Dear LLL Leaders,

The LLLI Board of Directors Nominating Committee has been working hard to write new criteria for prospective Board members. Zone EUS currently has a vacant seat on the Board that we wish to fill with a well qualified candidate. At this time we seek your help in recommending prospective candidates who you believe will best serve the organization and meet many of the qualifications articulated below.

Please send your recommendations for prospective candidates to the EUS Elections Committee by August 22, 2008. We realize this is a short timeframe, yet the information has just been made available to us, along with the request to present candidates to the Nominating Committee by September 5, 2008. The EUS Elections Committee will present candidates to the Nominating Committee, yet due to the timing there will not be an election among the Leaders. Recommendations should be sent to the EUS Elections Committee via amyshaw@llleus.org or mailed to Amy Shaw, 9-A Marina Drive Hull, MA 02045. Please refer to the recommendation form following the listing of qualifications desired.

Pasted below are the qualifications the LLLI Board has ranked as being most needed at this time, listed in descending order of priority. The Nominating Committee realizes that not all candidates will meet all these criteria or qualifications. La Leche League experience is important but not a priority for this election since there are already a majority of Leaders, plus Founders, currently on the Board. Of course the ideal candidate would be a Leader who has the most critical qualifications as outlined below.

Also attached is the LLLI Board of Directors Candidate Questionnaire. All prospective candidates for the Board will be asked to respond to this questionnaire. It is being sent to you at this time so that it may help to guide you in making recommendations for strong representatives to the Board.

This message, along with the questionnaire, can also be found on the www.llleus.org Web site.

We appreciate your quick response and highly value your recommendations.

The EUS Elections Committee
Elizabeth Campion
Marsha Johnson Chartrand
Amy Shaw
Maureen Whitman

Qualifications Desired For Serving on the LLLI Board of Directors – August, 2008

The most important or critical need of the LLLI Board is to elect a candidate who is knowledgeable and has experience in fulfilling Board Responsibility # 3 - Providing Proper Financial Oversight, preferably for a not-for-profit organization. Included in this category are:

• experience in developing and implementing financial controls
• developing annual business plans and budgets, both operating and capital
• experience in assessing the progress and evaluating the results of business plans and budgets
• experience in developing guidelines for investment funds
• financial analysis

The second very important to critical need of the LLLI Board concerns Board Responsibility # 4 - Ensure Adequate Resources. Included in this category are:

• ability to provide a vision of LLLI's ideal financial status based on assessment, process and ideas for achieving solid financial status - top 3 - 5 priority steps or programs
• experience in developing fundraising plans, strategies and accessing success of efforts
• willingness and ability to participate as a Board member in the fundraising efforts of LLLI

The third very important to critical need is Leadership and Management Experience which includes:

• experience in leading or participating in organization-wide change efforts, particularly in change to a distributive model
• experience in developing policies and plans, particularly experience with multi-divisional or multi-national scope
• management experience which includes an organization providing a range of products and services, sizeable budget and staff
• experience in recruiting, developing and evaluating senior executive staff

The fourth very important need concerns Board Responsibility # 10 - Support the Executive Director (CEO) and Assess Performance. Included in this category are:

• experience in supporting an Executive Director and a clear understanding of the role of the Board of Directors and of the Executive Director - how a Board, primarily through the Chairman, works with and supports the Executive Director
• experience with assessing the Executive Director's performance, developing the timeframe and guidelines or process for performance assessment

The LLLI Board of Directors also identified the following as important but lower in priority for candidates for this election:

• Board Responsibility # 2 - Select the Executive Director (CEO)
• Prior Board Experience
• Board Responsibility # 9 - Determine, Monitor, and Strengthen the Organization's Programs and Services
• Board Responsibility # 8 - Enhance the Organization's Public Standing
• Board Responsibility # 7 - Recruit and Orient New Board Members and Assess Board Performance
• Board Responsibility # 6 - Ensure Effective Organizational Planning
• Board Responsibility # 5 - Ensure Legal and Ethical Integrity and Maintain Accountability

While the qualifications of candidates are key, so are personal characteristics that enable or enhance a candidate's ability to work effectively as a Board member. The following personal characteristics have been identified by LLLI Board Members as priority (in order):

• Personality and culture fit - degree of strength, positive attitude, balanced ego, flexibility and ability to work well with others
• Problem solving - the ability to understand complex issues and develop new creative solutions
• Multi cultural awareness - sensitivity to and appreciation for diversity
• Results orientation - focus on setting clear and high targets, measuring performance and achieving maximum results
• Team leadership - the ability to motivate and develop others, and to balance authority and accountability
• Energy, drive and initiative - the level of energy and motivation, self-starter, commitment to excellence

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LLL - Eastern United States Zone
Nomination(s) to the LLLI Board of Directors – August, 2008

Please obtain the nominee's permission before submitting her/his name.

I nominate:

Because:

Nominee's address:

Phone:

Email:

 

The following information must be included for your nomination to serve as a letter of support. Two letters of support are required for each nominee.

Your name:

Address:

Phone:

Email:

 

Anyone who wishes to nominate themselves must complete this form and submit it along with two letters of support by August 22, 2008.

Mail to:
Amy Shaw
9-A Marina Drive
Hull, MA 02045
amyshaw@llleus.org

Every effort has been made to reach all Leaders in the EUS Division. However, if you know an EUS Leader who has not received this mailing, please give her a copy. This letter and form may be reproduced as needed.

