The nominations period for the December elections is officially closed.

We encourage everyone to attend the December 6 HPHA general membership meeting where we will be electing officers for 2008. A sample ballot is now available. Election procedures are as follows:

Members will only receive a ballot if they are eligible to vote. Voting eligibility as defined by the bylaws is:

In order to qualify to vote regarding the elections of officers and directors, the member must have attended at least three of the general meetings held during the previous twelve (12) months prior to the meeting in which the election is to be held. Thus a total of three (3) meetings will have been attended by the member in the last twelve months, not including the annual elections of officers and directors meeting.

Upon signing in to the meeting, eligible voters will have the back of their hands marked to designate their said eligibility. Members must have this mark to receive a ballot.

As has been done in the past, all persons appearing on the ballot will be given a short period of time as an opportunity to introduce themselves and make a brief statement. This period of time will not exceed three minutes in total. Those exceeding the time limit will be stopped by the election officer.

Counting of the ballots is the responsibility of the elections officer. The elections officer may request assistance, but the responsibility for the accuracy of the election results lies solely on him.

Candidates may request an independent observer to the vote counting, but that observer cannot have appeared on the ballot. Please note, an observer will not take any active role in vote counting; they are there simply to observe.

Election results will be announced by the election officer prior to the adjournment of the December 2007 meeting.