RETURN TO USCF OFFICER DIRECT ELECTIONS PROPOSED
The following ADM for the Delegates meeting this August suggests a return to direct election of the USCF President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer, while continuing to elect three at Large Executive Board members in a group election.
The motion also proposes annual elections, with either two or three seats contested each year. Currently, elections are held each two years and alternate between three or four posts at stake. The motion also seeks to restore the office of "Treasurer" rather than "Vice President of Finance."
ADM (Bill Goichberg (NY), Myron Lieberman (AZ), Bob
Smith (FL).
The Bylaws are amended as follows:
ARTICLE VI, EXECUTIVE BOARD
Section 1. Composition. The Executive Board shall consist of the President, Vice
President, Secretary, Treasurer, and three Members at Large, all elected for
staggered terms of three years. Remainder of Section 1 is unchanged.
Section 4. Nomination. After "thirty or more voting members," insert:
"However, no incumbent member of the Executive Board who has served at
least half of a three year term shall be eligible to succeed himself or herself,
with the exceptions of the offices of Secretary and Treasurer, whose occupants
are eligible to serve one additional succeeding three-year term. The retiring
President may not be elected to any office in the three years following his or
her term as President, and no person may serve on the Executive Board more than
nine consecutive years." Remainder of Section 4 remains unchanged.
Section 5. Election of Executive Board members. Replace "Each elector may
vote for as many persons as there are Executive Board positions to be filled.
The persons receiving the largest vote totals shall be elected to the available
Executive Board positions." with "Elections will be held on a three
year cycle: Year 1, President and Vice President. Year 2, Secretary and
Treasurer. Year 3, three Members at Large. Each elector may cast one vote for
each office, except that in the at Large election, each elector may cast up to
three votes, and the three persons receiving the largest vote totals shall be
elected." Replace "The election of Executive Board
members shall take place in odd numbered years starting in 1999" with
"The election of Executive Board members shall take place in 2003, and
annually beginning in 2005."
Section 6. Deleted.
Bylaws ADM, page 2
Section 7. Terms of Office. The terms of office of the Executive Board members
shall commence at their first meeting, which shall immediately follow the Annual
Meeting, and shall continue for three years except as provided in Section 10 of
this article.
Section 8. Duties. Replace "Vice President of Finance" with
"Treasurer" in two places.
Section 9. Vacancies. If a vacancy shall occur on the Executive Board, it shall
be filled by special election as described in Section 5 of this Article, except
that a vacancy occurring less than five months before the next regular Annual
Meeting shall be filled by a vote of the Board of Delegates at the next regular
Annual Meeting. If the position of President becomes vacant, the Vice President
shall become President. If the positions of President and Vice President both
become vacant, the Board shall elect the President from among its members.
ARTICLE X: TRANSITION FROM BYLAWS IN EFFECT PRIOR TO AUGUST 13, 2001
The Executive Board as described in the Bylaws in effect prior to August 13,
2001 shall continue to exist and function until the end of the Delegates Meeting
in 2003. In 2003, the President shall be elected for a two year term, and the
Secretary and Treasurer for three year terms. The Vice President shall be
elected by the Board from among its members for a two year term. In 2005, the
President shall be elected for a three year term and the three Members at large
for two year terms. In 2006, a regular cycle of elections for three year terms
shall begin: 2006 Secretary and Treasurer, 2007 Members at Large, 2008 President
and Vice President, etc.
SPONSOR'S RATIONALE:
1)
Officers should again be elected directly by position, in order to
strengthen the President and provide appropriate candidates for posts requiring
special capabilities and extra commitment. These advantages override the
increased possibility of negative campaigning in a two person race.
2) Members at Large should
continue to be elected as a group rather than one on one, minimizing negative
campaigning, as the advantages of #1 do not apply.
3) Four years is too long a
term, too much of a commitment for some, too hard for voters to change direction
if desired. Two years is too short, too much turnover and politicking.
Three years seems best.
4) Annual elections are
important to maintain a continuing and healthy discussion of issues.
5) The old method of five seats one
year and one each for two years makes it too difficult for the voters to change
the Board if unhappy with how things are going.