2. Each candidate is required to have at least one
nomination. The first form timely filed in support of a candidate which
states that it is a nomination is considered as the nomination for
that candidate. All forms filed in support of the same candidate filed
after the nominating form, regardless of whether they state on their
face that they are a nomination or a second, will be construed as seconds.
3.
Each APS candidate is required to have 10 seconds in accordance with
its By-Laws and each APRL candidate is required to have 1 second in
accordance with its By-Laws. Forms which arrive timely and which state
that they are seconding a candidate who has not yet been nominated
will be accepted, but will not be considered filed until a form nominating
that candidate has been received.
4. Nominations
and seconds may be dated at any time they are executed, but can only
be filed with the National Headquarters beginning December 1 of the
year preceding the election. Nominations or seconds received in the
National Headquarters during the month of November will be retained
until December 1, at which time they will be considered for filing.
Those received prior to November 1 will be returned to the candidate
nominated.
5. Ballots are distributed in the May issue of the American Philatelist.
Members may cast their ballots until 63 days prior to the opening of
the annual meeting. Ballots are sent from members to National Headquarters
staff. Staff verify the member number and name provided on the outside
of the envelope, but do not open the envelopes. Any envelopes lacking
a member’s name and APS number, that appear to be from individuals
not entitled to vote, or that appear to represent duplicate ballots
are noted. All unopened ballot envelopes are turned over to a neutral
party to be counted. Unopened ballot envelopes with problems identified
by staff are evaluated by the neutral party to determine if they should
be counted.
6. In mid-January, the National Headquarters
staff will coordinate a joint mailing to APS Chapters (stamp clubs)
for those candidates who wish to seek seconds of their nominations
in this convenient fashion. Nominated candidates participating in
this mailing must complete the APS Board Nominating Application and
provide a single 8½ x 11
inch page (one side only) campaign statement, and photo (optional)
by December 31. The photo must be affixed to the campaign statement
which must be suitable for photocopying. The campaign statements will
be distributed with the front page of the Board Nominating Application
photocopied on the back. The cost of materials, reproduction, and postage
will be divided among the participating candidates. Individual costs
are determined by the total number of candidates.
7. Members wishing to make campaign mailings
to members may rent APS mailing lists at standard commercial rates
for use in accordance with current Society policy. Members wishing
to rent the APS mailing list must provide a written statement that
the mailing will be used only for campaign purposes and that the
mailing complies with this Policy, the applicable By-laws, and the
applicable Code of Ethics. Contact information for APS chapters is
available on the website and on request will be provided to candidates
free of charge as a comma delimited text file or for $25 as a set
of labels. In keeping with the APS privacy policy, members’ e-mail
addresses will not be available for election purposes.
8. Candidates wishing to place advertisements for their campaigns
are encouraged to do so in the American Philatelist, which reaches
every potential voter. For its December through July issues, the American
Philatelist will accept candidate advertisements at a special “political
rate” – the equivalent of the 12-time contract rate, the
lowest rate available. This rate will apply even if only one advertisement
is placed. There is no discount on premium payments for color, placement,
etc. Content and timing of campaign advertisements are subject to review
by the editor, in consultation with the executive director, for consistency
with this Policy, the applicable By-laws, or the applicable Code of
Ethics and to protect the Society. The executive director may circulate
advertisements among other candidates to ensure that other candidates
or other parties have an opportunity to respond in their own advertisements,
should they choose to do so.
9. Freedom of expression should be maintained in our elections, notwithstanding
the fact that a private organization may limit that right to some extent
within the boundaries of its own operations. During elections the editor's
and executive director's primary roles are as a neutral facilitator
of the process. However, they have the authority (but not the obligation)
to refuse to publish an advertisement in the American Philatelist if
the advertisement does not comply with this Policy, the applicable
By-laws, or the applicable Code of Ethics or otherwise to protect the
Society. The executive director shall advise the candidate before taking
such action.
10. Standing for APS office does not disqualify or in any way limit
a member from carrying out existing commitments as a committee chairman,
judge, columnist, author, expert, etc.
11. The May issue of the American Philatelist features statements
by each candidate, along with a recent photo. Candidates for president
may write up to 750 words (one full page in the magazine). Candidates
for other offices may write up to 375 words (one-half page in the magazine).
All statements and photos must be received by the editorial staff by
March 1. Until published, candidate statements will be treated as confidential
within the National Headquarters, with access limited to those with
a need to handle them. Election materials printed in the May election
issue of the American Philatelist will be placed on the public
portion of the APS web site.
12. All candidates will have equal access to Society services and
facilities; incumbency provides no advantage. For example, any candidate
may use APS photocopying, fax or telephone services under the same
conditions as the membership generally and will be charged standard
fees.
13. Weekly board mailings and occasional special mailings will continue
to be used to send or make available (including electronically) items
of general interest to the Board of Directors. Items of a purely campaign
nature, such as candidate statements, will not be mailed at Society
expense. The executive director or acting executive director, in consultation
with the candidates concerned, will decide if a mailing is of a purely
campaign nature in order to determine how the mailing is to be charged.
14. The American Philatelist will not
print Letters to the Editor endorsing specific candidates or which
in the editor’s
judgment are political in nature.
15. The APS booth at shows will not be used
to display or distribute any candidate’s statement or other
material of a political nature.
16. Articles and columns in the American
Philatelist (other
than the candidates' statements) shall not be used to endorse or oppose
particular candidates.
18 Candidates are expected to maintain a high level of civility in
all aspects of campaigning.
19. Positive issues-oriented campaigning is to be the norm. Negative
campaigning reflects poorly on the Society and on the candidate who
engages in it.
20. Candidates are expected to present as facts only material that
they are able to verify as facts. The corollary is that opinions should
be clearly labeled as such.
21. Candidates who write regularly
in the philatelic press (including e-media columns) may use these
as a forum for statements on issues where appropriate to the reason
for the columns’ existence,
but should not use these specific forums for negative commentary
on their opposition.
22. To the extent that candidates are able to control or influence the
activities of supporters, they are expected to promote these guidelines.
23. The executive director is the point of contact with the Society
for candidates.
24. Appeal from decisions of
the executive director affecting conduct
of the biennial election shall be made to the chairman of the Election
Review Board for prompt resolution by the Election Review Board and
whose decision shall be binding and unappealable.
