Officer Terms?

Client Question:

Can you tell me how other associations have their officer terms set – are they staggered or all in alignment so they are up for election at the same time?

Glenn’s Response:

The object of officer terms is to balance institutional memory with fresh thinking. There are a variety of formulae used to accomplish this. Two year terms are not uncommon in charitable and trade associations. Usually the officer slate in such organizations is nominated by a governance committee and is selected from the Board by the Board.

Where a popular election of officers is used, usually the entire slate is elected at one time and the entire slate stands for election at one time. In such instances there is usually at least an understanding that board membership is required to run for office or a cultural expectation that officers move up the ladder.

We find that where popular election (member vote) is employed and two year terms are preferred to provide for coherency of direction, electing a chair elect (or vice chair or president elect of vice president ) who will automatically move into the chair position and then into the immediate past chair position is the most common practice. Some organizations begin the ladder with election to a secretary treasurer position; but as associations move away from having a member treasurer this practice is becoming less common.