Each year AWHONN holds elections for Section Chairs and Secretary/Treasurers in qualified Sections.  An open call announcement goes out all affected Sections in the spring of that year looking for interested members to apply. Additionally, many Sections form Section Nominating Committees to aide in the recruitment of volunteers.

SECTION OVERVIEW

Sections have responsibility for program, membership and leadership development within the section in support of AWHONN’s mission and strategic priorities. Program development includes continuing education based on the women’s health, obstetric and neonatal education needs of the members; participating in legislative and regulatory activity, domestically at the state level and the national level; encouraging research activities; and participating in national AWHONN initiatives. Sections support development of new chapters and enhancement of existing chapters and identify and develop leaders, provide opportunities to network, develop leadership skills and experience and plan for leadership succession.

DUTIES OF SECTION CHAIR

  • Preside (if present) at all section meetings and meetings of the Section Coordinating Team
  • Serve as chair of the Section Coordinating Team;
  • Coordinate section activities and monitor chapter activities;
  • Provide leadership to enable the section to perform core program and fiscal functions as defined by the AWHONN Board of Directors;
  • Provide for orientation and recognition of section and chapter leaders;
  • Submit periodic reports on section program and fiscal activity (including chapter activity) to the AWHONN Board of Directors;
  • Appoint, with Section Coordinating Team approval, other section leaders as necessary to carry out the functions of the section;
  • Perform all other duties usually associated with the office of chair;
  • Ensure section compliance with AWHONN requirements and policies; and
  • Serve as Section Nominating Committee chair in year following term as section chair.

DUTIES OF SECTION SECRETARY TREASURER

  • Assist the section chair;
  • Preside at section meetings in the absence of the section chair;
  • Ensure meetings are conducted according to Roberts’ Rules and keep the minutes of all meetings of the section;
  • Manage all funds and securities of the section, including funds from chapters, and deposits all monies in the name of AWHONN – [Section Name] at headquarters as designated by the AWHONN Board of Directors;
  • Prepare annual section operating budgets (including chapter activity) for Finance Committee review and AWHONN Board of Directors approval;
  • Submit financial reports to headquarters as required; and
  • Perform all other customary duties of the office and other duties as assigned.

CANDIDATE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

As stated in the AWHONN Bylaws, candidates must be full voting members at the time of their application, have been full voting members for at least two years prior to submitting their application and for the duration of their term if elected. Voting members are defined as “All registered nurses with full membership (including Lifetime membership) are voting members of AWHONN.” (E-members, Emeritus and Student members are ineligible.)

For any current elect-leaders considering running for re-election, the bylaws state that elected Section Leaders “may not serve more than two consecutive terms” in the same role (Section Chair or Secretary/Treasurer).  Candidates must live in the state for which you are running for the section elected position. Candidates also “may not simultaneously be a candidate for more than one elected office” position.

SECTIONS WITH ELECTIONS

Check back in spring 2022 for Sections that are hosting elections.

TERMS

  • Terms are three years.
  • The Armed Forces Section term is two years

The process and required documents for a completed application:

All application materials should be submitted electronically via an online form. Please be thorough in completing your application since the application will serve as the basis for creating the Candidate Profile which will appear on the election ballot if you are approved for the slate. The application packet consists of:

For assistance or questions, please contact Nick Stepaniak, Senior Manager, Section and Chapter Development at nstepaniak@awhonn.org.

Section Nominating Committees will review applications and select applicants to appear on the ballot. If a Section is not convening a Nominating Committee, then per the Bylaws, all eligible candidates will be placed on the ballot.

SECTION NOMINATING COMMITTEE OVERVIEW

Members interested in a micro-volunteer opportunity may be interested in volunteering for the Section Nominating Committee.  This is a shorter term opportunity that begins in the later part of January and is a 6 month commitment.  This commitment includes 3-4 meetings during the volunteer term and approximately 1-2 hours a month. Additional information can be found below.

DUTIES OF SECTION NOMINATING COMMITTEE

Structure: Each Section shall have a Section Nominating Committee. The Section Nominating Committee shall consist of the immediate past Section Chair, who shall act as Chair of the Section Nominating Committee, and at least two additional voting members of the Section and shall serve a one-year term. The two additional members shall be selected from among responses to an open call to voting members of the Section and nominations by Section and Chapter leaders. Each Section Nominating Committee shall have an odd number of members. No current member of the Section Nominating Committee may be a candidate for an elected Section leadership position or a member of the Section Coordinating Team. Sections should look to have the Section Nominating Committee assembled no later than April to provide for enough time to work on Section succession. Each member of the Section Nominating Committee, including the immediate Section Chair, shall serve a one-year term.

Duties: The Section Nominating Committee shall prepare a slate for each elected Section leadership position from among responses to an open call to all voting members of the Section and present the slate to the Section Coordinating Team for approval.