Board Candidate Presentations and Elections

Subcommittee Notes: Board Candidate Presentations and Elections

Nicole De Armendi, Linda Downs and Vanessa Jalet

I. Nominating Candidates for the Board A. There are two problem areas in the process. It is necessary and desirable to have an open nominating process but CAA is currently NOT targeting well enough those members who really have an understanding of CAA. The process is rather scattershot. CAA needs a “leadership ladder” where people who are active in CAA, like working on a committee, can then move into a position on the Board. B. CAA does currently draw on recommendations from PIPS committee Chairs, from Board members, from members of the Affiliated Societies, and from the Nominating Committee itself. Currently, three Board members are automatically put on the Nominating Committee and they often are not officers. And further, CAA’s President is not included on the Nominating Committee. This was probably set up in order to guard against cronyism but there has been little evidence of that. C. Perhaps the president could be ex officio on the Nominating Committee as the Executive Director is currently. II. Leadership training A. CAA could establish leadership training to be held in the summer for members who are interested in taking on administrative responsibilities at their university or at CAA. Courses focused on the responsibilities of department heads, deans, provosts and the CAA Board. Current Board members could mentor PIPS committee members, editorial board members and jurors to encourage Board leadership. The course could be taught by present department heads, deans, provosts and CAA Board members. B. Establish an appointed position for an emerging professional who has taken the leadership training program. This position could be part of the appointed directors or an ex officio position in order to bring the perspective of young professionals to the Board. III. VOTING A. The percentage of CAA members who vote is very small – under 4%. Many CAA members when queried say they don’t vote because they don’t “know” the candidates, even though CAA presents the candidates with personal statements, narrative bios, photos, videos and a recommendation from a CAA member. B. Members don’t realize the Board represents them, their views, there is no incentive to vote. It is necessary to reframe the issue: How to communicate to members that CAA is more than just an annual conference and a place to interview for a job? What does CAA offer its members and how can members shape the organization? (the Board is the gateway) i. Publicize the significance of CAA projects and initiatives for everyone in the arts (advocacy, codes for best practices, programs, etc.) ii. List the benefits of membership beyond just conference attendance, job opportunities, and CAA publications (reinforcing statement listed above) iii. Start a campaign, “What can CAA do for you” iv. Get people involved v. “Ask a Board member” session vi. Make use of social media vii. A raffle that every 50th person who votes gets a free membership?

C. It was concluded that the problem is not in presenting the candidates – little morecan be done than is being done now. It is not the candidates who lack visibility but the Board of Directors itself that lacks visibility. How to present the Board members? CAA’s Newsletter is often overwhelming with information. You don’t want just another item in the newsletter. The Board or even the Committees can seem to be elite and distant, how to connect the members to the Board. i. What about spreading out the Board meetings over the entire Annual Conference – meet an hour each day of the Conference? (Some organizations do this very successfully.) Could one meeting be devoted to a Question and Answer period from general CAA members? ii. On our website, could we have an occasional section of what the board members are up to? What are they doing? iii. A webinar with the board members iv. A participatory Board meeting – with CAA general members v. Put up photos – post faces to names vi. Have an UPDATE section – a place where new policies are posted. vii. A publicity committee viii. Social communications site (CAA is close to a decision on this) ix. Could be open or closed discussion sites x. “Ask Me about CAA ” buttons during the Annual Conference IV. FAIR USE DISSEMINATION A. Organize an occasion at universities around the upcoming dissemination of the Fair Use code which will be announced on June 9, 2015.

2-4-15