The first-ever election for two at-large Board Members of the Drupal Association was just completed with the selection of Donna Benjamin (KatteKrab) of Australia and Steve Purkiss (stevepurkiss) of the United Kingdom. The two new board members were elected by members of the Drupal Community and then ratified today by the Drupal Association board. They join the current eight Board of Directors of the non-profit Drupal Association in helping to establish policy, hire and manage an executive director, review and approve the budget and financial reports, and participate in fundraising.
Voting is now open for the 2012 election of at large directors of the Drupal Association. Two directors will be elected from among the ten candidates.
About the Drupal Association elections
When we designed a new governance structure for the Drupal Association last year, we decided that most of the board is selected through a nominating committee with the goal to carefully balance many factors like needed skills and geographical and sector representation. However, it was also deemed important that we have directors chosen directly by the Drupal community to make sure that the community is always well-represented.
We're holding our first open community elections! Two community "at large" directors will be elected to the Drupal Association Board of Directors, and YOU can get to say who they are!
Elections for at large Drupal Association elections are kicking into high gear with two all candidates meetings this week before voting opens Friday.
Election candidates will participate in all candidates meetings are scheduled over the next two days (Wed., Thurs. or Fri., depending on your location). The first meeting, intended to work for people in the Asia and the Pacific, is scheduled for 01:00 UTC on Thursday. That's 5 PM PST on Wednesday for those in the US and Canada.
The second all candidates meeting at 17:00 UTC Thursday is timed for participants in Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
Then on Friday voting will open. Details on voting will be posted to association.drupal.org.
The list of candidates for the Drupal Association's 2012 elections of "at large" directors is now posted. Voting is scheduled to begin February 3rd and will be announced on association.drupal.org.
Please use the links on the candidates page to view each candidate's profile. You may ask questions of individual candidates by posting comments on their profiles.
To open discussion or pose questions of all candidates, please use the Drupal association group at groups.drupal.org. If opening a new discussion, please preface the title with "At large elections:" so it's easily recognized.
We're also working on scheduling all candidates meetings and will post details to the Drupal association group.
Do you know someone who would be a great community representative on the Drupal Association board? Are you that someone yourself, but you've hesitated to put yourself forward? Now's the time!
Nominations so far for the at large positions have been, shall we say, a bit slow coming in. So we're extending the nominating period. Nominations are now open until Jan. 29th, 2012.
Come one, come all! As of January 18, nominations are open for the 2012 elections of two "at large" directors of the Drupal Association. Update: nominations extended to Jan. 29th.
The at large directors are intended to represent the Drupal community. Specifics of the election were decided through a community-based process with participation by dozens of Drupal community members. More details are in the proposal that was approved by the Drupal Association board.
Who can vote?
Voting is open to all individuals who have a drupal.org account by the time the elections begin and who have logged in at least once in the past year. These individuals' accounts will be added to the voters list on association.drupal.org and they will have access to the voting.
Nominations are currently open for two "at-large" directors of the Drupal Association. The purpose of the two at-large board positions is to give a broader community input into the board. Nominations close January 29th at midnight UTC.
What's involved with being a Drupal Association director?
The board directors of the Drupal Association are responsible for setting policies for the organization, including aims and objectives. Directors are expected to contribute around five hours per week and attend four in-person meetings per year (financial assistance is available if required). See the original elections announcement and documents linked there as well as the elections overview for more details.
Who can run?
There are no restrictions on who can run, and you don't need anyone to nominate you.
The Drupal Association is about to hold its first open elections of "at-large" (community-elected) board members--and your help is needed. Since these are community positions, we felt that it was important to get community buy-in to the process used. We need YOUR input on these suggestions to help come up with a fair and equitable voting process.
We're looking both for candidates and for input into the election process. Read on to find out how you can get involved.
Background
This discussion is meant to create a process for electing the two at-large members of the US-based 501c3 Drupal Association Board.
Keen observers may have noted various signs since the last Drupal Association elections that the organization is growing up.
Maybe the earliest hint came right after the elections to the General Assembly. The announcement of the election results was written and posted by George DeMet, who was himself one of those elected just one day earlier.
If the early Association leaned on an existing inner circle, change was afoot.
Keen observers may have noted various signs since the last Drupal Association elections that the organization is growing up.
February 10 is the deadline to apply to be a permanent member or board member of the Drupal Association.
Compared to last year, there are relatively few applications and even fewer for board positions. Bringing in energetic and visionary new members is an important part of the Association continuing to build strength and capacity.
If you're considering applying, now's the time!
Here are some pointers on why you might apply, how to do so, and what to expect.
