ELECTION PROCESS AND BOARD MEMBER RECRUITMENT

Recruiting people of different skills, backgrounds and ethnicity is a positive method of enhancing creativity on your board and promoting ideas that will appeal to a wide audience.

Elections for Soil and Water Conservation Districts are held and coordinated with your county clerks office. A supervisor’s term is for (4) years.

CHARACTERISTICS OF A SUCCESSFUL DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS

Open minded Good listener Organized Strong leadership skills Innovative Professional Understands conservation issues Effective speaker Progressive thinker Willing to learn Fundraising abilities Personnel management skills Legislative experience/understanding Well respected in the community Leadership network in the community

In addition to the previously listed qualities, other considerations may include: Whether the potential board member can devote an adequate amount of time to meeting attendance and other duties Whether the potential board member has effective communication skills and is willing and able to get along with other district members, staff, and agency personnel Whether the potential board member can work on behalf of the entire community in addition to his or her constituents

ANALYZING THE NEEDS IN THE DISTRICT AND DESIRABLE QUALITIES AND NEEDED SKILLS FOR BOARD MEMBER RECRUITMENT

Before you begin your search for a qualified person to serve as a board member, your board must first identify the needs of your conservation district—whether it is a soil conservation district or a water & soil conservation district.

1.What are the main programs and activities of your district? 2.What are the strengths and weaknesses of your district? 3.List programs and activities you have not been able to implement due to a lack of resources (human or otherwise). 4.Identify the types of people with the knowledge, experience, abilities, or skills that can help you meet program and activity goals. 5.List the knowledge, experience, abilities, and skills provided by each current board member. 6.Who does your district serve? List your clients/partners. 7.What new types of board members could help diversify your board, accomplish your mission, and better serve your clients or partners?

BOARD MEMBER RECRUITMENT

The qualifications of a supervisor are:  Must be a landowner or operator within the district  Must be a registered voter in the State of Idaho  Must be willing to comply with all governing state and federal laws, specifically the status regarding ethics in government, open meetings, and public records law pertaining to publicly elected officials  Must support a non-regulatory, incentive-based approach to natural resource conservation  Should have an interest in the conservation of soil, water and other natural resources  Should be willing to be a leader and represent the interests of citizens within the district

BOARD MEMBERS ELECTION AND/OR APPOINTMENT PROCESS, PROCEDURES, FORMS AND DEADLINES

All conservations districts must follow the Idaho state statute: Title 34 Chapter 14

The State of Idaho is on an even year election cycle. All county clerks are required by law to assist and control your local elections. For the 2016 Local Elections Calendar County clerks are to publish for the November 8 election: Notice of Filing Dates for Political Subdivisions (Soil & Water Conservation Districts) by August Last Day of district candidates file declaration/petition with local Clerk of Taxing District is September 1 Candidate not placed on ballot but files as a declared write-in with the local Clerk on September 23 Last day for a candidate to withdrawis September 23 Last day to pre-register to vote with county clerk is October 14 First Notice of Election published is October 27 Second Notice of Election published is Nov 3  Each year the deadline dates change. Contact your local county clerk’s office for the official dates.

BOARD MEMBER REMOVAL

Board members can be removed from office by following the Idaho State Statute Title 34—Elections Chapter 17—Recall Elections

OREINTATION SYSTEMS FOR NEW BOARD MEMBERS

Orientation for new board members is recommended. Assistance can be obtained from the Idaho Soil Conservation District Supervisor Handbook

All information in this module was obtained from: Idaho Soil Conservation District Supervisor Handbook Personnel Management Handbook for Conservation District Directors and District Managers—Oregon Association of Conservation Districts (Spring 2008) 2016 Idaho Election Manual Bear Lake Soil & Water Conservation District

Ten Commandments of Member Meetings 1.Thou Shall come prepared to group meetings. 2.Thou Shall seek common directions in working with others. 3.Thou Shall share oneself as a resource in the group. 4.Thou Shall be open to listen to the ideas of others. 5.Thou Shall take responsibility for helping the group make decisions and solve problems. 6.Thou Shall speak only for thyself 7.Thou Shall help evaluate the group effort. 8.Thou Shall evaluate thine own contributions. 9.Thou Shall help celebrate and honor successes. 10.Thou Shall do what follow-up is agreed on after the meeting of the group. Warden, J. and Associates, Anchorage, AK