From the ABATE of Wisconsin Election Committee
Dave ‘Twit’ Linberg, Election Committee Chair
The process is beginning for the ABATE of Wisconsin 2018 State Election. Per our by-laws, the eight District Director slots must be filled first, before the general election, to determine how many Board of Directors at large positions need to be filled in the general election. Confusing? Yes it is. However, the By-laws are the rules that must be followed, so stick with us; we’re going to make this as easy to understand as we can.
ABATE of Wisconsin is divided into eight districts numbered 1,2,3,4,5,6,7, and 8. (See map on page 5.) According to our By-laws, the membership of each District has the right to elect one member from their district to sit on the ABATE of Wisconsin Board of Directors. This individual, elected only by the members of their district, becomes the District Director and not only sits as a voting member of the Board of Directors, but assumes other duties in the leadership of their district. These duties include being the district members’ voice on the board by communicating with the regional officers and attending the monthly board of director’s meetings. District Directors also assist regions in their district with elections and other activities or questions, and approve events for the regions.
The board of directors is the main governing body of ABATE of Wisconsin. It is only by majority vote of the board of directors that major changes can be made in the operations of the corporation.
The complete listing of duties and responsibilities of the district directors is contained in the ABATE of Wisconsin By-laws. To see a copy of the By-laws, contact your regional officers (there is a set of By-laws in each officers’ manual) or call the state office and a copy will be mailed to you if you are interested in declaring candidacy for this election or the upcoming general election.
Nomination papers for the eight district director positions should be in to the State Office by April 16, 2018. The information from the candidacy papers will be published in the May and June issues of this newsletter. Candidates will at this time, also note if they are interested in an at-large position if they do not win the District Director’s position.
Ballots for the District Director election will be printed in the May issue of this newsletter. Candidacy for at-large board positions and other statewide offices will close on July 6. More information on those positions will be printed here in the future.
People interested in running for a District Director position can find the candidacy paper form on page 13 of this issue. Please use this form (or an actual size photocopy of the form) and mail it to the state office for receipt by April 16, 2018: you must mail it in so that your original signature will be on file. There are also some narrative questions to answer: these answers should be written on a separate piece of paper, or printed out and attached to the form. If you are typing your information please also email the text to news@abatewis.org so it doesn’t have to be re-typed for the newsletter. Please limit your narrative to no more than 600 words. No matter which way you chose to submit your candidacy, please don’t forget to mail the form on page 13 with your original signature for our files.
If you have any questions, please call me as I am the Election Committee Chair (contact information on back page). More than anything, we need people to step up and run for these positions. Our membership deserves a choice of leadership. If you are at least a two-year member, with a desire to participate in the leadership of ABATE of Wisconsin, here’s your chance. Fill out the candidacy paper, send it in, and let the membership decide who will direct their organization.