The current executive committee of the Association of Internet Researchers was elected two years ago this fall. We are now beginning the process of electing a new executive committee. Any dues-paying member of aoir is invited to run or to nominate someone to run, and you are all urged to participate to your fullest by raising the issues of importance to you and by voting. If you are not a dues-paying member of aoir, becoming one now (or renewing) enables you to participate in this process (and provides other benefits -- see http://www.aoir.org for more information). What follows is a brief overview of the positions at stake, procedural information on nominating, and detailed descriptions of the positions. TIME FRAME OF THE ELECTION: 1. CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: Now! 2. END OF NOMINATION PERIOD: Monday, Sept 24, 2001 3. VOTING PERIOD BEGINS: Wednesday, September 26, 2001 4. VOTING PERIOD ENDS: October 9, 2001 5. NEW COMMITTEE ASSUMES DUTIES: At the end of the General Meeting at the Conference, October 14, 2001. Note that voting instructions will be provided separately from this message. A QUICK ELECTION PRIMER: The organizational structure of aoir is pretty simple. There are 4 officers, 3 open seat representatives, and 4 appointed positions who together make up the 11 member executive committee that runs the show. In this election, you are invited to nominate yourself or anyone else whom you think would do a good job, for any of those first 7 positions. Here are brief descriptions of each position (full descriptions from the bylaws are at the end of this message): The 4 OFFICERS (President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer): 1. President -- CEO, supervises the organization. 2 year term. 2. Vice President - Back up for President, handles variety of duties as they arise. 2 year term as VP followed by 2 years as President. 3. Secretary: Handles membership and records. 2 year term. 4. Treasurer: Handles the money. 2 year term. OPEN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE SEATS: 5 - 7. Three open Seats on the Executive Committee, one of which is a designated Graduate Student Representative: Represent membership of aoir, contribute to decision making, and handle variety of duties as they arise. 2 year terms. WHO CAN RUN AND WHO CAN NOMINATE: Anyone who is a dues-paying member of aoir can run for any position in this election. If you have opinions about what you would like this organization to become or the kinds of things you think it should be doing, then you should put those opinions into action by running. If you have talents or experience that you think we could use, and you'd like to put them to use for us, you should run. Just about all of aoir's business is conducted online. Remember that if you became a member by virtue of registering for the first conference, that membership is about to expire. Dues must be paid by the start of the voting period (September 24) to appear on the ballot. Aoir members should also feel free to nominate others who they think would do a good job in any of these positions. If you are not sure that someone is a paid member, nominate them anyway, we can check for you. WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO DO TO NOMINATE SOMEONE? Nominations can be made via the air-l list (and if sent there should include "nomination" in the subject line) or e-mailed off-list to Jeremy Hunsinger at nominate@aoir.org. Self Nominations: Email a statement of up to 200 words outlining your goals and concerns about aoir. Include a brief biographical sketch and if you have one, a link to your website. This information will be posted on the aoir member site at the close of the nomination period and will serve as your one official opportunity to campaign. Nominating Others: Email the name of the person you want to nominate, the position for which you are nominating this person, contact information for that person, and an indication of whether you know if this person would accept this nomination (if you don't know, we'll contact them and ask). Once a nomination has been accepted by the nominee, the nominee will be asked to send the the statement and biographical sketch described above. Astute readers of the bylaws will notice that elections are being conducted on a compressed time frame this year in order to get a new administration in place at the conference where many of them will have an opportunity to meet face to face and be introduced to the membership. It took longer to finish up the bylaws than we wanted, so we hope you'll forgive this irregularity. From the Bylaws, here are the full duties of each elected role: DUTIES OF PRESIDENT The President shall be the chief executive officer of the corporation and shall, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, supervise and control the affairs of the corporation and the activities of the officers. He or she shall perform all duties incident to her or his office and such other duties as may be required by law, by the Articles of Incorporation, or by these Bylaws, or which may be prescribed from time to time by the Board of Directors or membership. Unless another person is specifically appointed as Chairperson of the Board of Directors, the President shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and at all meetings of the members. Except as otherwise expressly provided by law, by the Articles of Incorporation, or these Bylaws, he or she shall, in the name of the corporation, execute such deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts, checks, or other instruments