Election of the NAQC Board of Directors

Update on the Election of NAQC’s Board of Directors

In a week, NAQC will conduct its 2013 election of the Board of Directors by the membership. This email contains information on the election process and the nominees standing for election in this exciting event.

Who is eligible to vote? All organizational members of NAQC are eligible to cast votes in board elections. A single designated representative for each organization will cast a vote on behalf of her/his organization. If you have an individual membership and would like to upgrade to an organizational membership, please contact NAQC at NAQC@naquitline.org.

When and how will the election take place? The election will take place from May 31-June 14, using an online voting tool called VOTENET. Each organizational representative will receive an email with a link to the Votenet portal, a username and a password. All votes must be cast by June 14 at 5 p.m. ET.

How many positions are open on the Board? Currently, NAQC has three positions open on the Board of Directors.

How many nominees are standing for election? There are five nominees for the three open positions. Each eligible voter will be asked to vote for up to three nominees.

Who are the nominees? NAQC is honored to have five exceptional nominees for this year’s election. Detailed information on each candidate’s experience, relationship to NAQC and vision for NAQC can be viewed by clicking on her/his name:

Chris Anderson - Program Director, California Smokers’ Helpline (CA)
Michael Eriksen, Sc.D. - Professor and Director, Institute of Public Health at Georgia State University (GA)
Jeannette Noltenius, MA, PhD- National Director, National Latino Tobacco Control Network (NLTCN), Latinos Saludables Sin Tabaco (IN, DC)
Tracey Strader, MSW - Executive Director, Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (OK)
Kathryn Kahler Vose - Managing Director, GALEWiLL DESIGN (formerly YELLOWBRICKROAD) (VA)

Who currently serves on the NAQC Board? For a list of members, click here.

What qualities does NAQC seek in Board members? During the next few years quitlines will experience many changes in the populations served, technology used, and approaches to sustainability. NAQC seeks candidates for the board who are innovative "difference makers” and who can help guide us through the changes ahead. Candidates for the board should have senior level experience, possess leadership skills, be strategic thinkers and display professional and collegial demeanor. Board members do not represent their employer or any specific constituency, but instead work together to create a global vision for NAQC. The board seeks members who are committed to NAQC’s mission and values, contribute diverse viewpoints and cultural experiences, and have expertise in some of the areas listed below:

• Finance: The Board is responsible for financial oversight of the organization, and seeks candidates with expertise in this area. Currently, there are no CPAs or MBAs on the Board.
• Understanding issues related to organizational sustainability for NAQC: Ensuring sustainability of the organization is a key responsibility of the Board. NAQC seeks candidates who offer strategic leadership in fundraising and working with donor and/or grant-making organizations.
• Policy governance of a not-for-profit organization: Experience on a non-profit board is extremely helpful to candidates. NAQC follows a policy governance model developed by John Carver which focuses on business issues and strategic leadership. The Board does not focus on program development; this issue is delegated to staff.
• Operations of a quitline: NAQC seeks candidates with experience in the operations of quitlines.
• Addressing priority populations: Addressing disparities in health is a key objective for NAQC. We seek candidates with an expertise and background in cultural knowledge and experience in reaching priority populations.
• Making quitlines sustainable: Ensuring quitline sustainability is a key objective for NAQC. Recently, government funding for quitlines and tobacco control programs has been decreasing. NAQC seeks candidates who offer strategic leadership on new approaches to sustainability planning for quitlines, including public-private partnerships and integration of quitlines in health systems.

Does the Board have terms and term limits? Board members are elected for a term of three-years and can be re-elected once. Directors may not serve for more than two consecutive terms. Partial terms of more than one year count as a full term.

What is the time commitment? Do Board members receive payment? The annual time commitment for board members includes four one-and-a-half day meetings (plus travel and preparation time) and approximately 30 hours of additional time for committee work. Board members receive no payment other than travel reimbursement.

How are officers elected? The Board members elect their officers each year, no later than by August 1^st following the election.

How will NAQC notify the membership of election results? Wayne Tormala, Board Chair, will announce the election results in August via a NAQC communication.

If I have technical problems with voting, who should I contact? For technical issues, contact Natalia Gromov at NGromov@NAQuitline.org or 800-398-5489 ext. 701.

How can I receive additional information about the election process? For additional information or questions, please contact Penny Thomsen, Nomination Committee Chair, at board@naquitline.org or Linda Bailey, President and CEO, at lbailey@naquitline.org (or 800-398-5489 ext. 706).