Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Students Association
Nominations &
Elections Handbook
2016 - 2017
http://www.fnsa.net/nominations-and-election-committee-nec.html
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Table of Contents
Letter to Applicant from the NEC Chair 1
FNSA Bylaws Article VI Officer Qualifications 2
FNSA Bylaws Article VI Officer Duties 3
Section 4 The President 3
Section 5 The First Vice President 3
Section 6 The Second Vice President 3
Section 7 The Corresponding Secretary 4
Section 8 The Recording Secretary 4
Section 9 The Treasurer 4
Section 10 The Regional Director 5
FNSA Bylaws Article XII Standing Committees 6
Section 4 The Membership Committee 6
Section 5 The Breakthrough to Nursing Committee 6
Section 6 The Community Health Committee 6
Section 7 The Legislation Committee 7
Section 8 The Resolutions Committee 7
Section 9 The Nominations and Elections Committee 7
Section 10 The Bylaws Committee 8
Section 11 The Conventions and Programs Committee 8
Section 12 The Policies Committee 8
Section 13 The Ways and Means Committee 8
Section 16 The Communications Committee 9
Section 17 The Image of Nursing Committee 9
Nomination Procedures 6
Section 12 The Policies Committee 6
Section 13 The Ways and Means Committee
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Section 16 The Communications Committee
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Letter to Applicant
Dear Applicant,
Thank you for your interest in a leadership position with the Florida Nursing Students
Association (FNSA). As a potential candidate and member of the Executive Board, you
will be representing the interests of nursing students throughout Florida. When running
for a position on the FNSA Executive Board, you must understand the duties and
responsibilities of the office for which you intend to run. Please read through this
handbook in its entirety. It is my hope that you will be equipped with all the tools
necessary for a successful application and campaign process.
As an elected board member, you will take charge of your position and one committee
(see Standing Committees pp. 6-9) that is assigned to you by the FNSA President. You
will have an opportunity to express your committee preferences for the President to take
into consideration during these assignments. By running for a position, you are
committing to the responsibilities of that position along with your appointed committee,
should you be elected by the FNSA constituency. In addition, the Executive Board holds
meetings every six (6) weeks either in Orlando, Florida, or by virtual conferencing.
Board meetings are mandatory for board Executive Board members and are essential
for the growth of the FNSA and student chapters throughout Florida.
The 2017 pre-slating window opens September 1st and closes at 11:59 PM on
September 30th. Applications submitted after this date will not be considered for pre-
slating; although you will have another opportunity to run for office during the House of
Delegates at Convention. I highly encourage you to pre-slate as it allows many
candidate advantages.
Please submit all required application materials attention to the NEC Chair via the
submission link found on the last page of the application. Once again, the deadline is
11:59 PM on September 30th for pre-slate applications. I want to encourage you to
contact me with any questions you may have along the way, please do not hesitate to
ask.
Thank you again for your leadership interest in the Florida Nursing Students
Association.
Sincerely,
Deborah McLeod-Baumbach
FNSA Nominations & Elections Committee Chairman
FNSA Region 4 Director
Officer Qualifications
FNSA BYLAWS ARTICLE VI OFFICERS QUALIFICATIONS AND DUTIES
SECTION 2. Officers shall be elected at each annual meeting to serve for one year or
until their respective successors are elected. Only members who shall be nursing
students throughout the full term of office or have the privileges of membership shall be
eligible for office. Any board member eligible for membership, but prohibited from
renewing membership due to graduation must be a member of their state Nurses'
Association.
SECTION 3. Any member of this association who has been nominated by a delegate of
this organization or has been placed on the ballot by the committee on Nominations and
Elections shall be eligible to be a candidate for office, subject to the requirements of the
following:
a) Candidates shall be chosen from among members in good standing with FNSA.
b) Candidates must present a completed application for nomination to the
Committee on Nominations and Elections by a date designated by the
Nominating Committee.
c) Candidates must give their own consent to serve, if nominated.
d) Candidates must have written/verbal recommendation supplied to the
Nominations Coordinator from their Dean or Director of Nursing or other
appropriate faculty, that they are in good academic standing and that they have
their support to run for office.
e) All candidates must have timely access to a computer and E-mail and be
knowledgeable or be willing to become knowledgeable in their operation.
f) For the offices of President, 1st Vice-President, and 2nd Vice-President the
candidate must meet a minimum of one or more of the following:
1. Have been a member of FNSA for at least one (1) year.
2. Have held office previously on the local, state, or national level
3. Have attended at least one (1) State or National Convention previous to
the one (1) in which the nominee seeks to appear on the ballot.
g) In the event there are no qualified candidates who meet the above criteria, any
member may be considered at the discretion of the NEC and Executive Board.
Officer Duties
FNSA BYLAWS ARTICLE VI OFFICERS QUALIFICATIONS AND DUTIES
Standing Committees
FNSA BYLAWS ARTICLE XII STANDING COMMITTEES
e) The Chairperson must submit a letter stating their intent to run for an FNSA office
sixty (60) days prior to the Pre-Convention workshop. In the event the
Chairperson runs for an FNSA office, he/she will no longer be involved with the
Nomination & Election Committee. The President will appoint a new N&E
Chairperson with the Executive Boards approval.
f) Committee members shall resign from the N&E Committee in the event they
decide to run for FNSA office.
g) Perform all other duties pertaining to the office.
