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Proxy
Voting to Replace Absentee Balloting
Recommendations of Online Voting Task Force & Board
of Directors
By: Brian Carswell, Immediate Past President and Chair
- Online Voting Task Force
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CANDIDATES |
For more than a year, the Online Voting Task Force has gathered
suggestions from members on how to increase the number of
people who vote in annual elections for NIRSA officers while
maximizing available computer and Internet technology. For
the most part, member input has been relayed to the Task Force
by NIRSA Regional Vice Presidents through regional conferences,
state meetings, and individual conversations with members
from around the country.
Realizing the importance that many NIRSA members place on
candidate speeches, the Task Force recommended:
- Continuing
the speeches of candidates who are standing for office
- Continuing
to hold elections at the Annual Conference
- Encouraged
the use of electronic voting for members who are unable
to attend the Annual Conference in Albuquerque (2004).
- Proposed
a Bylaws amendment at the 2004 Annual Conference that will
allow online voting at future conferences up until 24 hours
prior to the Annual Business Meeting or Regional Business
Meeting (which ever comes first—beginning 2005).
NIRSA’s
legal counsel (O’Donnell & Clark, LLP, in Portland,
Oregon) was consulted about how to best implement these recommendations
and ensure NIRSA compliance with state and federal statutes
regulating election of officers of nonprofit corporations.
Our attorneys advised NIRSA that electronic balloting was
permitted under state and federal statutes (provided certain
safeguards were in place); however, absentee voting is not
expressly permitted under Oregon law. Proxy voting, on the
other hand, is expressly permitted by Oregon law, and although
it is somewhat cumbersome to implement, it was recommended.
NIRSA’s Board of Directors unanimously voted recently
to proceed with the recommendations of its legal counsel in
order to implement Task Force recommendations. Therefore,
proxy ballots for members who do not expect to attend the
Annual Business Meeting in Albuquerque will be available electronically
from the NIRSA National Center beginning March 4, 2004. A
proposal to amend the Bylaws as necessary to include reference
to the proxy voting system will be sent to members electronically
30 days before the Annual Business Meeting in Albuquerque
and voted on at the meeting.
The following is an excerpt of O’Donnell & Clark’s
legal opinion:
“Given the absence of an express provision in the ONCA
[Oregon Nonprofit Corporation Act], and the resulting uncertainty
in the law, we reluctantly recommend that NIRSA not conduct
elections for directors by absentee ballot, whether electronic
or otherwise. This recommendation is also premised upon the
fundamental nature of membership in a nonprofit corporation
allowing members the inalienable right to elect directors
[as in Board of Directors] of the nonprofit corporation. The
very definition of a “member” is the right to
vote for the election of the corporation’s directors.
Thus, the use of any method for electing directors will always
be subject to heightened scrutiny to protect members’
rights in this regard.
While in the beginning, a proxy system may be more confusing
to members and administratively difficult in some respects,
we recommend the use of a proxy system…We also recommend
amending the Bylaws as necessary to include reference to the
proxy voting system. Additionally, we recommend that implementation
to such a system in electronic form be carefully structured
to comply with UETA [Oregon Uniform Electronic Transaction
Act] including the implementation of appropriate security
procedures.”
The end
result of a Bylaws amendment will be that, if passed, members
will have the option of voting for candidates prior to the
conference online or voting in person at the Annual and Regional
Business meetings. Providing this choice allows members an
opportunity to hear candidate speeches before they vote.
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President-Elect
Candidates |
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Candidate
for
President-Elect
Gregory
T. Jordan
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Candidate for
President-Elect
Kirk
McQueen
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Region
II Vice-President Candidates |
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Candidate for
Region II Vice-President
Willie Ehling
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Candidate for
Region II Vice-President
Dawn Sanner
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Region
IV Vice-President Candidates |
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Candidate for
Region IV Vice-President
Keith E. Jenkins
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Candidate for
Region IV Vice-President
James W. (Jimmy) Pitre
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Region
VI Vice-President Candidates |
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Candidate for
Region VI Vice-President
Catherine Cramp
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Candidate for
Region VI Vice-President
Thomas Kirch
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President-Elect Candidates |
Candidate for
President-Elect
Gregory
T. Jordan
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Greg
Jordan, CRSS, first joined NIRSA in 1978, is currently
the Director of the Department of Campus Recreation
at Oakland (MI) University, a position he has held since
October of 1996. He is the only person to serve in this
position, as the new facility and department were created
at that time. Before moving to Oakland University, Greg
served Bowling Green State University for 16 years in
three different positions: Associate Director of the
Student Recreation Center (1980-84); Director, BGSU
Ice Arena (1984-92); and Director, Student Recreation
Center Operations/Associate Director, Recreational Sports
(1992-96). After obtaining both a Bachelor of Science
and Masters of Science from Indiana University, he serve
as the Assistant Director for Club and Informal Sports
at Indiana from 1977-80.
