The Nominating Committee
The purpose of the nominating committee is to recognize and seek qualified nominees for the elected leadership of your PTA. The members of the committee have a tremendous influence on the future of your PTA and they should be selected carefully, for their nominees will be guiding the activities of the organization and supporting the students and families at your school for at least the next year.
The bylaws state that the nominating committee is elected by the membership at an association meeting at least two months prior to the annual election meeting. Your bylaws also specify how many members and alternates are elected and who is eligible to serve on the committee. Remember that your membership should receive notice of the slate of officers 30 days before your election. Your elections should take place before the end of May.
The Nominating Committee members have the responsibility of bringing the names to the membership of those they consider to be the most qualified to lead the next year’s PTA. Committee members must be PTA members who understand and support the basic policies and purposes of PTA. They must also be fair, objective, trustworthy people who are committed to keeping their discussions confidential. Hopefully they also are involved to an extent that they know a good representation of people in your school community who will make good candidates.
Serving on a nominating committee is an honor and a privilege. This committee is your PTA’s most influential internal body and should be taken very seriously. The decisions of every nominating committee influence the future functioning of every PTA.
Nominating Committee Information Packet.pdf
Formal Nominating Report (CAPTA – PDF)
Nominees
The nominating committee is obligated to seek out those eligible members who would best serve in a particular office. Every effort should be made to provide a slate that is balanced in terms of new as well as experienced officers. The slate should also reflect the diversity of your school community. The committee is not required to nominate the president or any current officer to serve a second term or to automatically nominate the first vice president for president.
Every president (and others on the board as well) should make it part of his or her duty to be on the lookout for potential PTA leaders. If new people can be identified early, they should be sent to convention for training. If you didn’t budget for convention this year (and it is an expected and appropriate use of PTA funds), ask them to consider volunteering at convention or applying for one of Peralta’s grants to attend convention.
In considering which members are the best qualified to serve in officer positions, the nominating committee should consider and evaluate the following criteria.
Each nominee:
- Must be a PTA member.
- Must be enthusiastic and supportive of PTA
- Must believe in the basic policies and purposes of the PTA
- Must be fair and objective and concerned for the best interests of PTA
- Should have experience in PTA, although other organizational work may be considered.
- Should have knowledge of the organization and its role in the school and in the community.
- Should be wiling to give PTA a satisfactory level of priority and commitment, including attendance at meetings.
- Should be able to work well with people.
It is absolutely unacceptable for any nominees for the offices of president, treasurer, financial secretary and auditor to be related by blood or marriage or to reside in the same household. Also, no officer shall be eligible for the same office for more than two consecutive terms or hold more than one elected office.
Remember that PTA bylaws stipulate that one may only hold a position for two consecutive terms, and no longer. It is harder to find new leaders when some officers keep positions year after year. Although it is wonderful that people are willing to make such a commitment, the result is a complacent community that believes there is no need for them to step forward because ” ___ will do it”.
Elections
Election of officers must be held at an association meeting. A quorum must be present. Consult your bylaws for the number of members that must be present at your election meeting.
One of the common problems we have encountered with PTA units that do not hold elections before the school year ends is that they start the new school year at a real disadvantage. When a board is not in place until October or November, the school year begins without a PTA fall membership drive. Everyone scrambles to meet deadlines, develop budgets, decide if fundraisers are necessary and what they will be, etc. Additionally since no contact information for the officers is submitted in the spring, the mailings from both Peralta and State PTA are delayed and opportunities for training are missed.
For more information on nominations and elections, please access: www.capta.org/sections/management/nominations.cfm
Voting Reminders
1. Officer elections are required every year. An officer can serve for two consecutive terms, but must be elected each year.
2. Only one person can be elected to one office. Co-officers are not allowed. Bylaws can specify a president and an executive vice-president, but they are not “co-presidents” who share one official role.
3. All PTA votes must be done in person at a meeting. In-person voting applies to both executive board and association meetings.
4. Voting by proxy is not allowed. For example, your friend cannot tell you to vote for her at the meeting. If she would like to vote, she must be there in person.
5. If two or more people are running for one office, then voting must be done by ballot. If you know in advance that an election will be contested, please reach out to your council or district leadership for support.
6. If there are any vacancies on the executive board after the annual election, then the vacancies are filled by the new executive board.
7. The association is the body that votes on budgets and expenditures. The executive board votes to make recommendations about budgets and expenditures to the association, but the association has final approval of all budget items.
8. If an issue comes up which needs an association vote and there is not a regularly scheduled association meeting, a special meeting can be called by the president. The association must be given 10 days notice for this meeting along with an agenda outlining the actions to be taken at the meeting. This situation often occurs near the end of the year when an event or expenditure comes up unexpectedly. Calling a special meeting is how to move forward and not wait until the next school year to take action.
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