Below are key sections of the Club's election rules dealing with candidates, covering the printing of articles about the election in our publications, the permitted use of Club resources, and related matters. The full text of these rules as well as a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) that will help you to become more familiar with the general do's and do not's that need to be observed in the election process and the rationale for the rule are posted on the Clubhouse at: http://clubhouse.sierraclub.org/go/policies/board_election/ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Excerpts from Bylaws & Standing Rules Related to Candidates in National Club Elections 3. Use of Club Resources. a. Without authorization of the Board of Directors, no Club funds or other resources, including those of chapters, groups and other entities, shall be used to support or oppose any candidate for Director, including activity related to circulation of petitions, unless all candidates (or petitioners) are given the same opportunity, with adequate notice to them. Resources include official publications and other forums, such as newsletters and web pages. Chapters and groups are encouraged to give publicity to elections on an impartial basis, through publications and meetings, but may not endorse or promote individual nominees. If any Club entity (chapter, group, RCC, etc.) distributes information about any candidate, it shall offer every other candidate the same amount of space with equal prominence in or with the same material, with adequate notice to the candidates. b. Candidates and members may prepare and distribute materials about candidates, but not at Club expense. No Club publication, including chapter and group newsletters, web pages and electronic bulletin board systems, shall carry advertising for or against a candidate. 4. Forums & Discussion Lists. Under rules issued by the Organizational Effectiveness Governance Committee, the Club may have a forum for Director candidates to answer selected questions screened by a designated coordinator. Germane discussion of Board candidates (for example, discussing forestry aspects of a candidacy on a forestry list) may take place on any other Club discussion list, subject to the usual rules of the list and unless barred by the sponsor/owner of the list. The rules may limit the length and frequency of messages from a discussant. The poster of a message about a candidate shall send a copy of the message to the candidate. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ National Club Election Coming This Spring The annual election for the Club's Board of Directors is now underway. In March, you will receive in the mail your national Sierra Club ballot. This will include information on the candidates for the Board of Directors. The Sierra Club is a democratically structured organization at all levels that requires the regular flow of views on policy and priorities from its grassroots membership in order to function well. Yearly participation in elections at all Club levels is a major membership obligation. Your Board of Directors is required to stand for election by the membership. This Board sets Club policy and budgets at the national level and works closely with the staff to run the Club. Voting for candidates who express your views on how the Club should grow and change is both a privilege and responsibility of membership. Members frequently state that they don't know the candidates and find it difficult to vote without learning more. You can learn more by asking questions of your group and chapter leadership and other experienced members you know. Visit the Club's election website - http://www.sierraclub.org/bod/2004election - which this year will include candidate responses to questions posted by various Club leaders*. You should use your own judgment by taking several minutes to read the ballot statement of each candidate, make your choices, and then cast your votes. You will find our ballot is quite straightforward and easy to mark. You can even cast your vote electronically! [*Note: The election pamphlet will not appear on this site until the first week in March, and the questions and answers from the candidates will appear at about the same time.] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To get off the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask]