CNCV Election
October is Election Time for the CNCV.
See below how you can vote and get involved.
First and foremost, we encourage participation from our general membership to be current in dues. Dues are paid annually, which covers January 1 through December 31. Dues are $20 this year. In 2025, dues will be raising to $30 in response to rising costs everywhere for renting meeting facilities. Dues and renewals can be paid online anytime (go to “Join”, click “Become a Member” button, fill out Membership Form, click “Submit” and that will take you to the online payment link). Please note that we made some recent revisions for clarity, improvement, and alignment with the Cherokee Nation Community and Cultural Outreach policies. For instance, we are now called a Board, rather than a Council.
Get Involved
Please consider stepping up and getting involved. We want your skills, ideas, energy, labor generosity, and help. There are many ways to do this with varying levels of commitment, from full Board Member to Associate Board Member to Volunteer.
1) One way to get involved is to serve as a Board Member. The Board is comprised of seven members, at least four of whom must be registered citizens of the Cherokee Nation and all must be a CNCV member in good standing. You can read about the Board here in the By-Laws.
Expectations: Board members will serve a term of two years, function in a Board position, and contribute significantly to work done by CNCV. Board members must remain in good standing and are required to attend at least 67% of monthly Board meetings and at least 67% of scheduled general meetings. Monthly Board meetings occur virtually on the first Saturday of the month starting at 10 am (ranging from 1-2 hours). The two-year term responsibilities include participating in monthly Board meetings, helping plan and implement CNCV events, ensuring ongoing operations, and fulfilling duties specific to one’s position with positions reviewed annually.
Board terms are staggered: three for one election cycle and four for the next. The staggered terms ensure continuity by avoiding having seven new members at the same time. This year, there are three Board seats to elect or reelect.
The annual election is not for electing Board positions, but for maintaining seven Board member seats. Soon after the election, the new Board will call a separate special meeting to determine who will fill particular Board positions. These positions and duties are Chair (previously Spokesperson), Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Chair, Membership Coordinator/Alternate Secretary, Events Coordinator, Communications, and Historian. NOTE: following CCO Policies and Procedures for At-Large Organizations (2023), “The Board officers are required to be Cherokee Citizens to include the Chair, Asst. Chair, Secretary/Treasurer, or substantially equivalent positions."
Interested? Please fill out the form below.
2) Become an Associate Board Member (previously “Alternate”) - it’s great way to get involved! Associate Board Members may be appointed to assist in the work of the Board. The Associate role is a nonvoting one and the commitment is less than as a Board member. There are no attendance requirements, but participation is encouraged and celebrated.
This is an excellent way to share your skills, learn more about the Board, participate on a subcommittee, practice gadugi, and help build the capacity of the CNCV to serve our amazing community! Many Board members start as an Associate to learn the roles and Board business better.
Interested? Email cncv.communications@gmail.com or fill out the form below noting you are interested in the Associate role. You don’t have to run for election. Just raise your hand and get started. We welcome you.
3) Volunteer with us!
Volunteers are always needed, welcomed, and encouraged for a variety of activities!
Interested? Email cncv.communications@gmail.com to get involved.
Conducting the Election
Following our By-Laws, 90 days prior to the election of Board members, an ad hoc Election Committee shall be appointed by the Board. The Election Committee shall consist of three members of voting age who are in good standing and may not be related or from the same household. Candidates and their family members are ineligible to serve on the Election Committee.
No later than 60 days before the election, interested candidates need to declare their candidacy. They must provide a written statement of candidacy and a biographical sketch of no more than 300 words to the Election Committee for publication in a newsletter to be distributed to members no later than 30 days in advance of the election. Candidates must be CNCV members in good standing. If not enough candidates declare within 60 days prior to the election or if necessary to meet the requirement that at least four of the seven Board members be registered citizens of the Cherokee Nation, the Election Committee will recruit additional candidates.
At the October 19 membership meeting, the Board member election will occur in-person by secret ballot distributed to current members in good standing. The completed ballots will be collected by the Election Committee with newly elected Board members announced as soon as tallying is complete.
To run for the election, declare your candidacy via this form: https://forms.gle/tcjxTqUw9RTLUYMx6
To review the full current CNCV By-Laws, please visit: https://www.cherokeesofnortherncentralvalley.org/bylaws
— Election Committee
