Contact: Patricia Lloyd at 325-5116, ext. 1726 or email

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PHASE I - ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA AND RECRUITMENT

Candidates for the Consumer Sector Board seats must meet the following eligibility criteria:

1. Be at least 16 years of age
2. Be a current or past customer of ABC

Or

1. Be a non-customer who self-nominates and who meets the age requirement with income less than 200% of the federal poverty income standard.  In addition, non-customers must submit a petition that reflects the signatures of at least 50 persons who reside within the same geographic area* as the petitioner.

Individuals will be recruited from the following sources (listed in priority order):

1. Programs: Program Directors/Coordinators will be asked to submit the names of consumers who they believe would be good candidates for board membership.  Each program will be asked to submit at least 3 names.
2. CAPTAIN database (limited source):  An invitation letter to an information meeting along with an information packet** will be mailed to all individuals who indicate an interest in sitting on the board.
3. Human Services organizations including churches: Letters of invitation along with an information packet will be mailed to other human service organizations asking that they recommend individuals.  Eligibility criteria will be included.
4. Agency newsletters: An article will be written announcing the election process and encouraging individuals to submit applications.
5. Agency Web Site: Information will be available on the agency's Web Site about eligibility and the election process.

PHASE II - PRE-ELECTION FORUM

An information forum will be scheduled in January/February at 550 E. Main Street.  Individuals who have indicated an interest in joining the board will be invited to attend.  During the meeting, information will be shared with prospective candidates, application forms will be available, and eligibility criteria will be discussed.  Emphasis will be placed on the duties and responsibilities of board members, meeting attendance, committee involvement and support for agency events.  Current board members will be invited.  At the same time, information about committees and advisory councils will be shared and individuals will be encouraged to join if they find they do not meet the eligibility criteria for board membership.

PHASE III - ELECTION FORUM

NOTE:  Prior to the Election Forum, the Governance Committee must meet to certify the slate of candidates.

Each candidate will be asked to speak for two minutes about why they should be elected.  Each candidate will receive a ballot listing the names of the individuals who were approved by the Governance Committee.

Voting Process: (Based on the agency bylaws, only approved candidates are eligible to vote at the forum.) 

1. Each candidate can cast the number of votes equal to the number of available seats except that a candidate can only vote for him/herself once.
2. In the case of only one seat being available, each candidate can vote for self and a second person.
3. Candidates who are in attendance during the election but who do not receive sufficient votes to secure a seat will be placed on a ranking list (in order of highest number of votes) to fill vacancies between annual meetings.

PHASE IV - POST ELECTION:

The Governance Committee shall certify the new members at its next meeting.  Each elected member will be required to attend an orientation session scheduled within one month of election.  In accordance with the Agencies bylaws, each elected Consumer Sector member must attend the Annual Meeting in May of each year to be reseated.

*Geographic Area has been defined by the Governance Committee as 10 Sectors in the City of Rochester plus each municipality surrounding the City.