Greetings to all,

I want to give you a few updates on the nomination process. We have recently streamlined the process to make it easier and less confusing. New initiatives include:

• Individuals indicate their willingness to run by nominating themselves (this ensures interested and motivated nominees).
• Nominees provide the names of up to two individuals who can write supportive letters (This streamlines the previous requirement which required  up to three letters).
• The "use-me-anywhere" feature has been eliminated (nominees will now specify which committee(s) and specific positions interest them).
• Nominees tailor each short response to the position(s) they are interested in.
• Nominees will no longer have the option of having materials be carried over to the next year. With the streamlining changes in the form we will no longer be retaining these materials since the positions will change each year and your responses will change too. Also, when you submit your nomination form you will receive an email containing your responses so you can easily keep those and revise and resubmit next year, same with letters of support. The only thing you will need to keep track of is your own CV which we assume you keep close to your heart and update regularly anyway, so that will be easy to submit.

These small changes are built into an automated e-mail system that is incredibly clear and user-friendly, so you can focus on the most important consideration – what you can do to be part of the AAA leadership! When you participate, it is good for the association, good for you, and great for your vitae.

That said, the AAA Nominations Committee is now seeking nominations for the open positions on the 2012 AAA ballot. AAA members should nominate themselves. This year there will be elections for 18 AAA board and committee positions. (For a complete list of the open positions, click here; for a description of AAA leadership positions, click here.) All nominations must be completed by Tuesday, October 11, 2011.

The Nominations Committee, elected by the AAA membership, is charged with formulating a slate with two candidates for each open position. This slate is then presented to the Executive Board for final approval. The one exception to this procedure is for the positions on the Nominations Committee itself. In this case, it is left to the Executive Board to establish the slate.

I encourage you to look carefully at all of the vacancies, and to nominate yourself for one or more of the open positions. The Nominations Committee always seeks to bring in governance members who have not previously participated, and the AAA committees (other than the Executive Board and the Nominations Committee) provide good opportunities for this.

I am very aware that some people feel disappointed when they go to the trouble of nominating themselves and then they are not used on the slate that year. This means that the Nominations Committee had a large pool of candidates to work with and was not able to include all candidates. The Nominations Committee works diligently to evaluate every candidate objectively, and every year a significant proportion of the committee cycles off, and new members cycle on, representing all of the subdisciplines and varied backgrounds. In reviewing candidates, the Committee members draw on their diverse experience and the materials submitted by each candidate to determine the slates.

Among scientific and scholarly associations, the AAA is unusual in having such an extensive system of elected committees and offices. For this degree of participatory self-governance to work well, it requires that AAA members be willing to stand as candidates and give generously of their time and energies. Please CHECK OUT THE VACANCIES, and if you feel moved to do so, PLEASE INDICATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO RUN BY NOMINATING YOURSELF!

If you have questions or need assistance with the nominations process please contact Kim Baker, the AAA staff professional who supports the Nominations Committee.

All the best,

Debra L. Martin
AAA Secretary and Chair, Nominations Committee