[CyberTOPS] elections - wt recorder - guidelines?

[Lori - cyberTOPS Owner]

I am of two minds regarding your questions about weight recorders.

First, while I agree that it's good to keep a WR in place if she/he is 
willing because the members trust him/her, it's also good to have other 
people know how to do the WR job.  My chapter is very small, and I have 
been WR for years and years, and I worry that someday when I decide to 
move away or leave the chapter that no one will have any idea about how to 
do the job.

As for stipulations about internet, I don't think we can make that 
stipulation as a chapter unless we are willing to help pay for it from 
chapter funds.  It's not a requirement of TOPS for officers to have 
internet.  If the leader doesn't have internet, the email address for 
another officer could be given to get the information from the AC. 
Nothing confidential is ever sent that way from AC's.

I also don't believe you can say someone can't be WR because they have 
kids at home.  If someone is going to be too lax with the records and 
allow someone to look at them, it won't matter if they have one teenager 
or ten.  If that is a concern (that the person is disorganized and may not 
be careful with protecting the records), then that should be communicated 
to the leader before he/she makes the appointment.

The appointment of WR is up to the leader, but is to be done with input 
from the rest of the chapter.  I always think it's a good idea for people 
in the chapter to put forward who they feel comfortable having as WR to 
the Leader, and the leader using that to make her decision.



Bev - BadgerTOPS wrote:
> With elections coming up - we meet Monday which is March 1st - so only a
> couple more days...
> Our area captain says she sends communications electronically so needs an
> email address. Does your chapter have any stipulations or requirements for
> officers (leader/co-leader or otherwise) to have internet access? We do have
> members that do not have internet. Personally, I think it would do an
> injustice to the chapter to have an officer without inet access?
> Are there any guidelines for the new leader when they appoint a weight
> recorder?  From my experience, I think longevity is a good thing - if a weight
> recorder is willing to continue it shouldn't be changed. The members trust the
> weight recorded and I would think it would be of benefit to not have a new
> person in that position with every change in leadership? Another benefit, in
> my opinion, is that the wt. recorder not be from a large household - where
> teenagers or even spouse might gain access to the records?  Would be
> interested in other experiences, opinions.
> Here is the info from the tops rules regarding elections:
> 7. ELECTION OF OFFICERS
> The election of officers shall be by written secret ballot.
> Nominations for the officers come from the floor and at least
> two nominees for each office must be presented. Members
> may submit a letter of willingness to hold office and state
> which office, or be present at time of election. The nominee
> receiving the greatest number of votes for each office shall be
> named elected. No absentee ballots are cast. To vote or hold
> office, a person must be a member in an established chapter
> at least thirty days. The Officers Chart L-001 must be completed
> and sent to the Coordinator immediately after the
> election of officers and before the newly elected officers are
> installed. Coordinator will notify chapter if any officer is
> ineligible.
> a. An oral notice of elections shall be given at the meeting
> preceding the election. For newly organized chapters, no
> notice is required.
> b. Annual election of chapter officers shall be held the first
> meeting of March. New officers shall assume their responsibilities
> at the first regular meeting in April.
> c. If the Leader vacates the office and the Co-Leader chooses
> not to become Leader, an election is held for the Leader. Form
> L-023 indicating Change of Leader must be forwarded to
> Coordinator immediately.
> d. A special election shall be held whenever the office of
> Co-Leader, Secretary or Treasurer is made permanently vacant.
> e. Teen and preteen members who are a part of an adult
> chapter may not serve as an elected officer or be appointed
> Weight Recorder or Assistant Weight Recorder.
> _______________________________________________
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