A REMINDER OF WHAT’S HAPPENING:

Every two years, BirdsCaribbean (BC) holds an election for its Board of Directors. 

This year—2024—is an election year, and we need the active participation of our community members! 

Serving on the BirdsCaribbean Board of Directors is a fantastic opportunity to help shape the future of an organization dedicated to conserving the region’s incredible birds and nature. We are a vibrant network and work with many partners throughout the region, including governments, NGOs, educators, tourism interests, communities, students, and more. Our Board is a welcoming, inclusive, and enthusiastic group, eager to bring fresh ideas and diverse perspectives into our leadership. Serving on the Board is a a truly enriching and rewarding experience, and we encourage all interested individuals to consider pursuing a position.

THE CALL FOR NOMINATIONS IS NOW OPEN!

The BirdsCaribbean Nominations Committee is ready to receive nominations. Carefully review the information below before making your nomination.

The nomination period will remain open from now until midnight 30 September. During this time, our community’s goal is to develop the best possible slate of nominees to lead and and grow BirdsCaribbean. 

POSITIONS AVAILABLE FOR NOMINATION

The BirdsCaribbean Board of Directors includes Elected Officers (Executive Officers) and Directors-at-Large.

Executive Officer positions with operational duties include:  President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

Directors-at-Large include one Elected Director and additional Directors appointed directly by the Board (Appointed Directors).

Read more about these operational duties here.

All of the above positions are open for nominations, however, our current slate of Officers are willing and eligible to serve another term. Therefore, we are particularly seeking individuals to join the board in the Elected Director Position and as Appointed Directors.

Additionally, we offer “Assistant to” positions on the Board, including Assistant to the Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. These roles were created by the board to mentor potential future Officers. They provide a valuable opportunity for younger members to learn about the organization, develop leadership skills, and gain experience under the guidance of current officers. Please note that  these Assistant positions are not automatically succession roles; individuals must stand for election if they wish to become an Officer.  Assistants will primarily be selected from the At-Large Directors.

If successful in becoming a Director-at-Large, the Board may invite one or more of these Directors to serve in  an “Assistant to” position. Note that any persons that wish to serve as an Officer can also be nominated.

IMPORTANT LINGO

• Nominees: Individuals who have been nominated to stand for election
• Nominator:  The person submitting the nomination
• Seconder: An additional person supporting the nominator’s choice

WHO CAN NOMINATE AND BE NOMINATED:

Any individual, sponsored, honorary, or life member in good standing* may be nominated and may also nominate or act as a “seconder” (i.e., provide a second endorsement) for a nominee. Nominators must ensure that their nominee is willing to stand for election, and all nominations require a seconder. 

Note — If you are unsure of your membership status, please contact BirdsCaribbean’s Administrative Assistant, Delores Kellman (Delores Kellman@BirdsCaribbean.org). You can easily renew your membership or join BirdsCaribbean. Contact us if you would like to apply for a sponsored membership.

*The Nominations Committee will thoroughly vet each nominee to ensure they are suitable for candidacy.

DESIRED TRAITS FOR NOMINEES:

• 

  A genuine commitment and enthusiasm to BirdsCaribbean’s mission

• Strong leadership abilities and the capacity to work effectively within a team
• Active membership status (if you haven’t paid your dues for 2024, now is a good time!)
• Willingness to commit to a two-year term from January 2025 to December 2026, with the possibility of renewal
• Officers may need to dedicate approximately 8 to 12 hours per month to Board-related work, while Directors should expect to commit an average of 4 to 8 hours per month. The time commitment varies throughout the year.
• Relevant qualifications for the position (please review the Terms of Reference for each role)
• Prior experience on a Board of Directors is a plus.
• We are especially looking for persons with expertise in development and fundraising, environmental law, and finance and accounting

Any BirdsCaribbean member in good standing can nominate any other member in good standing. All members are encouraged to actively seek out potential nominees for elected or appointed positions. We encourage you to open up dialogue with individuals you believe would be valuable additions to the BirdsCaribbean Board,  encouraging them to consider running for election. 

Note: The Nominations Committee will be considering the Board’s need for diversity and representation when developing the list of candidates for election.

READY TO NOMINATE? 

Please complete the online nomination form with the following information:

• Nominee’s name, address, country (ies) of citizenship and residence
• Position the nominee is standing for (open positions include President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Directors-at-Large)
• Evidence of the nominee’s willingness to stand for election. This should be a brief statement (about 100-200 words) from the nominee about their qualifications for the position and how they plan to  contribute if elected. 
• Name and contact information of a “seconder” (i.e., another person that agrees with this nomination), who must also be a member in good standing. 

The Nominations Committee will review all submissions to ensure eligibility and completeness of the nomination forms. 

 Complete the Nomination Form Here

You may nominate more than one individual. Please complete a separate nomination form for each individual and each position they are being nominated for. 

Deadline: Nominations must be submitted by 11:59 PM, 30 September 2024.

ELECTIONS TIMELINE

1 Sept – 30 September: Nominations can be submitted to the Nominations Committee.

1 October: Nominations close. The Nominations Committee reviews all submissions and finalizes a slate of candidates to present to the Board for approval.

1 November: The President announces the slate of candidates and provides the link to electronic ballots for BirdsCaribbean members.

1 November – 15 December: All BirdsCaribbean members should vote during this time. 

20 December: The President will announce the election results.

31 December: Terms of Office for outgoing Board members conclude.

1 January 2025: Terms of Office for new and returning Board members begin.