Greg
has served NIRSA and state associations in a variety
of ways, including:
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Finance Committee, 2002-present
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Bylaws Committee, present
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Work team for hotel attrition issue, 2003
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NIRSA Parliamentarian, 2003 Cleveland Annual Business
Meeting
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National Recreation Facilities Institute Planning
Committee; Austin 2000 (Chair, Design/construction
track); Ypsilanti 2003 (host); Newport Beach, 2003
(consultant)
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Host Region III Student Lead On, January 2002
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State Director in Michigan (current)
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State Director in Ohio and Indiana, Charter Member
in both state associations
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Host State workshops in Michigan and Ohio
- Coordinate
and hosted Mid-American Conference Recreational Sports
Directors meetings
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NIRSA Region I Vice President Nominee (1981)
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Various NIRSA committees including nominations and
elections, club sports, chair of constitution, bylaws
and operating code, facilities
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Numerous presentations at state, regional and national
workshops, symposium and conferences on subjects including
facility design and management, risk management, resume
evaluation and the social action theater.
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Recipient of the Ohio Recreational Sports Association
Honor Award, 2002; Indiana University Outstanding
Alumni Award, 1993; NIRSA Service Award, 1985
On
the Oakland University campus, Greg has been active
in representing the Division of Student Affairs on a
variety of campus committees. While at Bowling Green,
he served as Chair of the Administrative Staff Council
and the annual all university United Way campaign.
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FOR POSITION STATEMENT |--- |
Candidate for
President-Elect
Kirk
McQueen |
Kirk
McQueen has been a very active member of the National
Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) since
joining the organization in 1977. Currently, he is serving
as the Interim Director of Campus Recreation at The Georgia
Institute of Technology. He has been at Georgia Tech for
26 years, serving in various capacities. Kirk has served
Georgia Tech as the Coordinator of Sport Clubs and Special
Events, Director of Intramurals, as well as Director of
Facilities and Operations.
Kirk
graduated from Auburn University in 1975 and then went
on to graduate school at the University of South Alabama.
After receiving his Masters Degree in 1976 he became
the Director of Intramurals and Sport Clubs at the University
of South Alabama. Since becoming a professional member
in 1977, Kirk has attended every National Conference.
The
NIRSA has been an important part of Kirk’s life
and he has served the association in many roles over
the last 26 years. He doesn’t believe in simply
attending a conference, he believes that everyone needs
to get involved and he does in a number of ways, including
presenting at numerous State, Regional and National
Conferences. He has also worked on better himself as
a professional by attending the School of Recreational
Sports Management and the NIRSA Executive Institutes.
Kirk
has served the NIRSA in many other ways as well. A few
of the ways that he has shown his support and dedication
are:
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Region II Vice President
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Region II Conference Host 1980 & 1985
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Hosted the 1st Sport Club Workshop
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NIRSA Flag Football Rules Committee
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State Director
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Facility Committee
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NIRSA Foundation Board
Because
of his service to the association, he received the Region
II Service Award. This is an honor that he humbly accepted
and values a great deal because it came from the members
of the NIRSA.
Away
from the NIRSA, Kirk has enjoyed coaching several college
sports including Women’s Basketball, Women’s
Softball and Women’s Golf. He also enjoys and
makes the most of the time he gets to spend with his
wife Janet and his daughters Brooke and Madison.
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Vice-President
Candidates |
Candidate for
Region II
Vice-President
Willie Ehling |
Over a 20-year
period, Willie Ehling has been a student and
professional member of the NIRSA. He is in his 15th
year as the Director of Campus Recreation and Intramurals
at Georgia Southern (1989-present). He served as Assistant
Director of Recreation at Appalachian State (ASU) (1986-89).
