District Election Procedures.

[Eamonn]

Hi,

Is there anybody out there that really understands the District Election Procedures?

I understand the purpose. Except the bit about electing District Members at Large.

I don't understand the responsibilities of a District Member at Large.

Is there a difference between District Members At Large that reside in the District and those that don't?

I understand that the District Chairman will 90 days before the District Annual meeting will submit the names of the Nominating Committee to the Council President for his approval. If we want to replace the District Commissioner, the Council President may ask the Council Commissioner to sit on the District Nominating Committee.

Does he become a voting member of the Nominating Committee or is he just there to help in the selection of the new District Commissioner?

At the Annual Meeting can a motion be made to elect Members of the District At Large before the Election of officers. This would mean that they would be eligible to vote along with the existing Members at large and the COR's?

Does the Chair of the Nominating Committee have to be a paid up registered member of he BSA?

Have the rules changed in the last ten years?

Thanks,

Eamonn

[bt01]

This is news to me. I just gote elected District Member at Large. I really did not get a straight answer but I would like to know what my job is??

[Bob White]

Hi Eamonn, that was a big shopping list let me answer some and if there are more answers you need hot me again.

 

District Members at Large (DMAL) are residents of the District or BSA members temporarily living outside such as military or college students. They must be registere dmembers of the BSA unlike the nominating committee and its chair which do not have to be registered members but representatives of the community or communities served by the district.

 

DMALs are a nomatic tribe of men and women usually with a background in unit service who are called upon on a regular or sporatic basis to provide, information, insight, muscle and manpower in service to the district and unit support functions as needed by the various service branches opf the District committee.

 

When the Council Commissioner assists on the nominating committee it is in an advisory function only.

 

I do not believe that it matters if you accept the DMALs nomination before or after that of the District Chairperson's. Check the Council By-laws to be sure.

 

Have the rules changed in the last 10-years? Maybe, it is hard to say since each council has the ability to make limited changes in their bylaws. So it would be hard to say without specific knowledge of your councils by-laws.

 

Hope this helped.

 

BW

[FScouter]

There are several resources that discuss the nominating committee and election process:

District Nominating Committee Worksheet # 33157D

The District Nominating Committee video # AV-06V006

Selecting District People # 34512E

The District #33070C

Highlights of District Operations for the 21st Century video # AV-06V002A

 

Any particular council may have bylaws that differ slightly from the national publications. Council bylaws are the last word.

 

Summarizing the above resources:

 

90 days prior to the district annual meeting, the district chairman will submit a proposed nominating committee to the council president for approval. The president can add or delete names as he sees fit. Members of the nominating committee do not have to be registered members of BSA. If there is a vacancy for the district commissioner, the council president may ask the council commissioner to serve on the nominating committee. If he is asked to serve, he would serve as an equal.

 

Once the president approves the makeup of the nominating committee, the committee meets to develop the slate of candidates for district chairman, vice-chairmen, and members at large. These are the only 3 positions that are elected. The members of the nominating committee should be announced to district Scouters so that suggestions for nominations may be submitted. The DE would meet with the nominating committee not as a member of the committee, but only as an advisor.

 

The nominating committee also selects a nominee for district commissioner. The district commissioner is not elected, but is approved by the council executive board and the Scout executive. The individual must be an elected member at large.

 

The election takes place at the annual district business meeting. It is conducted by the chairman of the nominating committee, when called upon by the district chairman. Those eligible to vote include all current members of the district committee, and including members of the council committee if they reside in the district. The vote is carried by the majority of members present at the meeting. Nominees do not have to be present at the meeting to be elected.

 

Chartered organization representatives are automatically members of the district committee. They are not elected, but are selected by their respective chartered organizations.

 

Newly elected members take office immediately. (Whether that means they are the group that then elects the district chairman and vice-chairmen, to the exclusion of the outgoing members at large would be determined by the specific council bylaws.)

 

After the election, the new district chairman appoints the chairmen for the three functions of membership, finance, and program. Those chairmen will then build their committees. All of these people are drawn from the pool of members at large. Individuals are not elected to specific committee positions, but are appointed by the chairmen of the three functions. The only specific positions elected are that of district chairman and district vice-chairmen, if vice-chairmen positions are used in the district.

 

The nominating committee should stay active throughout the year to help fill district committee vacancies. Any nominees must be elected at a district meeting.

 

[Eamonn]

Thanks for the help I will order the video on Monday.

Eamonn