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• Chapter Elections

Electing Chapter Officers
Each chapter should have a written policy for the process of electing officers, Board of Directors, and Nominating Committee. Usually, election is by anonymous ballot with a teller or counting committee chosen to count the ballots. For any elected position, it is important to establish the qualifications for the job first. Job descriptions, along with the qualifications, should be given to the membership before calling for nominations. Once job descriptions have been published, chapter members can identify potential candidates. Matching potential candidates' qualifications with the needs of the job helps ensure successful candidates.

When all positions have been adequately advertised, there is a call for nominations. Potential candidates should complete a form with their name, membership number, place of employment, position desired, and why they want the position. It is helpful to match the qualifications of the individual to the job description.

The Nominating Committee proposes a slate of candidates to the chapter Board of Directors, who approves the slate and sends it to the membership for voting. Notice of the deadline for voting should be well publicized. If a mail or email voting system is used, the chapter should be sure members understand on what date the ballot must be postmarked.

Elections Policy Statement

• Chapters will hold annual elections followed by an Officer Installation.
• Chapters are required to update officers at AORN Headquarters no later than one moth after final results of the elections are known.
• A minimum of three chapter officers should be elected: President, Vice President or President-elect, and Secretary/Treasurer. Additional elected officers are specified by each chapter in the bylaws. Regardless of your officer structure, please provide AORN with a contact for your chapter.
• All elected or appointed officers and committee chair must be members of the chapter and hold current membership status in AORN. There are no exceptions to this policy. Before reporting officers or committee members to Headquarters, it is the chapter's responsibility to verify chapter membership and make sure memberships have not lapsed.

Elections Rationale

• Spring elections are recommended to update the IRS annually for group tax exempt participants.
• Uniform elections will allow a more efficient and timely distribution of the updated manual to the chapters at the start of the new fiscal year.
• The delegate packet is mailed to chapter presidents in July. Delegate communications and registrations are handled more efficiently when the packet is received by the president.

Elections Procedure

• Chapter officers can be submitted online. A chapter designee should complete the form and send it to Headquarters as soon as possible.
• When election updates are received at Headquarters, monthly correspondence will be emailed to the new president.
• New versions of the Chapter Resource Guide are distributed to all chapters who attend the Leadership Conference in July. It will also be available online off the main Chapter web page. Contact the AORN Chapter Relations Coordinator if you have any questions.
• Election update forms are kept in the chapter file at Headquarters. It is suggested that names and addresses of all past chapter officers be retained by the chapter.

Lapsed Chapter Officers

• Policy Statement
  Chapter officers and chapter committee chairs who allow their membership to lapse will be deleted from all chapter rosters and communication.
• Rationale
  Inactive or nonmembers are not eligible to hold elected or committee positions in AORN. When chapter leaders allow their memberships to lapse, it is a poor reflection on the chapter and its members.