ALA Policies — Election Provisions

Section 9.17 Board of Director's Election

I. Introduction
ALA conducts Board of Director's elections annually in accordance with the ALA Bylaws. The 2007 Board of Directors diligently researched, analyzed and discussed all the elements of ALA's nomination and election process in its entirety and approved the following policy, which it found to best further ALA's exempt purpose and foster its mission.

II. Candidates
The Nominating Committee shall receive the names of candidates for the Board of Directors (Board) in accordance with Section 5.4.2.1.2 of the Bylaws. The Nominating Committee shall consider all candidates based on the following Criteria and Guidelines.

Criteria
All candidates to the Board are required to have attained professional stature by demonstrating intellectual competence and ethical conduct in the management and sciences of laboratory automation or an associated field, and must:

• be a member in good standing (all dues and assessments paid in full)
• submit a current Curriculum Vitae
• submit a Candidate Statement:
  • A signed submission stating the reasons for wanting to serve on the Board (no more than 300 words).
• submit ALA's form Declaration of Candidacy (affidavit):
  • A signed declaration, in accordance with Section 5.4.2.1.3. of the Bylaws, confirming, under penalty of perjury, he/she is:
    • a member in good standing and able to serve as a Board member if elected;
    • eligible to serve on the Board and available under his/her existing employee relationship, and is not otherwise precluded by any relationship or agreement from serving on the Board; and
    • understands the duties and responsibilities of an ALA Board member and agrees to perform the same to the best of his/her abilities.

Guidelines
ALA seeks to cultivate the composition of the Board with nine members that align with the strategic direction of the organization. The following guidelines are designed to direct the Nominating Committee to identify and propose candidates for potential election to the Board who will meet, foster and fulfill ALA's strategic direction and mission. Candidates should have dutifully completed relevant recent service to the ALA. "Service" is defined as involvement in a volunteer and/or stipend activity such as standing and/or ad-hoc committees, short course instructor, podium and/or poster presentation, publishing (print or online), content reviewer (print or online), content recruiter, and/or other activities deemed appropriate by the Nominating Committee.

Composition by Member Category
In order to further its strategic direction and mission, ALA determined it to be in its best interest to maintain on the Board, to the extent possible, three (3) representatives from each of the three (3) member categories; namely:

• three (3) board members representing "Academic/Public;"
• three (3) board members representing "Users of Technology-Based Products/Services;" and
• three (3) board members representing "Providers of Technology-Based Products/Services,"

for a total of nine Board members. Therefore, to the extent possible, the Nominating Committee will present candidates for election that fulfill and/or maintain a balance in the Board's composition as to the three member categories as set forth above.

Composition by Vertical Industry
To the extent qualified candidates are available and the Nominating Committee deems it consistent with ALA's best interests, the Nominating Committee will present candidates who align with ALA's strategic plan as it relates to the following vertical industries and/or additional vertical industries deemed appropriate by the Board:

• Drug Discovery — Discovery & Development of Therapeutics
• Clinical Diagnostics
• Food & Agricultural Sciences
• Forensics & Security Sciences
• Energy & Petrochemical Sciences

Composition by Geography
To the extent adequate candidates are available and the Nominating Committee deems it consistent with ALA's best interests, the Nominating Committee will present candidates of international origin on the annual ballot that align with ALA's strategic plan to expand as a global organization.

III. Nomination Committee Slate
The Nominating Committee shall, after confirming candidate requirements have been met and applying the Criteria and Guidelines set forth above, present a slate to the Board with appropriate commentary containing the names of members to fill each impending vacant Board seat.

IV. Election Process
In accordance with the preceding Section III, the Nominating Committee shall present its slate to the Board in or around early November of each year. The Board may either: (i) accept the slate presented by the Nominating Committee; (ii) request that the Nominating Committee present alternative candidates to replace one or more of the candidates identified on the Nominating Committee's slate; or (iii) substitute any or all candidates identified on the Nominating Committee's slate. On or about November 15th, the Board shall identify a final slate of board members (Final Slate) to replace the board members whose terms are scheduled to end in conjunction with the upcoming annual meeting of the members, and notify all voting members of the Final Slate via email correspondence.

Alternate slates may be presented by any member in good standing by submitting to ALA's Secretary and Executive Director, no less than thirty (30) days following the date the Final Slate is transmitted by ALA to the members, a petition identifying the alternative slate signed by no less than ten percent (10%) of ALA's voting members including the individual(s) included on the alternative slate. Alternate slates submitted after the thirty (30) day deadline or otherwise not in compliance with this provision shall be considered null and void. If a valid alternative slate and petition is received within the prescribed deadline, a vote by the eligible voting members will be conducted via electronic ballot. ALA's Headquarters shall email to all voting members a ballot form that includes the alternate slate and the Final Slate, and notice of the final date on which the return ballot will be accepted. The election shall remain open for fourteen (14) days from the date ALA's Headquarters emails the ballot. The slate receiving the most votes by return ballot shall be elected; provided that no less than ten percent (10%) of the members return ballots. If less than ten percent (10%) of the members return ballots, the election will be considered null and void, and the alternate slate considered stricken as if none had been received. If no alternative slate is received within the prescribed deadline, the Final Slate shall be elected by acclamation at the upcoming annual meeting.