Gaylactic Network Elections

It is again time for our annual elections. This year, two of our Board members’ terms of service are ending, so, beginning Tuesday, 01 May 2007, we are accepting nominations of candidates to fill these positions.

Qualifications

An eligible candidate must be a member of the Gaylactic Network. A person is a member of the Gaylactic Network if he or she (a) paid the annual dues since 01 July 2006; (b) purchased a membership at Gaylaxicon 2006 in Toronto; or (c) purchased a membership for Gaylaxicon 2007 ( Atlanta ), Gaylaxicon 2008 (Washington), or Gaylaxicon 2009 ( Minneapolis ). If validation of your membership is not available by the conclusion of voting, then you will not be considered a member for the purposes of running nor voting in the election.

One of the successful candidates must be associated with one of the organizational members of the network. (See "Determination of Results.")

Nominations

Nominations will be accepted from 01 May 2007 to 31 May 2007. You may nominate someone by sending an email message to that effect to gnelections@yahoo.com during the nominations period. You may nominate yourself. Please include the nominee’s email address with his, her, hir, or har nomination. Nominees will be asked to submit a statement of interest and qualifications, which the Speaker will then publish when the nominees are announced prior to voting.

Elections

Votes for the nominees will be accepted 15 June 2007 to 30 June 2007 by email. You must be a member of the Gaylactic Network to vote. (See Qualifications above for the definition of a member of the Gaylactic Network.). Each member gets one vote.

Determination of Results

The candidate who receives the highest number of votes gains a seat on the Gaylactic Network Board. Most likely, the candidate with the second highest number of votes also gains a seat on the Gaylactic Network Board. However, if the two people with the highest numbers of votes are neither members of an organizational member of the Gaylactic Network, then the candidate who is a member of an organizational member of the Gaylactic Network who has received the most votes will gain the second seat.

Newly elected board members will take their positions on 01 August 2007.

Responsibilities

A board member is responsible for discussing and deciding any matters within the Board’s authority, including elections. A board member must cast a "Yes" or "No" vote within 30 days of a formal vote’s being requested or before the end of a Board meeting if the vote is requested during the Board meeting. A board member must attend and participate in the annual meeting of the board (at Gaylaxicon) or arrange for attendance and preparation of an informed proxy.

The Board makes decisions and creates policies as appropriate to fulfill the purposes, powers, and duties of the Network, including setting requirements for Network membership. The Board may require the Speaker to create ad hoc committees and offices as appropriate to fulfill the purposes, powers, and duties of the Network.

Please contact the Speaker if you have any questions about this process.