UPDATE: Deadline for submitting nominations has been extended until 11:59 p.m. Wednesday!
Link to 2017 AAJA-LA Board Nomination for Candidacy Form
We are writing in hopes that you will consider taking a leadership role in AAJA-Los Angeles as part of the 2017 chapter board. We seek thoughtful, creative thinkers who are bursting with ideas and possess the passion and energy to implement them. As a chapter, we provide scholarships, sponsor internships, host workshops and put on our popular Trivia Bowl fundraiser.
If you are ready to serve our membership of more than 150 professionals and students, we are ready to partner with you. The deadline to submit your name for this year’s ballot is 11:59 p.m. Pacific time Sunday, Nov. 27 WEDNESDAY, Nov. 30.
The following positions are open:
— President (one-year term)
— Senior Vice President of Programming (one-year term)
— Vice President of Community Engagement (one-year term)
— Vice President of Career Development (one-year term)
— Treasurer (two-year term)
— Student Representative (two seats available, appointed, one-year term)
— Board Member (two-year term)
Please read below for details on the open positions, job duties and the election timetable. Then find a link to the self-nomination form.
Questions? Please email: aajalalosangeles@gmail.
Best,
Elizabeth Chou
AAJA-LA Secretary 2016-2017
Belinda Low
AAJA-LA Treasurer 2015-2016
JOB DUTIES
PRESIDENT: The President shall be the chief executive officer of the corporation and shall, subject to the control of the board, have general supervision, direction and control of the business and officers of the corporation. S/he shall preside at all meetings of the membership and at all meetings. S/he will be the chief spokesperson and advocate of the local chapter, recruit members, direct organization of chapter events, oversee fundraising activities, and speak at public engagements when asked.
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF PROGRAMMING: The Senior Vice President of Programming shall serve as the point person for all programming, events and fundraisers taken on by the chapter. This person shall be responsible for ensuring that those events are valuable, relevant, and responsive to the needs of chapter members.
Specifically, the Senior Vice President will be responsible for ensuring that AAJA-LA meets its mandate to hold at least one educational program per year, and one fundraiser per year. This person will lead the brainstorming, development and execution of such events, and may also elect to develop networking/social programming.
AAJA-LA traditionally fulfills its fundraising obligation through a Trivia Bowl. The Vice President of Programming will act as the chief administrator of this event, working with the rest of the board to secure sponsorships and execute the event itlself.
In the absence or disability of the President, the Senior Vice President shall perform all the duties of the president, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of, and be subject to, all the restrictions upon, the president.
All vice presidents shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as from time to time may be prescribed for them respectively by the board under the AAJA bylaws. The vice presidents shall recruit and encourage journalists to join AAJA, help lead the organization on planning of chapter events and act as top advocates for the chapter.
VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: The Vice President of Community Engagement shall act as the primary intermediary between AAJA-LA’s board and the membership it serves. Specifically, this Vice President will be responsible for maintaining constant contact with the chapter membership through posts and updates on the chapter website. As such, s/he will act as the point person for the website, and will work in conjunction with the President and Secretary to monitor the chapter’s email inbox and ensure the board responds to queries from the community in a timely, thorough manner. The Vice President of Community Engagement will also be responsible for new-member recruitment and helping ensure the chapter retains existing members. This Vice President will receive and process monthly updates on membership from AAJA National and will conduct targeted outreach to help ensure the chapter is meeting its members’ needs.
As stated above, all vice presidents shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as from time to time may be prescribed for them respectively by the board under the AAJA bylaws. They shall recruit and encourage journalists to join AAJA, help lead the organization on planning of chapter events and act as top advocates for the chapter.
VICE PRESIDENT OF CAREER DEVELOPMENT: The Vice President of Career Development shall administer the chapter’s scholarship, internship, stipend and fellowship programs. These programs involve reaching out to media organizations, organization, announcing the opportunities, judging applications as part of a team, awarding funds, and helping recipients engage with the chapter. In partnership with the rest of the board, this Vice President will help decide which programs the chapter will fund, and at what levels.
As stated above, all vice presidents shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as from time to time may be prescribed for them respectively by the board under the AAJA bylaws. They shall recruit and encourage journalists to join AAJA, help lead the organization on planning of chapter events and act as top advocates for the chapter.
TREASURER: The treasurer shall keep and maintain, or cause to be kept and maintained in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, adequate and correct accounts of the properties and business transactions of the corporation, including accounts of its assets, liabilities, receipts, disbursements, gains, losses, capital and earnings. Twice a year the treasurer shall make sure to turn in the chapter financial report to the national treasurer by the due date specified. The books of accounts shall be at all times open to inspection by any board member. S/he will advocate for the chapter, help plan chapter events and help recruit members.
BOARD MEMBERS: A board member will be informed about AAJA’s mission, services, policies, and programs; serve on committees or task forces and offer to take on special assignments. S/he will advocate for the chapter, help plan chapter events, help recruit members, and participate in fundraising activities. (All AAJA-LA board members are expected to take an active leadership role in the planning/execution of one or more large events.)
[Appointed] STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES: The student representative is an appointed, voting board position that is open to student members of AAJA-LA. Although this is not an elected office, the Board of Directors requests nominations for consideration of this position. Outside of voting, the expectations and requirements for the student representative are the same as other board members.
BALLOT AND ELECTION BASICS
Expectations and requirements for all officers and board members: The officers and board members will do their best to attend quarterly board and general membership meetings. All terms will begin Jan. 1, 2017. One-year terms will expire on Dec. 31, 2017; two-year terms will expire on Dec. 31, 2018. Additional expectations and requirements are to pay dues, be prompt and responsive to email correspondence, help plan and produce Trivia Bowl and other AAJA-LA events, lead or serve on at least one committee, lead or organize at least one chapter event per year and participate in fundraising activities.
For nominees: Please provide your contact information, a photo, a brief bio (50 words maximum) and a brief description (50 words maximum) of why you would like to run for office. You may submit your candidacy information using this form by no later than 11:59 p.m. Pacific time Sunday, Nov. 27, 2016 Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016.
Only current full, gold or platinum members of AAJA-LA are eligible to run or vote for the open positions; all nominations are subject to eligibility verification.
Candidates may nominate themselves or be nominated by any other AAJA-LA member in good standing. Members who nominate others for an office should verify in their nomination that the nominee has confirmed his or her willingness to stand for election.
Those elected to new terms will serve with incumbent board members whose two-year terms will continue until the end of 2017:
Secretary: Elizabeth Chou
National Board Representative: Matt Stevens
National Board Representative: Frank Shyong
2016-2017 Board Member: Gita Amar
2016-2017 Board Member: Melissa Leu