NALA Annual Membership Meeting
The Voting Process
The National Association of Legal Assistants conducts association
business during the Annual Meeting. This is held on the Friday
of Convention week (August 1, 2008). The agenda includes
election of national officers, consideration of a proposed amendments
to the NALA Bylaws, and consideration of member resolutions.
Member participation in this process is crucial to the strength and
effectiveness of NALA’s governance in serving the needs of members and
the paralegal profession. Only active members present at the annual membership meeting, or represented by a designated proxy
(another NALA active member), may vote. Voting members who cannot
attend the annual meeting may submit a designation of proxy to cast
their vote.
Candidates
Early each calendar year, NALA issues a call for nominations for
national officers and for regional directors. The call provides
details about the election process and the terms of office, expenses,
etc., and bylaw provisions related to the office.
Officers
Association officers (First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary, and
Treasurer) are elected for one-year terms and may serve a maximum of
two terms. Members present or represented by individual proxy elect
NALA officers. Candidates for office are described in the May issue of
the NALA Newsletter.
The President of NALA is elected for a one-year term by the Board of
Directors from among its members during the March Board meeting. Tita
A. Brewster, ACP was elected to as NALA President in March 2007 and
officially began her second term in July 2007 along with the other new
officers and board members.
Regional Directors
Active members of each region elect a director by mail ballots
that are returned to the NALA Secretary. Directors may serve a maximum
of two terms; a term is two years. Ballots and candidate information are mailed to active
members within the respective regions in May and the marked ballots
must be received by the NALA Secretary by 30 days prior to the annual
membership meeting. Ballots for Regional Directors are tabulated and
results announced at the annual membership meeting.
Bylaw amendments
Active members of NALA may submit proposed amendments to the
bylaws in writing to the NALA Secretary by March 1 of each year. A
member of the NALA Board of Directors may submit a proposed amendment
prior to the spring meeting of the board. The bylaws require that the
board of directors consider the amendment and recommend for or against
its adoption by the membership. A 2/3 vote of the members is
required for the adoption of a bylaw amendment.
Member Resolutions
Member of NALA or NALA affiliated associations may submit a resolution
for consideration by the NALA members at the annual meeting.
Resolutions are due 30 days prior to the annual meeting. They may be
filed with the NALA Secretary. |
