The vitality of NCFR depends on the dedication of its members to serve in leadership capacities at various levels of the organization. The charge of the Elections Council is to identify people who are willing to commit their time and energy for leadership positions. Please consider how your skills and gifts might benefit NCFR. In turn, we are quite sure that you will gain valuable leadership experience and will grow personally as well as professionally. Here are two ways to be involved.

VOTE. . .

in the upcoming election (February 2013)

The Elections Council wants to encourage all members to vote in February 2013. We have submitted a nomination slate (ballots will be emailed to members in February 2013) for terms that will be filled at the end of the national meeting in San Antonio, Texas, in November 2013. The nominees are:

NOMINATE . . .

yourself/others; nominations due January 31, 2013 (February 2014 Slate)

The Elections Council encourages all members to apply for or nominate others for the February 2014 slate. Nominees must have current membership in NCFR.

As you think about who would serve NCFR well, remember that we are a multidisciplinary association—one that serves researchers, college faculty, practitioners, and students. A slate of candidates that reflects the membership helps engage more people in the election process.

Professional interests are another consideration in filling leadership positions, and our members’ occupation titles reflect that: demographers, social workers, Certified Family Life Educators, college faculty and administrators, extension outreach agents, clergy, marriage and family therapists, pre-K/12 teachers, and more.

NCFR is committed to inclusion in creating opportunities for members to hold office. Candidates are sought that will reflect that commitment to diversity in culture, race, age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, spirituality and personal beliefs, ability/disability, marital status and family structure, geographic location, and social and political views.

See the Nomination Information section of the NCFR website for more details about eligibility, forms, and the work of the Elections Council.

Keeping this in mind, we invite self-nominations and nominations of others for the following positions for the next slate to be elected in February of 2014. The terms for these positions will begin November 2014 at the end of the annual conference in Baltimore, Maryland.

Board Member-at-Large - 2014-2017 (three positions open)

NCFR Board Members are responsible for the overall governance of the organization on behalf of all NCFR members. They attend two face-to-face Board meetings per year, along with regular conference calls and email exchanges. They take responsibility for maintaining contact with the membership and reflecting the needs of all NCFR members.

Conference Program Chair-Elect - 2014-2015 (Program Chair for 2016 Conference)

Serves one year as Conference Program Chair-Elect, proceeding to Program Chair the following year and has primary responsibility for selecting the theme for the Annual Conference and selecting plenary and other special speakers with the help of the NCFR staff.

Elections Council Members - 2014-2017 (two positions open)

It is the responsibility of the Elections Council to prepare a slate of nominees for officers and members of the Board of Directors, Student/New Professional Board Representative positions, Fellows Committee, Program Chair-elect, Elections Council positions, the Inclusion and Diversity Committee positions, and to ensure that the policies regarding recruitment as provided by the NCFR Bylaws, and the Elections Council Policies and Procedures are followed.

Student/New Professional Program Representative - 2014-2016

Serves a two-year term as a member of the Annual Conference Program Committee, member of the Student Award Committee, has several Annual Conference responsibilities, and assists in networking students and new professionals.

Inclusion & Diversity Committee Member-at-Large - 2014-2017 (three positions open)

IDC Members-at-Large will serve to assist IDC to respond to the needs and desires of NCFR members. The Members-at-Large will help the committee send updates on the work of IDC via webpage postings, NCFR Reports, and other effective venues of communication. The Members-at-Large will provide information and suggestions to IDC, ensuring that information is documented via a report.

Again, become involved in leadership positions of our organization. Consider what your involvement will be. Send nominations to Jeanne Strand at jeannestrand@ncfr.org. For additional information, please review the NCFR website, www.ncfr.org. Deadline for nominations is Jan.31, 2013.