ONS Board Establishes Process for Officer Election, Begins Charter for Leadership Committee

March 13, 2018

By Jean Rosiak, DNP, RN, AOCNP®, CBCN®, Director-at-Large

On its January conference call, the ONS Board of Directors completed work that will guide ONS leadership for the future.

Officer Election Process

The Board finalized the process for election of the next ONS treasurer this spring and secretary in spring 2019. The bylaw changes in 2017 updated the process for selection of the executive members of the ONS Board, with the president-elect, treasurer, and secretary elected by vote of the serving directors. Laura Fennimore, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, is the first president-elect selected through this process; she will become president after Sue Schneider’s, PhD, RN, AOCN®, FAAN, term ends at the 43rd Annual ONS Congress in Washington, DC, this May.  

The next treasurer will be selected in March from continuing and newly elected directors-at-large who apply for the position. Interested board members will submit a letter of intent and include a statement explaining why they want to serve in the position and what strengths, qualities, skills, and experience uniquely qualify them. They also submit results of their ONS governance level Leadership Competencies and Strength Finders summary for review prior to the February Board meeting. Candidates identify whether they are seeking a one-, two-, or three-year term for the position, which will also begin at Congress in May.

After the March Board meeting, each Board member votes for the candidates with an electronic ballot. The results are conveyed to the Board Nominating Committee, composed of outgoing directors, who then inform the ONS president and candidates. The results are shared with the Board by email, and the ONS membership is informed no later than the annual Congress, when the new treasurer or secretary will take office.

Leadership Development Committee

The Board is also developing a charter for the Leadership Development Committee, previously known as the Nominating Committee, which is expanding its reach to include development of our future leaders as well as identifying candidates for director-at-large positions. The work on transforming this committee is underway, with exciting times ahead. Stay tuned.


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