Elections are held each year for at-large delegates to the Atlantic Chapter Executive Committee (ExCom). There are nine such members. Five are elected in even years, four in odd years. This year there were nine candidates. Five were elected.
Kate Bartholomew 276
Jeff Bohner 258
Diane Buxbaum 253
Carl Arnold 243
Jim Lane 219
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Hal Bauer 199
Don Young 157
Thelma Fellows 164
Art Klein 138
As in all Chapter at-large elections, they are remarkable in that only about one percent of the 38,453 eligible voters cast ballots. This is cumbersome, inefficient, and certainly not representative of the membership.
It is required by National that our Council of Club Leaders (CCL) delegate be elected by the Chapter membership. The Atlantic Chapter uses the election process for at-large members to fulfill this requirement, by electing the CCL delegate from the at-large winners.
Perhaps the time and effort for these at-large elections should be studied. One choice could be to eliminate at-large members and have a vote for the CCL delegate from candidates who are qualified and interested in representing us at National. Seems like a much more interesting election and possibly could improve our participation level.
Martha Loew, chair
2014 Elections Committee