Your Vote Counts!  Members of the Toastmasters International Board of Directors are elected by Toastmaster Clubs to set policy, exercise the powers, control the property and conduct the affairs of the corporation.  As a Board member, and as a member of a Committee of the Board, I will have the opportunity to serve as your ambassador and representative of Toastmasters International to the membership and to the public. 

Representatives to the Board of Directors are nominated at regional conference meetings.  Every year each of the eight regions may nominate two candidates to serve on the Board.  One of these candidates is then elected to the Board at the annual business meeting held during the International Convention.   This year, our Region VII conference will be held June 26-28 at the Hilton Washington DC/Rockville -  Executive Meeting Center in Rockville, MD. 

Election Process At The International Convention

Candidates nominated by their respective Regions (there are 8 regions) and Districts not assigned to Regions then advance to the International Convention business meeting which will be held in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, August 13-16, 2008.  At the International business meeting candidates will be elected in a similar process as that at the Region.  Again, each club is encouraged to cast its votes for its candidates either in person or by proxy.

Proxies.  Toastmasters International sends official proxies for regional and international business meetings to each club president of record in March. If a club member will attend the regional conference, the president or secretary should sign the form marked with “R” and give it to the member to present at the regional meeting in exchange for ballots.  If no one will attend from the club, check section 2 to name the district governor as the club’s proxy to cast the club’s two votes and give (mail) the card to the District Governor.  Follow the same procedure for the annual business meeting form marked “A”.  Should the club misplace its proxy, TI can send only one duplicate upon request. 

Keep an eye out for those proxies in March, execute them even if you or a club member plans on attending these business meetings in person - the District Governor will return each proxy given into his/her care, if a club member will attend such meetings.

Give me the opportunity to serve, to motivate and to empower club members and district leaders and to enhance the public image of our organization by giving me your support.    But I need your vote to do so!