Nominating
Committee
Procedures & Information
Nominating
Committee
The nominating committee is
one of the most important committees in your PTA unit. It is essential
that the members of the nominating committee include experienced on-going
leadership as well as newer members. The unit bylaws should outline how
the nominating committee members are elected. The president cannot be a
member of the nominating committee.
The candidates for elected
office should be considered for their abilities and their willingness to
serve. Members of the nominating committee should NEVER approach a
potential nominee as to his/her willingness to hold office before the
committee meets. ALL DELIBERATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE MUST REMAIN COMPLETELY
CONFIDENTIAL and no information on the names of persons considered for
office or those who declined to accept nomination should be made public.
It is desirable for one
person to serve in each office. However, where unit bylaws offer the
option of one or more people serving in a particular office, it is the
responsibility of the nominating committee to fill that office with one
person unless unable to find someone who will serve alone. PTA does not
recommend co-officers, but it is an option for units that provide for co-
officers in their bylaws.
Nominations and
Elections
The election of officers is
one of the most important duties of the association. Officers should be
chosen for their abilities and their willingness to serve the association.
The bylaws should define the method of nomination and election that best
suits the needs of the association. Members who are elected to serve
should be knowledgeable about the PTA and the qualifications for each
office.
Nomination by a nominating
committee is the method most widely used. The bylaws should state when the
committee is elected and by whom. The committee members are elected, not
selected, and should have PTA knowledge and know members within the PTA.
The president does not appoint the nominating committee and may not be an
ex officio member; nor is it appropriate for the president to exert any
influence on its selection of nominees. The chair of the committee is
selected according to the provisions of the bylaws.
It is the responsibility of
the nominating committee to recognize and seek qualified nominees for the
elected leadership of the PTA. The members of the committee, therefore,
have a tremendous influence on the future of the PTA and should themselves
be carefully elected.
The nominating committee's
major role and responsibility is to nominate the best qualified, available
nominee(s) for each elected office. State PTAs provide the bylaws that
outline how the nominating committee is elected and its exact
responsibilities.
The committee should have a
copy of the bylaws and a membership list at the meeting. Committee members
themselves may be nominated for office. They should be excused from the
room while their nomination is being considered and may return to vote.
Discussion of nominees is confidential and voting should be by ballot. The
committee chair usually contacts nominees and informs them of the duties
the office involves. The consent of the nominee to serve if elected should
be obtained. The report of the committee is signed by all members who
concur.
The committee selects one
nominee for each office to be filled, depending on provisions of the local
bylaws. The committee report is presented to the association at the time
stated in the bylaws.
After the nominating
committee reports, additional nominations from the floor may be made.
These do not require a second and can only be made by a voting member.
Unless the bylaws prohibit, eligible members may run for more than one
office but if elected to more than one, must choose one on which they will
serve. If a member elected to two positions is absent, the association
decides by majority vote which office the nominee will fill and then votes
again to fill the other office. The nominating committee is automatically
discharged when its report is presented to the membership. However, if a
nominee withdraws prior to the election, the committee must seek another
candidate.
Source: The National
PTA Handbook
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