Just a reminder that we’re getting closer to elections, and there’s still time to run for a board office to support your organization. Check out details in my May message.

The timeline is as follows:

• Summer/Fall 2016: Notify nominations chair Candace Perkins Bowen of intent to run. Having that completed by Aug. 31 is helpful, BUT NOT REQUIRED, to ensure viable candidates for each office. (Bylaws Article V, Section 1). YES, you can still notify me of your interest.
• General Membership Meeting (Indianapolis, Nov. 11, 2016): Bowen must present the slate as of that date, and members in good standing can make additional nominations from the floor.
• Dec. 15, 2016: Declared candidates for JEA office will email Candace Perkins Bowen a color headshot and responses to organizational questions two weeks prior to the election period, and the candidates’ statements will be posted on jea.org for one week prior to the election period. Those questions, and the word limits per answer, are
  • Please provide a biography, written in third person (300 words)
  • Why do you want to serve in this position? (300 words)
  • Please provide a statement of goals, including how you would address JEA’s core values of pedagogy, advocacy, innovation, community and excellence. (750 words)

To help facilitate discussion between candidates and interested members, a special email distribution list (Listserv) will be set up specifically for election- and campaign-related discussion, and candidates will refrain from using the JEAHELP listserv for this purpose. The email distribution list will go live in conjunction with the posting of candidates’ statements and cease when ballots go live. The nominations chair will be responsible for enforcing this policy.

• Jan. 15, 2017: Voter rolls will be gathered to identify those eligible to vote. Declared candidates must be current members on this date to stay to stay on the ballot. (Bylaws Article V, Section 1)
• Feb. 6: Ballots are sent electronically to all voting members.
• Feb. 15: Ballots are due back.
• Feb. 16: Results of the election will be posted on jea.org the day following the election and will include vote totals and percentages for all candidates. For offices with three or more candidates, if no one gets a majority of the votes, we will have a runoff election for that position.
• March 2: Runoff election if necessary
• March 6: Runoff ballots due
• March 7: Runoff election winners announced. These and all other vote totals will be made public.
• May 1, 2017: New board takes office.

If you have further questions, check the bylaws, read the job descriptions, and please let me know what questions you have. We are a strong organization and will continue to be, thanks to all our members who truly care about scholastic journalism.

Candace Perkins Bowen,

JEA past president and election chair