GUIDE DOG USERS, INC.
C/O Sarah Calhoun
3603 Morgan Way
Imperial, MO 63052
TOLL FREE: 1-866-799-8436
www.guidedogusersinc.org
April 10, 2020
Announcing the GDUI 2020 Elections
The Board of Directors of Guide Dog Users, Inc. (GDUI) is asking GDUI members to vote for the following positions:
President (term ending in 2022)
1st Vice President (term ending in 2022)
2nd Vice President (term ending in 2022)
Treasurer (term ending in 2022)
Two Director Seats (term ending in 2023)
The candidates for these positions are:
Candidate for President: Sarah Calhoun, from Missouri
Candidate for First Vice President: Maria Hansen (incumbent), from New York
Candidate for Second Vice President: Deb Cook Lewis (incumbent), from Washington
Candidate for Treasurer: Maria Kristic, from New York
Candidates for Director:
Robert Acosta, from California
Margie Donovan, from California
There are also two proposed amendments to the GDUI Bylaws to be voted upon during this election.
Proposal 1 of 2: Add the words within brackets – 6.08-2-e_
“(e) Has missed three (3) or more [regular Board] meetings in any twelve month period without being excused.”
Rationale: Section 6.08(2) deals with grounds for removal of a Director/Officer. Paragraph (2e) refers to “regular” Board meetings which are scheduled well in advance. It does not refer to “special” Board meetings which may be called with as little as two (2) days’ notice.
Proposal 2 of 2: Add the below sentence at the end of 5.10(4):
“In the extraordinary event the Annual GDUI convention does not occur, the aforementioned transition shall take place on July 15in the year of election.”
Rationale: GDUI needs to be prepared for the smooth transition of leadership under any extraordinary circumstance.
Section 5.10(4) currently reads:
“(4) Except in cases where persons join the Board to fill vacancies, the term of service for all Officers, Directors, or Appointees shall begin at the close of the annual GDUI convention in the year of election and shall end at the close of the annual GDUI convention in the year that elects and qualifies their successors.”
Any current GDUI member may request a copy of the candidate biographies from the Nominations Committee Chair at the following address: director5@guidedogusersinc.org.
The 2020 GDUI Elections will commence Saturday, May 30, 2020 12:00 AM (EDT) and conclude on Sunday, June 7, 2020 at 11:59 PM (EDT).
GDUI members who have paid their dues by the record date of April 9, 2020 are eligible to vote in this election. Each member has one vote.
GDUI must receive the votes of fifteen percent of the members entitled to vote in this election, or at least sixty votes, for this election to be valid.
Voting System
Once again this year VoteNow will be handling our election. GDUI members will have the option of voting either telephonically or online.
Your old voter ID number will no longer be valid. In a few weeks, members will receive new voter ID numbers. either by e-mail or postcard directly from VoteNow. Please watch your inboxes and mailboxes for this important information. No one else at GDUI will have access to your personal ID number so, if you misplace that new number, you may call a designated person at VoteNow to retrieve that information. You will also receive the number for telephonic voting and the link to the online ballot.
GDUI will hold two membership forums to interview the candidates running in this election. The first one will be held on Saturday, April 25, 2020 beginning at 1:00 P. M. (EDT)
The call-in information for the first Forum is as follows:
Guide Dog Users, Inc. is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: GDUI 2020 Candidate Forum 1
Time: Apr 25, 2020 01:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 851 176 996
Password: 956514
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+16465588656,851176996#,,#,956514# US (New York)
+13126266799,,851176996#,,#,956514# US (Chicago)
Dial by your location
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 253 215 8782 US
+1 301 715 8592 US
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
Meeting ID: 851 176 996
Password: 956514
Find your local number: Find Local Number
and the second Candidate Forum will be held on Thursday, May 21, 2020 beginning at 8:00 P. M. (EDT).
The call-in information for this second Forum is as follows:
Guide Dog Users, Inc. is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: GDUI 2020 Candidate Forum 2
Time: May 21, 2020 08:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 380 572 719
Password: 520107
One tap mobile
+16465588656,,380572719#,,#,520107# US (New York)
+13126266799,,380572719#,#,520107# US (Chicago)
Dial by your location
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 301 715 8592 US
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
+1 253 215 8782 US
Meeting ID: 380 572 719
Password: 520107
Find your local number: Find Local Number
You may email questions for the candidates, to the Nominating Committee Chairperson, Dixie Sanderson, by April 15, 2020, with the subject field, “candidate questions.” Her email is: Director5@GuideDogUsersInc.org.
GDUI has elected to proceed under Section 29.405.20(f) of the Nonprofit Code. If a member who is entitled to vote on these matters wishes to communicate with the membership about the subject matter of the vote, the member should contact the Nominations Chair.
Dixie Sanderson
GDUI Nominations Committee Chair