Section 3. Nominations, Elections and Ballots.

No person may be a candidate in a Club election who has not been nominated in accordance with these bylaws and who is not a member in good standing of the Club. The Board of Governors shall choose a Nominating Committee not later than March 1 of each even numbered year. The Committee shall consist of five members from different areas of the U.S.A., all members in good standing, no more than two of whom may be members of the current Board of Governors. The Board shall name a chairman for the Committee. The Nominating Committee may hold meetings and conduct its business by mail, facsimile, teleconference or videoconference provided that the communications follow the guidelines established in Article III, section 2 above.

(a) The Nominating Committee shall nominate, from among the eligible members of the Club, one candidate for each office and for each position on the Board of Governors and shall procure the acceptance of each nominee so chosen. The Committee should consider geographical representation of the membership on the Board to the extent that it is practicable to do so. The Committee, not later than June 15 next following, shall then submit its slate of candidates to the Recording Secretary, who shall have said report published in the following Newsletter, so that additional nominations may be made by the members if they so desire.

(b) Additional nominations of eligible members may be made by written petition signed by five members in good standing and accompanied by the written acceptance of each such additional nominee signifying his or her willingness to be a candidate and a brief resume outlining the nominee’s qualifications. The Recording Secretary must receive such nominations from members not later than September 15 next following. No person shall be a candidate for more than one position.

(c) If no valid additional nominations are received by the Recording Secretary on or before September 15, the Nominating Committee’s slate shall be declared elected effective January 1 by means of the Recording Secretary casting a single vote for the election of the unopposed slate. No further balloting will be required.

(d) If one or more valid additional nominations are received by the Recording Secretary on or before September 15, the Recording Secretary (or an independent professional firm designated by the Board) shall, on or before October 15, mail to each member in good standing a ballot listing all of the nominees for each position in alphabetical order, with the names of the states in which they reside, together with a blank envelope and a return envelope addressed to the Recording Secretary (or designated professional firm) marked “Ballot.” So that the ballots may remain secret, each voter, after marking their ballot, shall seal it in the blank envelope that in turn shall be placed in the second envelope addressed to the Recording Secretary (or designated professional firm). Each voting member shall then sign the second envelope, print their name and mail to the Recording Secretary or designated professional firm.

(e) Ballots to be valid must be received by the Secretary (or independent professional firm designated by the Board) no later than November 15. Ballots shall be counted by three inspectors of election who are members in good standing and neither members of the current Board nor candidates on the ballot. However, the Board may designate an independent professional firm to send, receive and count the ballots. The inspectors of election (or designated professional firm) shall check the returns against the list of members whose dues are paid for the current year prior to opening the outer envelopes and removing the blank envelopes, and shall certify the eligibility of the voters as well as the results of the voting which shall be announced in the next issue of the Club newsletter.