Elections

We are conducting internet voting, Please send any nominations for all of the National positions to Jennifer Jakob (jjakob.stu@okcu.edu). The descriptions are listed under the elecetions tab. If nominations come in, we will begin taking votes at the begining of the school year.

Board of Directors | Election Procedures

NWLSA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Below is an excerpt of NWLSA's By-laws for 2003-2004 Election purposes.

The National Board of Directors consists of the following:

ARTICLE I NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS
1. Powers and Duties

a. The Board of Directors is the governing body and ultimate authority of NWLSA. Legislative authority to pass necessary and proper resolutions rests solely in the Board of Directors.
b. The Board of Directors shall consist of: Director of the Board, Director of Membership, Director of Public Relations, Director of Fundraising, Director of Action, Director of Moot Court, and Director of the Conference.
c. Each Board Member shall serve in an advisory capacity for the year following her term.
d. The Board of Directors shall develop and approve an annual expense budget.
e. Each Director will maintain bi-weekly contact with the entire Board, via e-mail.
f. Each Director will attend both the National Conference and the in-person board meeting at the Host School at a date set by the Board of Directors. The in-person meeting will be prior to the commencement of the academic year.
g. Each Director submits a report to the Director of the Board on the last day of the following months: September, November, January, and March.
h. Each Director creates an end of the year report and file to pass on to her successor at the annual Conference.
i. Each Director will personally contact law schools in her area to inform them about NWLSA and its annual conference.
j. Contracts signed by the Director of the Board shall be approved by the majority of the Board.

2. Eligibility

a. Eligibility for election to any position of the Board of Directors for the Association shall not be denied to any non-graduating law student member. [This is further defined in By-laws Article VI, Section 1 (A).]
b. Participation in any program of NWLSA shall not be denied to any member.

ARTICLE II DIRECTORS OF THE BOARD
1. Powers and Duties

a. Director of the Board - The Director of the Board shall:
i. Represent NWLSA at meetings of other associations, as directed by the Board of Directors.

1. Within the first month of her term, the Director of the Board shall prepare a listing of other associations and their meetings, at which the Director of the Board feels NWLSA's presence would be beneficial. This list will be submitted to the Board of Directors for discussion and approval.
2. May appoint a liaison from the other Board Members to represent the Association when she is unable to attend a meeting.

ii. Establish relationships with local members. Establish relationships with other women's organizations in furtherance of feminist awareness.
iii. Coordinate the activities of NWLSA
iv. Preside over all meetings of the Association, including all Board of Directors meetings.
v. Call all Board of Directors meetings, set and distribute an agenda for every meeting, and facilitate organized discussion for all Board of Directors meetings. Take minutes of all the meetings.
vi. Sign all contracts on behalf of NWLSA. Contracts must be approved by a majority of the Board.
vii. May be an authorized signor on NWLSA's bank account.
viii. Create any necessary ad hoc committees and chair or appoint a chair to those committees.
ix. Shall not get a vote at Board of Directors meetings except to case the determinative vote in the event of a tie.
x. Collect and distribute to Board members all Board quarterly reports.
xi. Monitor the status and quality of life for women in law schools.
xii. Maintain a list of all Board members' addresses, e-mails, and phone numbers.
xiii. Maintain a historical record of the Association.

b. Director of Membership - The Director of Membership shall:

i. Make all reasonable efforts to coordinate and distribute all materials to be sent to member schools.
ii. Organize membership, including membership drives and membership lists for the Association. Actively target membership from under-represented groups.
iii. Perform all duties of the Director of the Board in the event that she is unable to do so.
iv. Succeed to the office of the Director of the Board for the remaining portion of the non-expired term created by a vacation of that office. Upon such event, the Director of Action shall authorize all financial transactions.
v. Solicit suggestions and input from general membership.
vi. Create and maintain a current list of NWLSA alumnae.
vii. Be authorized signor for NWLSA's bank account.
viii. Consistently update the Board regarding NWLSA's financial status.
ix. Obtain or maintain an IRS not-for-profit account number.
x. Due to the case amount of work involved with this position, the Board has discretion to allow two (2) Co-Directors of Membership to exist.

c. Director of Public Relations - The Director of Public Relations shall:

i. Distribute to member schools the Board Quarterly reports via NWLSA's website.
ii. Organize and publish a bi-quarterly newsletter - ten month period newsletter.
iii. Solicit member writings and articles.
iv. Solicit writings and articles from under-represented groups.
v. Create and distribute NWLSA letterhead and business cards to the Board of Directors.
vi. Maintain the NWLSA website and forward messages to the appropriate Directors.

d. Director of Fundraising - The Director of Fundraising shall:

i. Actively pursue funding opportunities on behalf of the Association.
ii. Appoint and coordinate a nationwide fundraising committee comprised of no less than five members.
iii. Research and solicit grants and other fundraising information.
iv. The Director of Fundraising may appoint a grant writer.
v. Appoint a conference fundraising chair, in conjunction with the Director of the Conference.
vi. Maintain a current list of NWLSA supporters.
vii. Collect a list of all requesting sponsors and give such list to the Directors of Public Relations and Membership so that they may distribute NWLSA information and publications.
viii. Begin fundraising on April 1st.
ix. Maintain and distribute a file of educational programs, fellowships, and financial aid opportunities for NLWSA members.

