Thread by @JudeLucens

In case others had the same questions I did with regard to the RWA recall petition and election, I have some answers from Leslie Scantlebury, who is managing it.

Transcribed in-thread below for those with screen-readers.

Shared with permission. Questions included for context.

Leslie, I know you must be very busy, but I have some questions.

1) Will you also be carrying out all the duties of the ED with regard to a subsequent recall election, or just with regard to the petition?

For example, I understand from the OP that an "outside elections agency" will be managing the election. Will this elections agency report the results directly to the Board--and if, so, will they report to one particular board member or to all board members simultaneously? ....

...Or will it report the results to the ED or to you to pass onto the Board?

2) If you find the recall petition has insufficient verified member signatures to justify a recall election, will the petition be double-checked by an external agency or auditor to confirm this?

I do not suggest this to impugn you, or to cast doubt on your work, but only because it would be reassuring for membership if there was disinterested confirmation that the petition was not in order, if that is the case.

3) Will memberships be counted as valid if a signatory was a member of RWA at the time of signing the petition, or only if they were a member at the time of receipt of the petition?

I see some members on social media saying that, when they signed the petition, they were still members, but their membership has since ended for one reason or another.

4) Similarly, when counting votes in the recall election, what criteria would be used for membership? A member might vote in the recall election, but then their membership might lapse before the votes are counted.

Jude Lucens

Hi Jude,

To answer your questions:

1) Yes, I'll carry out the duties of the ED with a recall election as well. The results will be sent directly to me.

2) This is a financial matter that would require Board approval. If this occurs, I would seek Board approval to arrange for an outside party to verify the petition.

3) Membership is counted as valid as of the origination date of the petition which is 12/29/2019. I am verifying membership for anyone listed on the petition whose membership may have been canceled but who have requested reinstatement.

4) Only general members in good standing will be able to vote in a recall election. Once a member has voted, the vote is counted even if the member lapses afterward.

Thanks,

Leslie

Thanks very much for this, Leslie. It's very helpful and also reassuring.

Once you have the results of the recall election (should there be one) will you send those results directly to the membership, or will the results be reported to the Board in the first instance, which will then inform the membership?

If the results have to be reported to the Board to be passed on, is there one or more particular Board member/s who will be informed and pass it on to the rest of the Board and to the membership, or will the entire Board be informed simultaneously?

Thanks again!
Jude Lucens

I'll follow policy regarding recall election results notification. I've copied the sections below.

18.7.8. The ED shall announce the results of the recall vote by telephone to the named Director and to the Board, and by certified letters sent to the named Director, to all members of the Board and to all of the official contacts for the petitioners...

...within 2 days after the ballot return deadline.

18.7.9. Public announcements of the results shall be made in the RWR, eNotes, the Members Only section of the RWA website and by other communication channels normally employed for RWA announcements.

Leslie

/end