Related Topics

Nominating Committee

Board Profile

Election Process

Selecting on the Merits

Keys to Uncontested Elections[1]

Choosing an Election Process

Suppose you were given a clean sheet of paper and complete authority to design a process for electing the board members at your club. Would you choose:

an uncontested election where the number of candidates equals the number of slots to be filled or

a contested election where the number of candidates exceeds the available slots?

The clear preference of the “experts” is the uncontested election. It’s tough enough, they say, to find good candidates without having to convince them to stand for a contested election with all its political noise. One reliable estimate is that contested elections reduce by more than half the already shallow pool of qualified board candidates.[2]

Despite this serious drawback of contested elections, they are still are the way that most clubs choice their board members. Why? Fundamentally, it’s the American way. It’s democratic. Open elections are, well, open. Club members often feel that closed (uncontested) elections take power from the people and place it in the hands of the board or a Nominating Committee, neither of which can be completely trusted.

Ah, trust. There’s the rub. While club members may concede that uncontested elections are better at attracting quality candidates, they may suspect that uncontested elections place too much authority in the hands of a small group of people. They imagine the backroom deals, where politics is valued over substance and where the good-ole-boy system is perpetuated.

The challenge, therefore, is not how to argue for the superiority of uncontested elections. The challenge is convincing members that the process that supports an uncontested election is objective and fair – that candidates are selected on their ability to do the job. Gaining this trust of the members can be increased significantly by remembering two important ingredients in the election process.

Two Keys for Selecting on the Merits

An objective, independent selection process results in candidates being selected on the merits, rather than solely on popularity or seniority. So the obvious question is what are "the merits” -- what criteria should be used? There are two keys to selecting on the merits:

an independent, objective Nominating Committee.

a clearly articulated Board Profile

Independent, objective Nominating Committee: The members’ trust in the nominating process depends on how they perceive the independence and objectivity of those doing the selecting, i.e., the Nominating Committee. The right to name Nominating Committee members may be given to the current President, the immediate Past President, or some other presumably disinterested party. Some clubs will go to considerable lengths to form a committee that comprises independent-minded members. For example, one technique is to allow members to volunteer to be listed for service on the committee and then the actual committee members are chosen from the list by lottery.

Board Profile – Identifying the Merits: Having the right people on the Nominating Committee is certainly a key ingredient to selecting quality candidates. But having a quality committee is helpful only when the members know the basis for selecting quality candidates. This means that the Nominating Committee needs to know the criteria for selection. Although the club’s bylaws may mention a criterion or two, rarely will they contain more than the basic requirements, such as the number of years as a member or service on a board committee. It is therefore up to the board to determine the criteria for selection, i.e., a board profile.

A board profile is a document that describes the board from both an individual and a group point of view. The profile typically comprises three sections or categories. The first section lists those criteria that every board candidate must have. The second section contains traits that are desirable for the board as a group so that it benefits from multiple perspectives. The third section deals with individual experience and competencies that can equip the board to understand and address the business of the club.

Figure 1 is an example of a board profile. In reviewing it, keep in mind that:

The items in the respective categories are for illustration only. Your lists will depend on your club type, size, and complexity.

The profile is “aspirational” in that it may not be possible to meet all the criteria in Categories II and III. The Nominating Committee is expected to use its best efforts to select candidates based on the profile.

Summary

Even if you follow the steps above, there is no guarantee that your members will support an uncontested election. However, your chances will markedly improve if you do. You will attract more quality candidates and reduce the sometimes disruptive or divisive politics associated with a contested election. The result will be a more efficient and effective board and a more relaxed, trusting culture.

[1] An article by Fred Laughlin that appeared in Club Management Magazine, Jan/Feb 2009.

[2]Director’s Guide to Understanding Club Governance, Premier Club Services, 2003, page 17.