National Council Candidates
From AFSWiki
This page is dedicated to informing the AFS community about the nominees and candidates for National Council, as well as to inform the nominees and candidates about the process. Questions can be sent to nominations@afsusa.org
The Nominations and Governance Committee is formally announcing the beginning of the nomination process for the National Council candidates who will be elected at the National Volunteer Assembly in Charlotte, NC (Spring 2012). Nominations for candidates will be accepted through Dec 16, 2011. We also encourage volunteers to self-nominate. Volunteers who wish to accept the nomination will be required to submit their candidate applications, inclunding letters of reference from two volunteers, by Jan 21, 2012.
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Nominations
Please nominate volunteers to the National Council by going to the nomination form. You can also help support the nomination process by sharing the following link on Facebook: www.surveymonkey.com/s/RLXZ6HN. Self-nominations are welcomed.
Deadline for nominations is Dec. 16, 2011. Nominees will be invited to participate in an orientation on January 11, 2012. Candidate applications will be due on Jan. 21, 2012.
Candidates
Click on map for detail
Click on candidate name for a link to their bio. The letter indicates their point on the map.
- Abby Munro-Proulx (K)
- Brian Quinn (J)
- Holly Dowe (L)
- José Ruiz Salas (M)
- Kathleen McNabb (appointed to fill remaining term of Jane Howard as she was the runner-up in the 2011 NVA, so removed from ballot)
- Lisa George (N)
Candidate Questions
We asked each candidate two questions so that you can get to know them and their passions.
- What do you believe is the biggest opportunity that AFS-USA will have in the next few years? What is the biggest threat that you believe we are facing?
- What skills and experiences do you have that can help us realize that opportunity and overcome that threat?
See their answers here
Ideal Candidates
We would like to encourage you to nominate volunteers that you believe can make a significant contribution to the organization at the national level. Ideal candidates would include volunteers that have experience at the local level, as well as with national projects, in the various organizational functions: sending, hosting, support, volunteer development, field finance and compliance. We also encourage volunteers to self-nominate. Please go to the afswiki page National Council Candidates for further description of the roles and responsibilities of National Council members.
Roles and Responsibilities
- Council members must be registered volunteers, aged 18 or over and must continue to renew that registration during their time on the Council. They must complete an application and provide two letters of endorsement from AFS Volunteers. Volunteers on the National Council cannot simultaneously serve as a Team Chair or Chapter Chair. If a Team Chair or Chapter Chair is elected to serve on the National Council, s/he will be asked to resign that position upon election to the National Council.
- Members are expected to attend all scheduled meetings including teleconference meetings, attend a minimum of one volunteer conference or training event each year in order to provide National Council contact, and attend the annual NVA. They shall maintain a national leadership perspective for the benefit of the entire organization. Members will chair Committees as needed and are expected to participate in Advisory Group(s) and Task Force(s) according to their interests and the needs of the National Council.
- Members must act in accordance with the National Council By-laws and uphold the National Council Oath. Actions taken in contradiction of National Council By-laws may result in the censure or removal of a member by two-thirds vote of the National Council membership. Such action can be taken after 30 days’ notice by the chair to the member that such an action is contemplated. Missing more than one in-person meeting or two conference calls per year, without prior notification, could also be cause for censure.
FAQs
- What are the specific dates of meetings, phone conferences, etc?
- National Council has 4 face-to-face meetings a year (generally over a weekend), one of which coincides with the NVA (we meet on Friday before the NVA and for a short time after the NVA on Sunday afternoon). Every other month we have a conference call meeting of about 2 hours (for example this year they have all been on Monday evenings from 8-10 ET, 7-9 CT, 5-7 PT). Each NC member is expected to be part of one NC committee and one Advisory Group. The committees and AGs generally meet via conference call as needed, usually once a month.
- Where are the face-to-face meetings, and what are the associated travel costs (e.g., hotel, ground transportation to and from the main airport(s), meals)?
- All travel expenses for the face-to-face meetings and any other conferences which you might attend as an NC representative are covered by AFS, so there is no out-of-pocket expense for NC members. The face-to-face meetings are usually held at the AFS regional offices: Baltimore, New York, St. Paul, and Portland.
