NOMINATING COMMITTEES
It may be hard to believe, but if your unit or council is holding an election this school year, it’s time to start thinking about your nominating committee.
The nominating committee is the PTA’s most responsible, sensitive, and deliberative committee. The committee is tasked with finding the most qualified nominees for each elected officer position for the unit/council.
The nominating committee is elected at an Association meeting at least two months prior to the election meeting. This means most units need to elect the nominating committee no later than January or February for the election of officers in March or April. At the meeting where the Association elects the nominating committee, the parliamentarian should read the portions of the bylaws that explain the role of the nominating committee in the election. The Association then elects the nominating committee.
Information about the how and when to elect a nominating committee is found in the bylaws.
Unit bylaws: Article V – Officers and Their Election
- Section 2 – Lists the officers of the association.
- Section 4a – Provides the nominating committee is elected by association.
- Section 4b – Provides the nominating committee shall be elected at least two months prior to the annual election meeting.
- Section 4c – States the number of committee members and alternates of nominating committee.
- Section 4d – States the eligibility requirements of members of the nominating committee.
- Section 4e – Provides the report of the nominating committee shall be submitted to the membership at least 28 days prior to the annual election meeting.
- Section 7 – States when the election meeting is held.
Council bylaws: Article VI – Officers and Their Election
- Section 2 – Lists the officers of the council.
- Section 4a – Provides the nominating committee is elected by the Association.
- Section 4b – Provides the nominating committee must be elected at least two months prior to the annual election meeting and serves until the election meeting.
- Section 4c – States the number of committee members and alternates of nominating committee
- Section 4d – Provides the president shall not serve ex officio or be elected to the nominating committee.
- Section 4e – Provides no member shall serve on the nominating committee for two consecutive terms.
- Section 5 – Provides the report of the nominating committee shall be submitted to the membership at least 28 days prior to the annual or biennial election meeting.
- Section 7 – States when the election meeting is held.
The nominating committee is tasked with choosing the best candidates to serve as officers of the PTA for the next term.
The parliamentarian schedules the first meeting of the nominating committee where the committee elects its own chair. The parliamentarian will give information and advice on procedures and then leave the meeting if not an elected member of the committee. The principal of the school or a faculty representative, if not elected, shall serve as an advisor to the committee. No person may serve two consecutive years and the president may not serve on the committee.
The committee reviews the officer positions and duties and engages in an open discussion about potential nominees. The committee should consider the potential nominees based on their abilities as well as their capacity for leadership growth. The committee should select only eligible nominees who agree to serve on the PTA board. A nominating committee member is not excluded from consideration as a nominee for an elected board position but should be excused from the meeting during discussion of the position. The individual can then rejoin the meeting to vote on the nominee for that position, but that vote should take place by ballot. It is important that all deliberations of the committee remain confidential.
Once the slate has been completed, a nominating committee report is signed by each member of the committee and provided to the association at least 28 days in advance of the election meeting. The committee serves until the election meeting.
There is more information about nominating committees and elections on the First District website bylaws and parliamentary procedure page, or on the CAPTA website (check out the toolkit, the nominations and elections page, and the leadership website pages on nominations and elections).
Please contact me with any questions regarding electing the nominating committee.
Karin Graver, Parliamentarian
parliamentarian@pta1.org
|