His first full time campus recreation position was at
East Carolina University (1984-86) with responsibilities
in Intramural Sports. He received his Bachelor of Science
in Recreation in 1979, and Master of Arts in Health
and Physical Education in (1982) from ASU.
Willie’s
involvement with the NIRSA includes:
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Region II Conference, Presentation Review Committee,
2003
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Senior Advisory Group/ Value of Recreation Sports
on College Campus study, 2003
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Region II Award of Merit, 2002
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NIRSA Outstanding Service Award, 2000
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Affirmative Action Chair, 1998
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Georgia Southern hosted State and Regional Extramural
tournaments
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Georgia Southern hosted three NIRSA Sports Club National
Soccer Tournaments
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Georgia State Director, 1995
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Hosted State Workshop, 1995
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Graduate of the NIRSA Executive Institute in Breckenridge,
Colorado, 1992
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Chaired the College Flag and Touch Football Rules
Committee, 1990
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Graduate of the first NIRSA school of Sports Management
held in Indianapolis, Indiana, 1989
Willie has
presented at National, Regional, and State meetings
on such topics as: research and assessment, leadership/ethics,
student learning, employee motivation, preparation for
employment, and intramural sports officiating. As a
High School Sports Official, he has served as football
Assigning Secretary and President of the local football
and baseball association. Willie is also a football
officials Observer for the Southern Conference.
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FOR POSITION STATEMENT |--- |
Candidate for
Region II
Vice-President
Dawn Sanner |
Dawn
Sanner, a 17-year member of NIRSA, currently serves
North Carolina State University as the Director of Facilities.
Her current responsibilities include management of the
Carmichael Complex including 330,000 square feet of indoor
teaching/recreational space and 12 acres of lighted fields.
She also leads the planning team for a $12.5 million expansion
project under consideration. She has been at NC State
for almost three years serving first as the Associate
Director of Campus Recreation – Facilities. She
has held numerous positions including: eighteen months
as Associate Director of Programs at the University of
Missouri - Columbia, two years as the Director of Campus
Recreation at Francis Marion University, over eight years
at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville as the Student
Aquatic Center Manager and almost two years at Illinois
State as a graduate assistant.
She
received her Master of Science degree in HPER Administration
from Illinois State University, and her Bachelor of
Science degree in Accounting from Millikin University.
Dawn
has served NIRSA in a variety of capacities including:
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Student Professional Development Committee, Member,
2003 – Present
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Nominations and Elections Committee, 2002-2003
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Finance Committee, 1992-1999
- NC/SC
State Workshop Host Committee, 2002
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Tennessee State Workshop Coordinator, 1994
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Illinois State Workshop Committee, 1986
- Tennessee
State Director, 1994-1996
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South Carolina State Director, 1998-1999
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NIRSA School for Recreational Sports Management in
2000
- Numerous
presentations at state and regional conferences
Dawn
is active in the Raleigh community through work with
the American Red Cross, the North Carolina Senior Games
and North Carolina Special Olympics.
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Candidate for
Region IV
Vice-President
Keith E. Jenkins |
Keith
Jenkins is the Director of Recreational Sports and
Assistant Dean of Students at Sam Houston State University
in Huntsville, Texas. He has held that position since1989.
Prior to coming to SHSU, Keith was employed by Northwestern
University in Illinois as the Associate Director of Recreation
for five years. He holds an AA degree from Schreiner College
and both a Bachelors and Masters degree from the University
of North Texas. He is currently pursuing his doctorate
in Higher Education Leadership.
Keith
has been actively involved in NIRSA related activities
and committees both in Region IV and in Region III while
at Northwestern. In addition, he has led and participated
in student-lead on workshops, state conferences, and
many local initiatives. He has attended both the National
School of Sports Management and the National Executive
Development Institute and found both to be extremely
rewarding.
When
not at work, he enjoys spending time with his two kids
ages 11 and 12. His favorite interest and hobbies include
woodworking, golf, fishing, and traveling.
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Candidate for
Region IV
Vice-President
James W. (Jimmy) Pitre
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Jimmy
Pitre takes great pride in his relationship with the
National Intramural Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA)
for the past twenty-four years. Having been a charter
member of Louisiana Colleges Intramural Recreational Sports
Association (LCIRSA) since 1980, his roles in these organizations
have been varied and enjoyable to say the least.
