Election of Directors and Officers 

Directors Responsibilities

The board of directors holds complete responsibility for managing the business affairs of the SMA in accordance with the association’s by-laws as a non-profit organization.  The directors are responsible to the members of the association that elect them with confidence in their ability and earnest efforts to work toward organizational growth and fulfillment of the SMA Mission.

Each Director is elected to a three year term.  Although it is not required active involvement and participation on committees, task groups, or projects should be a measure of the interest, experience and ability of the candidate as they utilize their talents related to the conduct of the SMA’s mission.

Directors are expected to lead by example placing SMA interests above personal gain or admonishment in all decisions of the board and invoke their full participation as a member of the board attending meetings and participating in leadership of the organization.

Currently the Board of Directors meets monthly as needed by teleconference and holds a face to face meeting at the annual business meeting of the association.  Elected Directors receive no compensation, travel stipend or allowance.

Election Procedure and Policy:

• The nominating committee begins seeking potential candidates in January and February.  Anyone interested in becoming a candidate or making a nomination should contact the nominating committee.
• Each candidate accepting nomination presents a brief biography and explains their reasons for becoming a candidate in a format that is published for the consideration of the voting members.
• The nominating committee prepares and publishes a ballot of the candidates prior to Feb 28^th of the election year that is distributed to the membership, collected, and counted by the Executive Director.
• The membership is notified of the election results following notification of the candidates by the board.
• The annual election of the officers of the corporation takes place in accordance with the by laws at a meeting of the board that is held at the Annual Business Meeting.
• Newly elected directors and officers are inducted at the Annual Business Meeting of the Membership.
• The position of president shall require at least one year’s tenure on the Board of Directors.
• One Additional Officer must have at least one year’s tenure on the Board of Directors.

Term of Office:

• The term of a director is three years and will begin with the Annual Business Meeting following election and terminate in accordance with the by-laws.
• The term of office for officers shall be one year.

Schedule for election of Directors:

• The Board of Directors shall be divided into three classes.
• Each year a new class shall be elected of the same size as the retiring class (see table below)
• The number of directors, currently 7, is determined by the board and consists of three classes.  This assures continuity by providing a majority of experienced directors at all times regardless of the size of the new class.