05/09/2019

Get Out the Vote

Maximize member participation in board elections

In politics and in associations, good participation in elections is a sign of a healthy, engaged community. If your annual volunteer leadership elections don’t generate enough interest to bring your members to the “polls,” it’s probably time to consider what you’re doing wrong. After all, your members have a significant stake in their board and other elected leaders.

To maximize this important engagement opportunity in the member experience, you may need to shore up stakeholder buy-in and consider both the timing of your elections and incentives for members to participate, says Amy Biedenharn, director of affiliate relations at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, who helps to oversee the association’s annual member elections.

“We try to promote the engagement as much as possible,” she says. “We also collaborate on our national election with our chapter groups.”

Please select this link to read the complete article from Associations Now.