He
has been a Rec Sports Director for twenty-four years
with his responsibilities growing each year. He coordinates
and manages all campus recreational activities and usage
of facilities such as the Recreational Complex, outdoor
tennis courts, playing fields, and intramural sports.
He also advises and directs the Student Union Board
and Student Union Annex while also managing fiscal operations
of the recreational facilities and student union, reflecting
a budget of over $1,000,000.
As
a professional member of NIRSA, he has served on the
following committees:
Region VI Vice President Selection Committee, Member
Drive/Fee Collection Committees for National Committee,
Nominations and Elections Committee (two terms), National
Host Committee, and State Director.
Being
a charter member of LCIRSA for twenty-three years, he
has served in many positions and roles: President, Vice
President, Chairman of Marketing Committee, Finance
Committee, Rules Committee, Tournament Host, and Protest
Committee. He was also the recipient of the LCIRSA Honor
Award in 1995. In the community he has served both the
city and parish on many committees dealing with the
youth, recreation, and charitable needs. He is currently
serving as President of the Calcasieu Parish School
Board which is an elected position.
With
all of his experience, knowledge, and enthusiasm, he
humbly requests your support and vote to be your next
Region IV Vice-President.
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FOR POSITION STATEMENT |--- |
Candidate for
Region VI
Vice-President
Catherine Cramp |
Catherine
Cramp is an Assistant Director of Recreational Sports
at Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo. During
her time at Cal Poly, she has managed the Aquatics, Front
Line Services, Memberships, Staff Development and Training
programs. Her current responsibilities include management
of the Collegiate Sport Program and Public Relations,
Marketing and Outreach. She is also a part-time lecturer
for the Natural Resources Management Department teaching
Facilities Management and Recreational Sports Programming.
Catherine
holds a Master’s Degree from the University of
Illinois, Champaign and an undergraduate degree from
California State University, Long Beach.
Catherine
has been an active NIRSA member for the last 12 years
and has attended numerous conferences and presented
on the state, regional and national level. She has served
on various committees and chaired the Student Leadership
& Academic Awards Committee. Presently, she is serving
on the Sport Clubs and Student Professionals Committees.
Catherine
recently rolled out the “Rec Review”…a
comprehensive magazine devoted to recreation, physical
activity, and fitness at Cal Poly. This publication,
which circulates to a 17,000 student/faculty/staff population
covers a wide range of topics from healthy eating, fitness
techniques, and program information. She has generated
additional revenue through the development of an advertising
program as well as programmatic sponsorship from surrounding
companies.
Catherine’s
passion involves the entrepreneurial spirit in the recreational
sports setting. Her enthusiasm stems from the students
and colleagues with whom she works. She is highly dedicated
to the development and raising the level of professionalism
in our field from students to colleagues. She continues
to strive for excellence in herself as well as those
in the profession.
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FOR POSITION STATEMENT |--- |
Candidate for
Region VI
Vice-President
Thomas Kirch |
Tom
Kirch has been a member of the NIRSA for 24 years.
His NIRSA service includes membership on a variety of
committees including Finance, Honor Award, and Conference
Program, and has presented numerous times at state, regional,
and national conferences. Tom has co-hosted the Region
VI conference and several Oregon/Washington state workshops.
He served on the Board and was a Faculty member for the
School of Recreational Sports Management, was Oregon State
Director, and co-authored the NIRSA Space Standards for
Indoor Facilities.
Tom
is the recipient of the NIRSA Service Award, has been
awarded the Region VI Regional Award of Merit, and participated
in the NIRSA Neighborhood Summits. He is a graduate
of both the School of Recreational Sport Management
and two Executive Institutes.
Tom
has been the Director of Recreational Sports at Oregon
State University since 1986. Previously, he held positions
of Sport Clubs Coordinator, Facility Manager, and Assistant
Director at the University of Washington. He has a Bachelor
Degree from the University of Oregon and a Masters of
Science from Puget Sound University. He is a graduate
faculty member in the OSU School of Education, in which
he teaches and advises in the College Student Service
Administration Program. He also serves on the Student
Affairs Leadership Team.
Tom
values and strongly supports the role the NIRSA plays
in the educational and professional development of its
members. The networking and relationships formed within
the profession has been a cornerstone to the success
of the Association, and Tom will continue to nurture
and enhance these opportunities when and wherever possible.
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FOR POSITION STATEMENT |--- |
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