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It’s an election year in more ways than one…

Every two years, NASW leadership changes, as retiring volunteers hand over the reins to others interested in offering up their time and talents. Later this summer, members will have the opportunity to vote for the Board and officers, but first it’s a call for candidates.

Per our Constitution, the current President puts together a nominating committee that is responsible for recruiting candidates. If you want to run for the Board or you are simply interested in how things work, read on and express your interest by April 15! Details below.

Board Member Responsibilities

The National Association of Science Writers (a 501c6 organization incorporated in the state of New York) runs on volunteer power, and board members are expected to be active and engaged. Board members spend about two hours per week or less engaged in discussions, leading projects, etc. Officers will spend more time. Potential candidates should discuss the time needed with their employer if necessary.

Each board member is expected to contribute to discussions of NASW business and actively participate in at least one NASW committee. Elected board members participate in board listserv discussions and quarterly conference calls. They also must attend the annual meeting. For the current term, the ScienceWriters meeting dates are:

ScienceWriters Meetings
October 26-30, 2012 in Raleigh, NC
November 1-5, 2013 in Gainesville, FL

Planning to run

Board membership is open to any NASW member in good standing and is not subject to specific term limits, although it is expected that board members will actively volunteer on behalf of NASW and assist the Executive Committee in ensuring a reasonable turnover.

NASW officers must be principally engaged in journalism and have served at least one, two-year term as a board member. The Vice-President is elected with the understanding that he or she will proceed to the President role in the next election to ensure continuity. The Vice-President and President may serve only one term in each office.

The Nominating Committee may tap candidates during the winter quarter preceding elections, or candidates may collect signatures to run by petition. The current constitution provides details. The makeup and role of the Nominating Committee, a collaborative working group headed by the most immediate past President, is explained online here. Biographies of all candidates appear online and in the organization’s quarterly newsletter, ScienceWriters™, preceding fall elections. All regular members of NASW are eligible to vote.

Interested candidates should send a 500 word statement of interest/bio to nomcom@nasw.org no later than the end of the day, April 15, 2012 You may also write this address to request a detailed nominee packet for further info.

Timeline

April 15, 2012: Interested candidates should send a statement of interest to nomcom@nasw.org no later than the end of the day. Candidates will be provided a detailed nominee packet that further outlines responsibilities

April 27, 2012: Per the Constitution, last day for the slate to be finalized

July 2012: Officer and Candidate bios appear in summer issue of ScienceWriters

August/September: Elections. Specific date and location TBA; Proxies will be available for online submission, as well. October 26, 2012: First meeting of new board

Special thanks to the volunteers on this year’s Nominating Committee: Nancy Shute, President and Chair
Karl Bates
Mariette DiChristina
Lee Hotz
Maryn McKenna
Carl Zimmer