one of whom shall be a certified public accountant. The other Auditor shall be a holder of at least a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from an accredited US University or from any other internationally accredited University or College; The Auditors will audit the accounts of the Association and review the financial books and records of the Association at any time or upon the request by the Financial Committee members or the NEC; The Auditors shall audit the processes and procedures of LESA-USA to ensure the efficiency of the Association; Notwithstanding the preceding, the Auditors shall audit the Association’s accounts at least once every fiscal year. They shall report their findings to the NEC; perform all duties incident to the office of Auditor and such other duties as may be required by law, by the Constitution, or by these Bylaws, or which may be assigned to her from time to time by the NEC; and compile a brief synopsis of her yearly activities for the LESA-USA National Annual Report; and produce an official transition report at the close of the term of office.
(11) Sergeant-at-Arms/Chief Whip shall:
be responsible for enforcement of the rules of protocol during the AGM; perform other special duties as may be delegated by the NEC, maintain discipline, enforce attendance at the AGM and perform other duties of a Whip
Voting (FYI) Every full registered member of LESA-USA present at the AGM shall be entitled to one vote. Elections shall be won by simple majority vote of the eligible members present at the AGM General Assembly. Where there is a tie in the elections, the President shall have the deciding vote. Current constitution and by-laws does not incorporate provisions for absentee ballots
Respectfully Submitted,