which may from time to time be authorized by the Board of Directors or the membership. SECTION 7. DUTIES OF VICE PRESIDENT In the absence of the President, or in the event of her or his inability or refusal to act, the Vice President shall perform all the duties of the President, and when so acting shall have all the powers and be subject to all the restrictions on, the President. The Vice President shall have other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by law, the Articles of Incorporation, these Bylaws, or as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or membership. SECTION 8. DUTIES OF SECRETARY Certify and keep at the principal office of the corporation the original, or a copy, of these Bylaws as amended or otherwise altered to date. Keep at the principal office of the corporation or at such other place as the board may determine, a book of minutes of all meetings of the directors, the members, and if applicable, meetings of committees of directors and of members, recording therein the time and place of holding, whether regular or special, how called, how notice thereof was given, the names of those present or represented at the meeting, and the proceedings thereof. See that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws or as required by law. Be custodian of the records and of the seal of the corporation and affix the seal, as authorized by law or the provisions of these Bylaws, to duly executed documents of the corporation. Keep at the principal office of the corporation a membership book containing the name, address, and dues status of all members, and, in the case where any membership has been terminated, he or she shall record such fact in the membership book together with the date on which such membership ceased. Exhibit at all reasonable times to any director or officer of the corporation, or to her or his agent or attorney, on request therefor, the Bylaws, the membership book, and the minutes of the proceedings of the directors and other units of the corporation. In general, perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as may be required by law, by the Articles of Incorporation, or by these Bylaws or which may be assigned to him or her from time to time by the Board of Directors or the membership. SECTION 9. DUTIES OF TREASURER Have charge and custody of, and be responsible for, all funds and securities of the corporation, and deposit all such funds in the name of the corporation in such banks, trust companies, or other depositories as shall be selected by the Board of Directors. Receive, and give receipt for, monies due and payable to the corporation from any source whatsoever. Disburse, or cause to be disbursed, the funds of the corporation as may be directed by the Board of Directors or Executive Committee, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements. Keep and maintain adequate and correct accounts of the corporation's properties and business transactions, including accounts of assets, liabilities, receipts, disbursements, gains and losses. Exhibit at all reasonable times the books of account and financial records to any director or officer of the corporation, or to her or his agent or attorney, on request therefor. Render to the President and directors, whenever requested, an account of any or all of his or her transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the corporation. Prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify or cause to be certified, the financial statements to be included in any required reports. In general, perform all duties incident to the office Treasurer and such other duties as may be required by law, the Articles of Incorporation of the corporation, or by these Bylaws, or which may be assigned to her or him from time to time by the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee or the membership. SECTION 1. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE The Executive Committee shall direct the day-to-day operations of the corporation. It shall consist of eleven members. the five elected officers, and the Past President will serve on the Executive Committee. Additionally the membership, during regular elections of officers, will also elect three open seats. Duties are flexible, consisting largely of Committee and project assignments, as assigned by the Executive Committee.. Two other members shall be appointed by the Executive Committee to serve as officers. The Systems Administrator is responsible for the association's technical systems on which its Web site, e-mail list and other means of Internet communication operate. The Systems Manager is responsible for the content and appearance of the association's Web site and other means of Internet communication (except its e-mail lists). The Systems Administrator and Systems Manager will coordinate their efforts to the best of their abilities. The Board of Directors may delegate to the Executive Committee the powers and authority of the board in the management and affairs of the corporation, to the extent permitted and except as may otherwise be provided, by provisions of law. By a majority vote of its members, the Board of Directors may at any time revoke or modify any or all of the Executive Committee authority so delegated. The Executive Committee shall keep regular minutes of its proceedings, cause them to be filed with the corporate records, and report the same to the Board from time to time as the board may require. _______________________________________________ Air-exec mailing list Air-exec@aoir.org http://www.aoir.org/mailman/listinfo/air-exec