ABATE of Wisconsin Corporate Election Continues

by Bill Roberge for the Election Committee

The candidate profiles for the ABATE of WI State Officers and the Board of Directors at Large (who represent the entire state on the board, not just their own districts) are contained in this issue of the newsletter. A ballot to vote in this election is also printed in this issue and in the September issue of this newsletter.

Every ABATE of Wisconsin member that is current as of September 15, 2022 will be eligible to vote by mailed in paper ballot in this election. New members or returning expired members who are processed after September 15, 2022 may still vote in the election, but to do so they will need to attend the ABATE of WI Annual State meeting held at the Four Seasons Hotel, 201 N. Airport Road, Shawano, WI 54166. Call 1-855-574-8501 for your reservation.

The reason behind this is that the tabulators that tally the election will be provided with a membership list generated on September 15, 2022. They will only accept votes from members that are current on that list. New members signing up at the state meeting will also be eligible to vote that day. Our Wild Apricot membership program will allow us to look up current members (those signed up after September 15th) on site to validate memberships that vote before the meeting.

For now, take some time to look over the candidates listed in this newsletter and start deciding who you would like to provide the leadership for your organization over the course of the next two years. In accordance to our By-laws the ballot will also include space for write in candidates for all offices.

The election ballots are printed on page 21. Two copies of the ballot are included in each issue to allow for separate entry ballots due to couples’ memberships. Be certain to include your name (your name as printed on your membership card) and zip code for the confidential use of the tabulators to verify that you are a member and have only voted once. Please print clearly. If we can’t read your name, we can’t verify your voting status and the ballot will not be counted.

Be certain to mail the ballots to the address printed on the ballot (ABATE Election, PO Box 338, Holmen WI 54636). Any ballots mailed to other ABATE of Wisconsin addresses will be not counted and will be destroyed.

To elect a full Board or 14 people, you will be asked to vote for up to nine people to fill the nine open Board at Large positions which will bring the number on the Board to 14. Five people have already been elected to the new board as District Directors. Three District Director slots (District 5, District 6, and District 8) were not filled during the District Director election as they had no declared candidate or accepted write-in winners**. Because of this opening, the “at large” positions on the board were increased to nine in the general election and the new board will appoint individuals elected as at large members to fill the duties of the District 5, District 6, and 8 Directors. In this election, as in all ABATE of Wisconsin elections, simple majority of votes will declare the winners. For the Board at Large election, the nine candidates receiving the most votes will be declared the winners.

These District Directors, as well as the Executive Officers and the Board at Large selections that you will be voting for, will be seated and assume their duties at the State Meeting on October 9, 2022 once the tabulation of the ballots is completed.

The Election Committee would like to thank everyone that participated in the District Director election and ask that all members take an interest in the balloting to elect the rest of the state leadership for our organization for the next two years. If you do not want to cut apart your newsletter, feel free to photocopy the form to mail in. Multiple ballots may be mailed in a single envelope. Remember to send your ballot to ABATE Election, PO Box 338, Holmen, WI 54636. Read the candidate profiles, discuss them with your friends, and vote. Thank you.

I cannot tell you enough how important your vote is. Having just verified the District Director ballots, I can tell you I was shocked at how few members vote. Make your vote count. Voting for the right person to do the right job can make a huge difference, not only in ABATE of WI, but in our country.

The Candidate Profiles begin on PAGE 9 of this issue.