Changes to the AMHA Election Process
Monday, March 16, 2015
released from the American Morgan Horse Association
A component of our recently adopted strategic plan directed us to explore ways to be more fiscally responsible in order to better serve you.
We would like to inform you of some changes to the AMHA election process. First of all, at the January 20, 2015 Board of Directors meeting, we approved a change to how ballots will be distributed. As you know we have been running a parallel system of hard copy and electronic ballots in order to facilitate a transition to electronic ballots as our primary method.
-- Beginning this year (for membership year 2016) and going forward, our balloting process will be electronic with provisions to accommodate anyone wishing to have a paper ballot.
-- For the 2016 membership year, your membership application will have a space for you to request a paper ballot and you may also request one of the tabulator.
-- For the 2016 election, if you want to request a paper ballot please complete the request form contained in the June 2015 Network newsletter or contact [email protected].
-- The list of requestors will be sent to Survey and Ballots, Inc. This request must be received no later than December 31, 2015 in order to allow processing time.
-- You may also vote by paper in person or by proxy at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the Members
This change was intended to be a cost savings for the Association. Currently it costs $18,000 (range) to run an election and this will save up to $10,000 to $12,000 (estimated). A large part of the cost is due to paper and postage. Please contact any director for any questions on this.
In addition we have another proposed change:
PROPOSED CHANGE
At the recent February 27, 2015 annual meeting of AMHA members, the following topic was discussed in a very brief format.
BOARD POSITION ON CANDIDATES
We fully support any member in good standing that would like to qualify and campaign for a Board seat. We encourage active participation from all of our members.
ELECTION FACTS
We have had mostly uncontested elections in the past several years, but have conducted elections per our current process. Our current costs are in the $18,000 range annually.
PROPOSAL
-- FOR ELECTIONS WITH ONLY ONE CANDIDATE FOR A SEAT, USE AN ALTERNATIVE PROCESS WHEREBY THE CANDIDATE WOULD BE ELECTED BY ACCLAMATION AT THE ANNUAL MEETING; THIS COMPLIES WITH ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER.
-- THE OUTCOME WOULD BE UNCHANGED
-- ADVANTAGE: COST SAVINGS OF UP TO $18,000 (RANGE) ANNUALLY
We would like to invite your feedback on this topic. We have set a window for open comments; we will receive comments until midnight on June 30, 2015 on this proposed change. We wanted to allow time for you to express your ideas and give feedback on this.
We have designed an open-ended question survey that you may complete electronically.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AMHAelection
We will be holding a series of Town Hall Conference calls in the coming months to discuss this matter. We hope you will join us.
Thank you in advance for your consideration of this change.
Linnea Sidi
Region 9 Director
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