ONLY NURSING STUDENTS WHO ARE ENROLLED IN FALL 2017 WHO WILL
ALSO BE ENROLLED IN SPRING 2017 ARE ELIGIBLE FOR STATE OFFICE
11. Prior to the selection of the slate of candidates, no potential candidate is permitted to
campaign, as that term is defined herein, nor shall any potential candidate inform the
membership of intent to run for office.
12. Pre-slated candidates cannot campaign till after pre-slated list has been released on
October 4, 2016.
13. Candidates cannot campaign for other candidates.
14. Candidates are required to display a tri-fold poster during the caucus for their
campaign. The size of the tri-fold poster may not exceed 36 inches tall, 48 inches
wide, and 12 inches deep (outside wings 12 inches and middle section 24 inches).
15. Campaign material is subject to NEC approval and the NEC reserves the right to
reject any campaign material deemed inappropriate, and can face disqualification.
Candidates are encouraged to request clarification from the NEC.
16. Those nominated from the floor, or those who have not purchased a tri-fold poster
board can do so at the NEC table at hours of credentialing.
17. All campaign materials are the responsibility of the candidate and must be removed
following the completion of the final caucus.
18. No campaigning is allowed in the convention hall during House of Delegates or
during any session with speakers.
19. No campaigning is allowed after the final caucus. If found campaigning, candidate
shall be disqualified.
20. Candidates who distribute materials do so at their own risk and at their own expense.
21. It is recommended that each candidate have a manger to assist with the campaign.
This person may not be an FNSA Executive Board Member.
22. Candidate Presentation and Caucus
23. Each pre-slated candidate will be introduced at the House of Delegates before the
first open nomination period.
24. During the time scheduled for presentations, each candidate for president will
present a two-minute speech and other candidates will present a one-minute speech.
25. Following the presentations, an open caucus will be held. This is a great opportunity
for delegates and members to interview each candidate.
26. Following the general caucus, it is recommended that each school hold a final
caucus.
27. All delegates and board members must sign the roster, receive a voting card
with an approved stamp and attend the presentations along with caucus in
order to vote for candidates.
28. Meeting the Candidates
a. During the FNSA 62nd Annual Convention, delegates will be asked to vote for
the FNSA Executive Board 2016-2017. To help both delegates and other
students of the association who will be talking to the candidates, the
Nominations & Elections Committee has developed the following guidelines
for interviewing a candidate. These recommendations are designed to help
you make maximum use of your time with the candidates.
b. Start early. Identify the candidates and be able to recognize them early in the
election process.
c. Assess how the candidates conduct themselves in a variety of settings.
d. Visit each of the candidates during the caucus. Hear what each candidate has
to say and assess what he or she can potentially bring to the association.
e. Become familiar with the candidates biographical forms. These will be
available for you to review during the caucus.
f. Do not ask them to recite their goals, if they have a handout stating as much.
g. Utilize this time to ask questions you feel they have not addressed during
their presentations.
h. Ask the candidates about their unique approach to the job rather than to
repeat their description of potential position.
i. Limit your questions to five (5) minutes. Each chapter needs an opportunity to
address the candidates.
j. Offer your respect and support to all the candidates. They put in long, hard
hours for FNSA and if elected, their work has only just begun.
k. Ask the candidates questions related to FNSA such as:
l. Are you involved in your schools nursing student organization and how?
m. Have you previously or now hold any office positions?
n. If so, how will you assure that this will not interfere with your job as an
Executive Board member?
o. How do you plan to implement some of your goals if elected to office?
p. Why do you feel you are the best choice for this office?
q. These are only suggestions for interviewing. Please feel free to develop your
own questions. However, realize the purpose of the caucus is to gain
information about the candidate in a professional and friendly manner. These
candidates are offering to serve the organization and any form of harassment
is inappropriate and unacceptable, and will not be tolerated.
r. Voting Procedure
s. According to FNSA Bylaws Article VII, Section 2 All elections shall be by
ballot or proxy in the event a registered delegate must leave the convention.
A plurality vote shall elect. A tie vote shall be decided by a re-vote, and then if
necessary, by casting a lot.
t. Outside of the voting location, the NEC will provide a display to include
candidate photographs and the position for which they are running. Only
professional headshots are accepted. Candidates photos are subject to
approval by the NEC.
u. Voting will be at the time and place designated on the Convention schedule.
v. Only registered delegates and Executive Board members who signed the
attendance roster, have a stamped voting card and attend caucus will be
eligible to vote.
w. Voting members must wear their nametag and delegate ribbon in order to
vote.
x. Voting will be conducted by two FNSA consultants, one school consultant and
one person not associated with the organization.
y. Results of the election will be given to the Nominations & Elections
Committee Chairperson who will announce the outcome at the convention
banquet and awards ceremony.
z. Ballots will be kept for a period of one year after the election and may be
inspected by any member or consultant by making a written request to the
executive board.
aa. Electronic voting will be implemented at the 62nd Annual Convention. You will
require your voting card, and your NSNA membership number in order to
place a vote.
ONLY NURSING STUDENTS WHO ARE ENROLLED IN FALL 2017 WHO WILL
ALSO BE ENROLLED IN SPRING 2017 ARE ELIGIBLE FOR STATE OFFICE
Nomination Procedures