e. Director of Action - (combined Diversity & Public Service) - the Director of Action shall:

i. Solicit and provide input from under-represented groups.
ii. Maintain and distribute NWLSA's diversity resource directory.
iii. Communicate with the Director of Membership on diversity concerns regarding admissions data, pre-law programming, and scholarships.
iv. Coordinate with the Director of Membership to actively solicit membership from under-represented groups.
v. Coordinate with the Director of the Conference to actively encourage attendance and participation at the National Conference by under-represented groups.
vi. Contact other national minority student groups.
vii. Promote both public interest work and public service.
viii. Promote the celebration of Women's History month, including working with the Director of Public Relations to create a special issue of the newsletter dedicated to women's history month.
ix. Facilitate communication among local chapters regarding local and national public interest and public service programs.
x. Maintain, update and distribute a resource directory, which includes information regarding women's organizations, bar association, and other public interest groups.
xi. Establish a Plan of Action regarding a woman's issue, in which the members can elect to participate.
xii. Develop and promote NWLSA's National Action Campaign.
xiii. Coordinate the campaign for NWLSA, including a project at the National Conference.

f. Director of Moot Court -

i. Should be a member of the host school.
ii. If not a student from the host school, the Director of Moot Court must work directly with host school's appointed moot court person.
iii. Shall have at least one faculty advisor.
iv. The Director of Moot Court shall provide a Bench Memo for the Problem.

1. This memo shall be given to all judges within a reasonable time before they judge any part of the Competition.
2. Via e-mail, this Memo shall also be distributed to the Board at the time it is first sent to any judges. Any revisions shall also be distributed to the Board.
3. The Director of Moot Court must notify the Board of Directors that any information conveyed to the Board regarding the Bench Memo shall remain confidential. Special attention shall be given to Directors from a school that is sending Competition participants.
4. The Bench Memo and the Competitors' briefs shall be distributed to the brief judges in a timely manner.
v. The Director of Moot Court shall create a committee to assist her/him in carrying out her/his Moot Court duties.

g. Director of the Conference: the Director of the Conference shall:

i. Coordinate the activities for the National Conference involving speakers, panels, workshops, and any other events which effectuate the educational and professional purposes of the Association as set forth by the Constitution.
ii. Serve as the liaison between member schools and the Board regarding conference matters.
iii. Appoint a committee to aid in organizing and fundraising for the National Conference.
iv. Collaborate with the Directors of Public Relations and Membership to adequately publicize the National Conference.
v. Coordinate with the Director of Action to actively encourage attendance and participation at the National conference by under-represented groups.
vi. Update the Board monthly regarding the status of the Conference.

ARTICLE III DIRECTOR REMOVAL

1. If a member of the Board of Directors fails to perform her duties as
required by her committee position for one month, the following procedure shall be initiated:

a. The Director of the Board shall inquire as to the inactive Director's intentions with respect to her position, and inform her of the possible consequences of her continued inactivity.
b. If the Director of the Board and the inactive Director are unable to resolve the situation within two weeks, such that the duties are performed, or the inactive Director resigns, the Board of Directors shall decide on the appropriate action, including removal from the Board.
c. If, at this point, a Director makes a motion to remove the inactive Director, the Board may vote, by a two-thirds (2/3) majority, to remove the inactive Director.

2. If the inactive Board member is the Director of the Board, the Director of Membership shall fulfill the Director of the Board's duties in the procedure outlined in (1) above.
3. Any Board Member may be removed by unanimous vote (excluding the position(s) in question) of the Board.

ARTICLE IV SUCCESSION

1. Director of the Board:

a. In the event of the failure or inability of the Director of the Board to
carry out her prescribed duties, the position of Director of the Board shall be assumed in the following order of succession: Director of Membership, Director of Public Relations, Director of Fundraising, Director of Action, Director of Moot Court and Director of the Conference.
b. The Director of the Conference cannot simultaneously be the Director
of the Board.

2. Other Directors

a. In the event of the failure or the inability of a Director to carry out her
duties, the Director of the Board may assume or delegate those duties.
b. Under the Director of the Board's discretion, replacement Directors,
other than the Director of the Board, can be appointed from the general
membership by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the Board.

 

NWLSA ELECTIONS PROCEDURES

Below is an excerpt of NWLSA's By-laws for 2003-2004 Election purposes.

ARTICLE VII ELECTIONS
1. All positions, whether elected or appointed, may be held only for the time period between annual National Conferences. All duties of the prior Board of Directors must be completed and transferred in full to the newly elected Board of Directors within one month after the National Conference.

a. National Board of Directors

i. The National Board of Directors shall be elected from the general membership with the following restrictions: Anyone running for a Board position must be a non-graduating student. A candidate for the Board of Directors must also be a candidate for a juris doctor in the United States of America and/or its territories.

b. The National Board of Directors shall be elected at the annual National Conference by a majority vote.

c. Voting Rights

i. All elections must be by a simple majority.
ii. In a case where a majority is not reached, the choice with the fewest votes should be eliminated and the process repeated until a majority vote is reached.
iii. Votes shall be given in the following manner:

1. Each Local Member shall have one vote. If more than one representative from a local representative from a Local Member is present, those representatives must form a unanimous vote for their Local Membership. (i.e. One school's membership is entitled to one vote. Students of that schools must form one vote.)

2. Individual Members who have paid dues for an individual membership shall have one vote.

iv. Proxy votes may be given to any voting member before or at the annual Conference. All proxy votes must be given, in writing, to the Director of the Board.

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