AAWNC Adopts New Board Election and Leadership Nomination Process
AAWNC has adopted a new process for nominating and electing members of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee. The changes are designed to create a more consistent, transparent and intentional process for identifying future leaders while preserving the membership’s role in electing the Association’s leadership.
Why the Process Is Changing
As AAWNC continues to grow, the Association needs a Board election process that provides greater structure around nominations, encourages more members to become involved in leadership and creates a stronger pipeline for future Association leaders.
The new process establishes a formal Nominating Committee responsible for reviewing potential Board members and developing a recommended Leadership Slate. This allows the Association to consider Board composition, experience, future leadership needs and continuity rather than approaching each election independently.
Most importantly, the membership continues to elect the Board of Directors and Executive Committee. The Nominating Committee recommends candidates; the membership makes the final decision.
The Nominating Committee
Each year, the Board of Directors will establish a Nominating Committee at least six weeks before the annual election.
The committee will consist of either three or five members and will generally be chaired by the current Past President. Individuals seeking appointment to the Board should not serve on the Nominating Committee.
The committee will establish a process and criteria for reviewing members interested in serving and will consider applications, recommendations and returning Board members.
Nominating Board Members
For open Board of Director positions, the Nominating Committee will:
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Review applications, recommendations and eligible returning Board members.
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Nominate one candidate for each open Board seat.
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Present those nominations to the Board of Directors for affirmation.
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Present the nominees to the general membership for election.
This creates a consistent process for evaluating potential Board members while ensuring the membership retains the authority to elect its representatives.
Selecting the Leadership Slate
The Nominating Committee will also recommend a Leadership Slate consisting of the President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.
As part of that work, the committee will consider the Association’s longer-term Leadership Track. The process prioritizes leadership continuity, including the opportunity for the Vice President to advance to President and the Secretary to advance to Vice President. It also prioritizes the opportunity for at least one Supplier Member to serve on the Executive Board.
These are guidelines rather than automatic promotions. The Nominating Committee retains the discretion to recommend the leadership team it believes is in the best interest of the Association.
Election Timing
The new process establishes a clear timeline leading up to the Annual Meeting:
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At least six weeks before the election: The Board establishes the Nominating Committee.
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During the nomination period: The committee reviews Board applications, recommendations, returning members and potential Executive Committee members.
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At least two weeks before the Annual Meeting: The nomination process is completed and the Leadership Slate is presented to the membership.
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At the Annual Meeting: Members vote on the Leadership Slate and open Board seats.
A quorum of 10% of the membership is required for the Annual Meeting and election.
What This Means for Members
The goal of these changes is straightforward: create a stronger and more predictable leadership development and election process while keeping the ultimate decision with AAWNC’s membership.
Members interested in serving on the Board will have a defined opportunity to express their interest and be considered by the Nominating Committee. Current leaders will have a clearer path for continued leadership development, and the Association will be better positioned to plan for leadership transitions from year to year.
The result should be a process that is more organized, more intentional and better suited to supporting AAWNC’s continued growth.