» Qualifications for Council Members

Qualifications of State Representatives Each candidate for election as a State Representative shall:

(a) Have been a Member in good standing of the Association for at least 12 consecutive months immediately prior to the closing date for nomina¬tions. The Board of Directors may waive this requirement by majority vote in instances where an exceptional candidate cannot comply, provided that the candidate is a Member in good standing at the time nominations are accepted.

(b) Submit to the Nominating Committee a candidate information statement on a form approved by the Board of Directors.

Election of State Representatives
The Board of Directors shall adopt policies and procedures: to ensure that each Member in good standing receives a ballot containing the names and qualifications of candidates; and to establish a method for tallying, reporting and certifying the results of the election. Such procedures shall include specifying a record date for determining the Memberships entitled to vote in each state, such date to be no more than 60 days before the distribution of ballots to members.

Automatic Election. When the number of candidates for State Representative in a given state after the closing date for nominations, or at any subsequent time before the date of the election, is the same as or fewer than the num¬ber of State Representative positions to be elected, those candidates shall be deemed elected as of March 1. The distribution of ballots and the conduct of an election in that state shall not be required.

Unfilled Positions. Any unfilled State Representative position shall be considered vacant.

Balloting. Each Membership shall be limited to one vote, even if an individual is a member of more than one membership class or if the Membership includes two or more individuals. Except as otherwise provided by these Bylaws, State Representative candidates receiving the highest number of votes in each state shall be the State Representatives from that state. Any ballot cast by a person known not to be a Member in good standing of the Association, or on which the vote cast is not clear will be disallowed. Each Membership may vote only on those State Representatives nominated to represent the state in which the Member resides.

Elected Representatives at Large.

The Council of Representatives may have up to 25 Representatives at Large, including up to10 of whom shall be elected by the State Representatives at the Council of Representatives Annual Meeting in each even-numbered year beginning in 2010 (the “Elected Representatives at Large”), and the Officers and Directors of the Association. The purpose of having up to 10 Elected Representatives at Large is to add to the Council individuals whose position, knowledge, experience, credentials, prominence or financial support bring special expertise, credibility and/or resources to the Association.

Qualifications of Elected Representatives at Large. Each candidate for Elected Representative at Large shall:

(a) Be a Member of the Association in good standing prior to his or her election.

(b) Submit to the Nominating Committee a candidate information statement on a form approved by the Board of Directors.

Election of Elected Representatives at Large. Elected Representatives at Large are nomi¬nated and elected by the State Representatives at the Annual Meeting of the Council of Representatives in even-numbered years. Election of Elected Representatives at Large may be done through a voice vote unless there are more candidates than positions, in which case printed ballots shall be used; ballot counters shall be non-candidates.

Term of Office. Except as otherwise provided in Article XV of these Bylaws, State Representatives and Elected Representatives at Large shall serve two year terms and until their successors are elected and qualified, as follows:

(a) Each State Representative shall hold office for a term of two years beginning March 1 in even numbered years.

(b) Elected Representatives at Large shall hold office for a term of two years beginning immediately upon their election at the Annual Meeting of the Council of Representatives in even numbered years.

Requirement for Re-Election. To seek re-election, State Representatives and Elected Representatives at Large shall:

(a) Have remained a Member in good standing of the Association during their term of office;

(b) Submitted a candidate information statement on a form adopted by the Board of Directors;

For purposes of this paragraph, any person who was elected a State Representative or Elected Representative at Large in the immediately preceding election is considered to be “seeking re-election” even if he or she resigned subsequent to such election.

Vacancies. Any vacancy occurring in the Council of Representatives shall be filled by the Board of Directors after consultation with the appropriate Officers, Directors and Representatives. A person elected to fill a vacancy shall serve the unexpired term of the person whose vacancy s/he is filling.

Membership requirement. All Representatives must be and remain dues paying Members of the Association in good standing during their term in office. Failure to meet this requirement will result in automatic removal from office.

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