Election rules

Additional Information

TO BE AN OFFICE HOLDER, YOU MUST BE A CURRENT PAID MEMBER (At least one month prior to the election, you must have paid your 2025 membership dues. You can neither attend nor vote if your dues is not current (the last two numeric digits on your membership card must be "26" or you must be a life member).

NOW IS THE TIME TO STEP FORWARD & TAKE AN ACTIVE PART IN THE ACTIVITIES OF YOUR ORGANIZATION. WE WELCOME AND ENCOURAGE ALL INTERESTED PARTIES TO COME FORWARD & PARTICIPATE IN THE ADMINISTRATION & PLANNING OF THE VARIOUS PROGRAMS WE ARE COMMITTED TO PROVIDE EACH YEAR. THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU ARE LIMITED TO THE ACTIVITIES OF THE PAST. WE ARE SURE THAT MANY OF YOU HAVE PROGRESSIVE IDEAS FOR THE FUTURE. WE ASK YOU TO TAKE COMMUNITY SERVICE SERIOUSLY AND DO YOUR SHARE, FOR THE GOOD OF THE COMMUNITY.

OFFICES INCLUDE:

PRESIDENT, WHO STANDS AT THE HELM & GUIDES THE OFFICERS IN THEIR ENDEAVORS

VICE PRESIDENT, WHO DOES A LOT OF THE BEHIND THE SCENES WORK AND STANDS IN FOR THE PRESIDENT, WHEN NEEDED

SECRETARY, WHO RECORDS THE MINUTES OF THE MEETINGS & MAINTAINS MOST OF THE PAPERWORK FOR THE ORGANIZATION

TREASURER, WHO KEEPS THE FINANCIAL RECORDS OF THE ORGANIZATION & DISTRIBUTES PAYMENTS AS REQUIRED

DIRECTORS, WHO BRING NEW IDEAS TO THE TABLE & HELP EXECUTE THEM (should be at least 5 but can be more) THE POSITION OF DIRECTOR IS A 2-YEAR COMMITMENT

HONORARY DIRECTOR, THE OUTGOING PRESIDENT (automatically an honorary director, who can give valuable input from past experience) & OTHER NOTABLE LEADERS OF THE COMMUNITY. An honorary member has no voting privileges unless he/she is also a paid member

AS A TEAM, THIS GROUP WORKS DILIGENTLY TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY & GIVE SUPPORT TO EACH OTHER, MEETING EVERY 4 - 8 WEEKS TO PLAN UPCOMING EVENTS.

IN EXPRESSING YOUR INTEREST IN HOLDING OFFICE, YOU JOIN A DEDICATED GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO CARE ENOUGH ABOUT THEIR COMMUNITY TO COMMIT THEIR EFFORTS FOR THE BETTERMENT OF ALL

IF YOU CANNOT PUT TOGETHER A COMPLETE SLATE OF OFFICERS, OUR ELECTION COMMITTEE MEMBERS WILL BE HONORED TO ASSIST YOU IN FINDING SUITABLE CANDIDATES TO FILL IN YOUR MISSING SLOTS, OR TO MATCH YOU WITH OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES.

MANY OF YOU HAVE GOALS & HOPES FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION, BUT THEY CANNOT BECOME A REALITY WITHOUT YOUR ACTIVE PARTICIPATION.

IF YOU ARE NOT PREPARED TO COMMIT TO A ONE-YEAR COMMITMENT, YOU CAN ALSO VOLUNTEER TO ORGANIZE & RUN ONE EVENT. PLEASE CONTACT ANY OFFICER FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.

COMPLETE SLATE MAY BE SUBMITTED TO THE ELECTION COMMITTEE BY FORWARDING A LIST OF PROSPECTIVE OFFICERS TO:

Election Committee:

Jatinder Sharma: 48 Linden Place, Brookline, MA 02245, (617) 731-3650

Vijay Selhi: Sawyer Street, Medford, MA 02155, (781) 391-2673

Subhash Varshney: 8 Stone Hill Circle, Burlington, MA 01803, (781) 229-2767

Poster announcing UIANE Election 2025 voting details on November 16.

UIA - Election Procedures

The current Executive Board will continue to hold their respective positions till the new committee is elected and up until the end of the calendar year.

The current Executive Board will nominate/select 3 members for the election committee from the Indian community who have held a position either as a director or was a member of the executive board. Any previous members of the election committee will not be selected/elected for 2 terms.

The election committee must be selected at least 3 months prior to the elections. Suggested event is – during the Annual picnic, such nominations can be done.

Prior to the elections:

All members will be informed of the date of elections during the main events and or via WhatsApp notification, Face book and other media.

The aspirant members would submit a slate with the prospective names of members for different positions. All slates must be sent to the election committee 30 days prior to the date of elections.

Individuals can also submit their names for any position by completing a nomination form with a minimum of 3 witnesses/sponsors.

Once submitted, the Slates cannot be altered but can be withdrawn ONE week prior to the elections. Individuals contesting for any position can also withdraw their names ONE week prior to the election.

Individuals or groups will not be allowed to submit the slates or individual names after 30 days have elapsed. No nominations will be allowed on the day of the elections.

The election committee will prepare ballot papers for elections if there were more than ONE slate submitted. If not, voting will be held by open voting.

On Election Day:

The election committee will conduct the meeting on the decided date of election. The election shall be conducted by a secret ballot and a simple majority shall govern.

The quorum for the election meeting shall be at least one third of the voting and present members. If there is no quorum in the election meeting, then the election should be deferred to another date. If the meeting fails to achieve quorum, then election of office bearers should be made through consensus of people present in the election meeting.

If there are more than ONE slates, elections will be held by secret ballot. Attending members will be asked to cast their votes by a pre-prepared ballot paper.

Votes will be counted in the presence of individual representatives of the groups.

Handing over the UIA business charge:

The current board will continue to do UIA business up until the end of the calendar year.

During the first week of the New Year, the power will be transferred to the new elected boards.

All reports, financial statements and any other UIA goods and assets will be handed over to the new board members.