MERAL Officer Elections

Would you like to promote amateur astronomy in general and the Astronomical League in particular?
If so, and you live in either Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, the District of Columbia, or southern New Jersey, you can do just that by participating in MERAL. The offices of Chair, Regional Representative, Secretary and Treasurer are up for election this year. Why not run for a MERAL office?

We need nominations for Secretary, Treasurer, Regional Representative, and Chair. Nominations from members of clubs in good standing with the Astronomical League should be made in the appropriate space below.

Ability, Time, and Desire: The ideal candidates for these positions must be able to do the tasks that need to be done, have the time to do them, and have the desire to do them well. This can not be over-stressed!

The Astronomical League is governed by the five nationally elected officers - President, Vice-President, Executive Secretary, Secretary, and Treasurer - along with twenty Regional Chairs and Representatives. These 25 people comprise the National Council. Therefore, both the Regional Chair and the Regional Representative have seats at the annual National Council meeting held each year at ALCon. Both of them vote on League issues brought before the Council, discuss League policy, and help set League direction. In the event that they can not personally attend the Council meeting, they may send their designated proxies.



This is a two year term and it begins on odd numbered years (2009 - 2011). The Regional Chair sits on the Astronomical League's National Council which governs the Astronomical League. The Chair presides over the annual MERAL meeting deliberations, and is an ex-officio members of all standing committees of MERAL. The Chairs sets the direction and activities of MERAL.
This is a two year term and it begins on odd numbered years (2009 - 2011). The Regional Representative sits on the Astronomical League's National Council which governs the Astronomical League. The MERAL ByLaws do not greatly define the duties of the Regional Representative. However, the RR is on the nominating committee for new MERAL officers. Basically, the RR acts as another contact person between the League and its clubs, and is a person who can help with any MERAL related events. There are many committees specified in the MERAL ByLaws, but none are active. With a RR, some of these may be re-activated. From the ByLaws, here a few possible committees: (a) Finance/Fundraising Committee - which shall coordinate all fundraising activities, prepare an annual regional budget and assist the treasurer in his or her financial duties. This committee may authorize expenditures and pay necessary expenses of officers based upon receipts of up to fifty dollars ($50 00) without council approval. Mileage shall not be reimbursed except by the Regional Council upon extraordinary justification. (b) Awards Committee The Awards Committee shall give out the following awards: 1. Outstanding Club of greater than fifty members 2. Outstanding Club of less than fifty members. 3. Outstanding Amateur Astronomer 4. Outstanding Young Astronomer of the Region (cannot be a person over the age of nineteen at the Regional Convention or meeting or 1 July of the year of such meeting in the meeting occurs after that meeting) 5. Such other awards as the regional Council might adopt and/or the Awards Committee might seek to recognize. The Awards Committee shall be allocated the sum of one hundred dollars ($100.00) to purchase awards and such greater sum as the regional Chairman or Treasurer may allocate within budgetary allowances.
From the ByLaws: (c) - Secretary who shall be elected in even numbered years for a two year term. He or she shall keep accurate minutes and records (other than financial) of the Region and notify clubs, Patron members and Members at Large of regional events and meetings. In the event there is a vacancy in the office of both Chairman and Vice Chairman, the Secretary shall act as Chairman. The Secretary keeps minutes of any meetings. That person should also maintain an email list of MERAL club presidents, ALCors, newsletter editors and webmasters. That would be a GREAT help. The Secretary would also be a source of ideas and be able to assist at MERAL functions.
The current Treasurer is willing to step down, a new person is willing to be appointed to the position. From the ByLaws: (d) - Treasurer who shall be elected in even numbered years for a two year term. He or she shall keep the financial records and monies of the Region and shall provide such financial information as needed by the League Treasurer. The Treasurer shall chair the Finance/Fundraising Committee. The Treasurer need not be bonded unless the Regional Council or National Council or national constitution, by-law or Standing Resolution requires such bond. In the event there is a vacancy in the office of Chairman, Vice Chairman, and Secretary, the Treasurer shall act as Chairman. The offices of Secretary and Treasurer may be combined. The duties of the Treasurer are fairly straight forward: Cash checks, write checks, maintain bank account, and issue a report annually.
An appointed position, not an elected one. From the ByLaws: (f) - Webmaster who shall be appointed by the Chairman and serve at his or her pleasure. He or she shall keep the website of the Region and/or the Regional Conventions and/or other sites established by the Region.

Ability, Time, and Desire: The ideal candidates for these positions must be able to do the tasks that need to be done, have the time to do them, and have the desire to do them well.