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Call for 2025-2028 Board Nominations

We are pleased to invite you to submit your nomination for the 2025-2028 IOA Board of Directors Term. We are continuing with a two-step process for nominations based on our revised Bylaws passed in 2021, and to support an open and equitable nomination and election process.

There will be five director seats included in the election. Five current directors are eligible and may choose to run for a second term. All elected candidates will begin their service following the IOA  Annual Meeting in Spring 2025.

 

Self-nomination is a Two-Step Process – Please read carefully for directions. 

Step One: Nomination Form Attesting to Eligibility

  • Only self-nominations will be accepted. Please encourage your colleagues to nominate themselves to serve on the Board!
  • The information submitted in this form will be shared with the Nominating Committee to verify eligibility and submit a nomination report to the IOA Board of Directors before elections open.
  • Includes: Biographical statement, DEIB Value Statement, Volunteer or Leadership Experience, Professional Expertise Beneficial to IOA, and Optional Personal Demographic Information (not shared with IOA members) 
  • Deadline to Submit: 5 January 2025
Submit Your Attestation of Eligibility

Attestation Deadline: 5 January 2025

Step Two: Statement of Candidacy in Support of the Election

  • The information submitted in this form will be used to create candidate profiles to educate members about each candidate when elections open.
  • Includes: Candidate Statement, describing why you would like to serve as a Director, and Headshot Photo
  • Deadline to Submit: 25 January 2025 

 

Submit Your Statement of Candidacy

Statement Deadline: 30 January 2025 

 

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Nominee Requirements

Eligible IOA members are invited to self-nominate. If you would like to nominate someone else, please reach out to them directly and encourage them to nominate themself! 

As described in the latest version of Article IV of the IOA Bylaws, the qualifications for directors are as follows:

  • To be eligible to be nominated to serve on the Board of Directors, an individual must have been a Member or Retired Member of the Association for at least the three years immediately preceding nomination and, except to the extent permitted in Section C. of this Article IV, must have had experience as a practicing organizational ombuds. For purposes of Article IV, experience as a practicing organizational ombuds shall mean that the individual must have been an ombuds for an organization with a documented practice based on the principles of independence, neutrality or impartiality, informality, and confidentiality.
  • No more than two (2) Members who have never practiced as an organizational ombuds may serve concurrently on the Board of Directors. 
    • The current IOA Board is comprised of Members who have all practiced as an organizational ombuds. 
  • The Board shall at all times include (i) at least one (1) Director who is either CO-OP® certified or a candidate for CO-OP® certification who has passed the CO-OP® certification examination, and (ii) at least one (1) Director who has had experience as a practicing organizational ombuds and who is a resident of a country other than the United States of America.
    • As of April 2024, the Board will meet both of these minimum requirements with continuing Directors. Additional nominees who meet these criteria are welcome, but not required.

In addition, nominees must:

  • Be current in their membership dues.
  • Be able to serve on the Board, attend meetings (approximately eight virtual meetings and two in-person meetings), and fully participate in Board activities including strategic workgroups, travel to in-person meetings and the IOA Annual Conference, and participate in IOA membership meetings. (Travel expenses are covered on an as-needed basis.)
  • Commit to supporting and advancing the mission of IOA and its Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics.

Also, note that a nominee is not eligible to run if their term would coincide with the term of a current director from the same institution or organization. Nominees should not have, nor appear to have a conflict of interest that would interfere with the ability to represent the interests of the Association.

Submit Your Attestation of Eligibility

Attestation Deadline: 5 January 2025

Submit Your Statement of Candidacy

Statement Deadline: 30 January 2025 

Nominees Must Complete a Statement of Candidacy

In order to support the election process and educate IOA members about each candidate for the IOA Board, nominees are required to complete the Statement of Candidacy Form by 30 January 2025.

Please be prepared with the following information and answers before submitting:

  • Candidate Statement: (1,500 character limit) in paragraph format, describing why you would like to serve as a Director and any additional information you would like to share regarding your candidacy.
  • Nominee Headshot Photo: High-resolution images in .jpg or .jpeg format preferred.

Nominees are encouraged to consider and include in their candidate statement the strengths and perspectives they will bring to IOA, such as:

  • Strong commitment to IOA's vision and success
  • Diversity (e.g., sector/industry, gender, education, ethnicity, race, geography, etc.)
  • Strengths and skills needed by IOA (e.g., expertise in legal, finance and accounting, research, DEIB, etc.);
  • Leadership experience
  • Experience on IOA committees and task forces and/or participating as an instructor/speaker for IOA programs
  • Reputation for integrity, ethical behavior, honesty, reliability, and ability to collaborate

Personal Demographic Questions

In addition, nominees will be asked to complete optional personal demographic information to support IOA in understanding the diversity of candidates. Information will be held confidential with the IOA Board and staff and will NOT be shared with IOA members. We appreciate your participation.

Available Director Seats & Term Requirements:

A total of five(5) seats will be up for election in 2024.

IOA Director terms are three years, typically starting in April, immediately following the Annual Meeting, which will be held virtually in April 2024. The Bylaws require 15 directors, and director terms are staggered in three classes of five so that a majority of the Board returns from year to year.

A list of the current IOA Board of Directors and their term status is on the IOA website. IOA Directors may serve two consecutive terms. Currently, five directors are eligible to run for a second term in the 2024 Election and must complete the same nomination process as all other candidates.

What is it like to serve on the IOA Board?

Board members shape the direction of IOA and serve as stewards of the organization. Serving as a member of the Board and fiduciary for the Association is an important and rewarding experience. Several current and past Board members have shared their perspectives on The Independent Voice. Read their stories to see what it is like to participate as an IOA Board member or contact Alicia Booker, Immediate Past President and Chair of the Nominations Committee, or Ellen Miller, Executive Director of IOA.

Board Policies and Guidelines

Directors are required to abide by the following policies and guidelines which have been developed over the years to support a healthy and productive Board culture:

Time Commitment

The typical monthly time commitment of a board member is 7-9 hours, including prep and attendance at board meetings, board correspondence, and participation in workgroups and/or other IOA meetings. The time commitment increases during months that the board meets in person, twice per year.

For officers (President, President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, Immediate Past President), the time commitment increases to 15+ hours, including Executive Committee meetings and related duties.

Important Dates & Deadlines:

  • 5 January 2025 – Call for Nominations and Attestation of Eligibility Form Due
  • 5 January 2025 - 29 January 2025 – The Nominating Committee develops nominee report for Board review and notifies candidates of eligibility status
  • 30 January 2025 – Statement of Candidacy Form: Submissions Due
  • 30 January 2025 – Last date for ineligible nominees to appeal the Nominating Committee decision to the Board
  • 7 February 2025 – Board reviews report and votes to move forward nominees to membership for election
  • 9 February 2025 – Last date 8or nominees to withdraw from the election
  • 13 February 2025 – Elections open for voting on candidates (date is tentative) 
  • 7 March 2025  – Elections close; Election results announced to members in the week following
  • March 2025 – Board Orientation for new Directors (tentative)
  • 7-9 April 2025 – All elected Directors are highly encouraged to attend the IOA Annual Conference and adjacent Board Meetings. 
  • April 2025– New Board members will begin their term following the virtual IOA Annual Meeting. Following the Annual Meeting, the Board convenes to elect 2025-2026 Officers.

Questions?

Please reach out to the IOA office at [email protected] for help with submitting your nomination or Ronnie Thomson, Nominating Committee Chair, to learn more about board service!