August, 2007 Elections Information

Letter to Leaders | Nomination Guidelines | Nomination Form | Word Document

La Leche League International
Eastern United States Division
Amy Shaw, Director
9A Marina Drive
Hull, MA 02045
781-925-1487
ashaw@llli.org

August 5, 2007

To: All La Leche League Leaders in the Eastern United States (EUS) Division

From: Amy Shaw, Division Director, and the EUS Division Staff

Dear Leaders,

In 2008 the La Leche League International (LLLI) Board of Directors will again elect Board members following a zone plan to represent diversity. The Eastern United States will have three seats on the LLLI Board of Directors. Every EUS Leader is encouraged to participate in the nomination procedure. Please read this mailing carefully so that we may put together a slate of excellent, highly qualified candidates. This mailing is going out primarily by email for cost and time purposes as the deadline for nominations is August 27, 2007.

By October 2, 2007 the EUS Zone will present a slate of three nominees and one alternate to the current Board. In March 2008 the Board will elect nominees who fulfill all requirements and best meet the needs of the LLLI Board to serve a three-year term. The EUS Division welcomes the opportunity to choose nominees who can truly represent the organization as a whole, while bringing to the Board the perspective of our part of the LLL world.

EUS Zone Board members Sharon Matuszek and Sharon Vines are completing their maximum term on the Board and are not eligible for re-election. Don Buckley is completing a Board vacancy position and is eligible to be elected to begin a full term.

The commitment to Board work is at least two to three, five-day meetings per year, usually in Schaumburg, IL. Expenses for those meetings are met by the organization. The majority of work done by the Board between meetings is via email. However, no nominee should be discouraged from nomination because of lack of access to email. Board members may also be invited to Area Conferences or asked to represent LLLI at other meetings or in situations where a Board representative is requested.

In order to signify her/his willingness to be a candidate, each nominee must return the enclosed form along with her/his background, qualifications, and personal statement (all items must be postmarked or received by email by the deadline).

Enclosed is a form for your nominations(s). Please compete and return it to the address shown on the nomination form. Before sending a nomination, please be sure that the person is willing to be nominated and to serve if elected. Self-nominations are welcome.

The deadline for nominations is August 27, 2007.

Thank you!

 

NOMINATION GUIDELINES

1. All EUS Leaders in good standing (are active Leaders, current with their Leader fees, and with no disciplinary action taken or pending against them) may submit nominations and/or nominate themselves (on enclosed form) by August 27, 2007.

2. All Leaders in good standing with LLLI and their Areas are eligible for nomination. Non-Leaders who bring special talents to the position, such as financial skills or previous experience with non-profit organizations, may also be nominated.

3. Each nominee must have two letters of support. A complete and signed nomination on the enclosed form can serve as a letter of support. Those who nominate themselves will need two additional signed nominations.

4. The EUS Board Nominations Committee will read all information received from nominees, ask for more information as needed, and ensure that all nominees meet basic eligibility criteria.

5. If there are more than three nominees, a ballot will be prepared using the information provided by the candidates for nomination. The ballot will include information about each candidate’s qualifications, as well as the personal statement from each. Campaigning by or on behalf of any candidate is not appropriate.

6. Ballots returned by the deadline noted on the ballot will be tallied and the three candidates with the most votes will be the EUS Zone nominees. The candidate with the fourth highest number of votes will be the alternate. The four names will be sent to the LLLI Board of Directors nominating committee.

The Board has identified several desirable attributes for the work to be done and to help a zone nominee be accountable to her/his zone.

General Characteristics:

• Ability to see a big picture of the global needs from LLLI and what LLLI can provide globally
• Ability to work cooperatively with others and to be a team player
• Ability to communicate effectively and speedily within the organization
• Ability to ask questions and seek information to move Board work forward
• Willingness to be an active working member by serving on a minimum of one committee and chairing a standing or special committee if required
• Ability to read and respond in English
• Willingness to maintain records and files of Board minutes and committee activities
• Willingness to work between Board sessions. It is estimated that Board members spend 10-20 hours a week on Board work
• Availability and willingness to travel

Specific Areas of Expertise: *Not an exclusive list*

• Financial expertise
• Fundraising skills
• Previous experience serving on a non-profit board
• Public relations experience
• Experience in running a multi-national corporation
• Legal skills
• Human relations experience
• Experience with governance
• Marketing and licensing expertise

LLL - Eastern United States Zone
Nomination(s) to the LLLI Board of Directors - 2007

Please obtain the nominee's permission before submitting her/his name.

I nominate:
 
Because:

 

Nominee's address

 

Phone                                                     Email

The following information must be included for your nomination to serve as a letter of support. Two letters of support are required for each nominee.

Your name  

Address

 

Phone                                                      Email

Anyone who wishes to be a nominee must complete and send this form along with the following information by August 27, 2007 (attach extra paper as needed):

1. A statement of your background, qualifications, and experience (limit, 100 words), and
2. A personal statement to the Leaders, also no more than 100 words.

Each nominee is allowed a maximum of 100 words for each of the above statements. They will be retyped exactly as received. If more than 100 words are received for a statement, the statement will be cut off at 100 words.

Every eligible nominee who submits this form with the required personal information and statement (postmarked or received by August 27, 2007) and for whom two signed letters of support are received (also postmarked or received by August 27, 2007) will be on the ballot that will be available to all EUS Division Leaders.

Mail to: 
Amy Shaw
9A Marina Drive
Hull, MA 02045
ashaw@llli.org

 

Every effort has been made to reach all Leaders in the EUS Division. However, if you know an EUS Leader who has not received this mailing, please give her a copy. This letter and form may be reproduced as needed.