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Call for nominations



Cross posted to Archives and Archivists, SAA Student Groups, and SAA
Leadership List.

Members of SAA should be receiving their ballots in the mail shortly (if
they have not already received them).

Included with the ballot is a form to nominate individuals for office.  As a
member of last year's Nominating Committee and member of Council, I strongly
encourage you to put forth names of individuals that you believe would serve
the Society and profession well.

SAA is a grass-roots organization, and the nomination process is an
important part of keeping the Society healthy and growing.  Please help the
committee -- and the Society -- by suggesting any individual who has been an
effective leader in a section, roundtable, or other group (possibly another
organization); who has good ideas; and who has a willingness to work.

The Nominating Committee is usually diverse, representing archives of
different type and size, from around the country (sometimes continent), and
with different interests.  Nevertheless, it's not likely that the committee
members know everyone who might be a great officer.  The Society is
committed to growing new leaders; receiving names from members is one of the
best ways to prevent the Society from being run by a bunch of hoary geezers.
<g>

Nominating candidates is also an important way to ensure that your interests
are well represented.  Nominating Committees try to present a diverse slate
of candidates, but often they aren't familiar with effective individuals who
can represent the diversity of SAA membership, or archives of different
types and from different regions.

Serving as an officer in SAA can be one of the most rewarding benefits of
membership.  Service does require time and work, but that commitment may be
one of the best investments individuals can make in their careers.  Speaking
for myself, I learned a great deal about leadership and management; the
opportunity to work closely with some of the best and brightest of the
profession has given me a better understanding of my profession, as well as
extraordinarily useful contacts.

Taking a moment to describe why you think someone would be a good candidate
is extremely valuable.  The Committee would appreciate information about the
individual's track record of service to the profession and the Society, and
why you think the individual would be a good officer.

When thinking of potential nominees, consider the following.

- Candidates must be members of SAA.

- In general individuals climb the ranks, starting with Nominating
Committee, then serving on Council before running for President.  It's not
uncommon for someone to skip service on Nominating Committee before running
for Council, Nominating Committee is a great way for someone to get name
recognition that will help them be elected to Council.  However, most
Nominating Committees feel that service on Council is a pre-requisite for
candidates for Vice President.

- SAA has a long standing tradition of not electing anyone to Council or as
Vice President more than once.

- No office is an honorific, though it is an honor.  Officers should expect
to to work, not rest on their laurels.

- It is not necessary to get an individual's permission to nominate them.
The Nominating Committee ensures that all candidates on the slate have
agreed to run.

- You may nominate yourself.

Finally, please write clearly.  Forms are distributed to members by fax and
photocopy, sometimes making it hard to read faint handwriting.  You may use
a word processor to submit names on plain paper.

Nominations must be postmarked by 7 May 2002 and should be sent to
    2003 Nominating Committee
    Society of American Archivists
    527 S. Wells Street, 5th Floor
    Chicago, IL 60607-3922


Richard Pearce-Moses
 rpm9@mindspring.com

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