Returning Officer   

The role of a returning officer is to conduct, in its entirety, the election for the Management Committee of an Association or the Board of Directors, whether the election is at a face to face meeting or by postal or digital votes.
 
Broadly speaking, this role includes providing the result to the club and returning officer should not be a candidate for any position being contested in an election.


 The role involves:

 

  • chairing the meeting between the old and new committee
  • the declaring that all the Management Committee positions are all now vacant, when old Chairperson hands the meeting 
  • deciding any questions about eligibility to vote and voting entitlements
     i.e. in our case - only one service rep of groups can vote, not individual members,  and only one vote per group
  • receiving secret voting papers if a position has more than one nominee
  • counting votes – can have help by someone or two not standing for any position (scrutineer), or inspecting the counting of votes,
  • deciding whether a vote is valid
  • handing the meeting over to the newly elected Chair

 

Tasks:

 

1.    Thank outgoing Chair (Rusty)

2.    Thank the outgoing Committee members for their service for the previous year.

3.    Declare all management committee positions vacant.
 
 

4.    State only members of the association can stand for election – with 2 years sobriety and 1 year clean - are:

  a. group service reps (delegates)

Tonight these are:  
               Rusty A, Gary C (Bellambi); Anne S, Rex B (Bulli Saturday);Ro G, Marianne H (Corrimal Sunday), Kim H (Shellharbour Tues); Bill K (Unanderra Mon); Dave H, Tim K (Warilla
              Thurs); Danielle R (Warilla Womens); Steve C (Wollongong Fri Soup Kitchen); Barb C, Susie D (Wollongong Womens Weds); or

        b. Individual Affiliate Members
                 Tony H (Corrimal Tues)
   

5.    State only  groups who registered at least one week before the meeting can vote.
              Tonight these groups are: 
             Bellambi, Bulli Sat, Corrimal Sun, Shellharbour Tues, Unanderra Mon, Warilla Thurs, Warilla Womens, Wollongong Fri Soup Kitchen, Wollongong Womens Weds.
 
 

6.    If there is more than one candidate for a position, I’ll call for a ballot.
On the ballot paper, the group voting can write the date, position name, the group voting name and the candidate they are voting for.

7.    In case we need a ballot may I have a scrutineer to help with the vote i.e. someone not standing for any positions

8.    Any other questions before we start?

9.    The Constitution has details about what each role is.  Please let me know if   any one need that out before I call for nominations.
       (Ask Ro If someone does ask – been circulated on the web.)
 
 

10. I’d like to call for nominations for the Office Bearers first  

NOTE:
If we don''t get anyone for a position or enough people for the ordinary Committee members, declare the position vacant with the instruction that the new Committee endeavour to fill that position as soon as possible
 
 

11. So, who would like to nominate or self-nominate for Chairperson?
 
When someone does, who will second that nomination?
If not self-nominated, do you accept the nomination?
 
OK so we have one nomination, do we have any other nominations?
When someone does, who will second that nomination?
Do you accept the nomination?
 
OK so we have one nomination, do we have any other nominations?

Last time, do we have any other nominations?
 
If only one, declare the person elected – Congratulate them and thank them for being willing to be of service.

If more than one, ask for voting members to vote on slips provided.
Scrutineer to count and write the successful person for you

Declare the person elected – Congratulate them and thank them for being willing to be of service.
 
 

12. So, who would like to nominate or self-nominate for Vice-Chairperson?
 
Repeat as for Chairperson
 

13. So, who would like to nominate or self-nominate for Secretary?
 
Repeat as for Chairperson
 
 

14. So, who would like to nominate or self-nominate for Treasurer?
 
Repeat as for Chairperson
 
 

15. So, who would like to nominate or self-nominate for a position of Committee Member?

Repeat as for Chairperson
 
Declare all elected if only three, four five or six.
 
If more than SIX, ask for voting members to vote on slips provided.

Scrutineers to count and write the successful people for you
Declare the people elected – Congratulate them and thank them for being willing to be of service.
 
 

16. Thank everyone – Then declare this finishes the voting. I declare the New Committee is:

Chair (name)
Vice-Chair (name)
Secretary. (name)
Treasurer (name)
Committee members  (names)
 
 

17. Thanks for the opportunity to be your Returning Officer.

18. I will now hand the meeting over to the newly elected Chairperson _______ .