NPCA Chair Pat Reilly says previous elections have had contested races
On behalf of the Board, thank you for all your coverage of the National Peace Corps Association and its activities. Your website is an important resource for our community of interest. Because of that, I would like with your help to set the record straight on the competitiveness of Board seats.
Last year, we had 15 candidates for 9 board vacancies. In 2001, we had 12 candidates for 7 regional vacancies. Yet, in the intervening year, 2002 like 2004, we had only one challenge for a seat among 8 available seats. Our staff has a theory that it’s an even-odd year thing, but it is not correct that competition is as rare as your article suggests.
A current board proposal, which will go to a membership bylaws vote later this year, is to change the structure of the Board and have fewer regions and, therefore, fewer elected positions. That should enhance competition for the available seats and may make Board performance an issue in the future as well. We hope this will invigorate the Board and bring new ideas and fresh opportunities to the organization.
Thanks for the chance to clarify the nature of our election and remind NPCA members in the regions with vacancies to vote at www.rpcv.org/elections.
Pat Reilly
Board Chair
