REGIONALLY PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION
ON BOARD OF GOVERNORS
Phil Garrou, President
November 2004
At its 4 June 2004 meeting, the CPMT Board of Governors approved a proposal adopt proportional
representation for Member-at-Large positions based on IEEE Regional location of Society members
according to a plan presented at that meeting (see below).
Revised Bylaws are presented below that incorporate changes required to implement the approved plan.
MOTION:
To approve revisions to CPMT Society Bylaws to implement regionally proportional representation on
Board of Governors as detailed in document DRAFT REVISIONS FOR APPROVAL – ELECTIONS,
NOVEMBER 2004.
Background:
To further the CPMT Society’s globalization efforts, it is proposed that changes be made to the Board of
Governors to ensure that it truly reflects and represents the Society’s global membership.
Governance is an important and highly visible indicator of the nature of the organization. Although
progress has been made in this area – there are more Members-at-Large (5) from outside the US now than
in past years and, for the first time, two Officers from outside the US – the perception of the Society by
those outside the US continues to be that it is a US organization with a global membership.
It is hoped that by committing to a plan to ensure a globalized Board of Governors and then communicating
that plan, the perception of the CPMT Society as a truly global organization will evolve.
Motion:
To approve adoption of proportional representation for Member-at-Large positions based on IEEE
Regional location of Society members, according to the following plan:
1. Determining Proportions
Annually, in spring, using IEEE Region definitions, and Society membership statistics as of 31
December of the preceding year, an analysis will be made of the proportion of Society members in
each of the following Regions/grouping of Regions:
1-6 (US)
7 (Canada)
8 (Europe, Africa, Middle East)
9 (Central and South America)
10 (Asia, Pacific)
Any Region/grouping of Regions determined to have at least 5% of CPMT members will have the
proportional number of Member-at-Large positions designated to it for representation on the
Board
2. Constructing Slate of Candidates:
The slate of candidates for each year’s election will be constructed to ensure that the resulting total
of newly elected Members-at-Large plus continuing Members-at-Large has the proper proportion
of representatives from each Region/grouping of Regions.
Candidates to represent the each Regions/grouping of Regions will be selected from among
members of the respective Regions/grouping of Regions, by a process to be defined by the
Nominating Committee in consultation with the Society President. The process will ensure that
input is provided by Society volunteers in the respective Regions/grouping of Regions.
3. Voting Procedures:
Society members in each Region/grouping of Regions with designated positions will vote for their
Region/grouping of Regions’ respective positions only. That is, members in Region 8 will vote
for Members-at-Large for Region 8 only.
Society members in Regions without designated positions will vote with the Region/grouping of
Regions with the majority of members.
Illustration:
In 2004, the Board of Governors is close to achieving Regionally Proportional Representation.
REGION
1-6 (US)
7 (Canada)
8 (Europe, Africa, MidEast)
9 (Central and South America)
10 (Asia, Pacific)
Total
Number/% of Members
(31 Dec 2003)
1964/59%
69/2%
620/19%
31/1%
628/19%
3312
Number of BoG
Positions - Current
13
2
3
18
Number of BoG
Positions -Proportional
12
3
3
18
Although this was achieved in the absence of a plan for Regionally Proportional Representation, such
results can’t be ensured to continue from year to year.
By adopting a plan for Regionally Proportional Representation, the results are ensured.
If the plan were in effect beginning with the 2004 election, the Members-at-Large to be elected each year
would be as follows (reminder – six Members-at-Large are elected each year for a three-year term):
Current (in 2004) make-up of BoG:
Members-at Large
Reg 1- 6 (12 total)
Reg 8 (3 total)
Reg 10 (3 total)
Term ends 2004:
5
0
1
Term ends 2005
5
1
0
Term ends 2006
3
1
2
For 2004, six Members-at-Large are elected for a three-year term ending in 2007. To achieve Regionally
Proportional Representation, the following need to be elected:
Term ends 2007
Reg 1- 6:
4
Reg 8:
1
Reg 10:
1
Resulting BoG for 2005:
Members-at Large
Term ends 2005
Reg 1- 6 (12 total)
5
Reg 8 (3 total)
1
Reg 10 (3 total)
0
Term ends 2006
3
1
2
Term ends 2007
4
1
1
Following election in 2005 – Resulting BoG for 2006:
Members-at Large
Reg 1- 6 (12 total)
Reg 8 (3 total)
Reg 10 (3 total)
Term ends 2006
3
1
2
Term ends 2007
4
1
1
Term ends 2008
5
1
0
Following election in 2006 – Resulting BoG for 2007:
Members-at Large
Reg 1- 6 (12 total)
Reg 8 (3 total)
Reg 10 (3 total)
Term ends 2007
4
1
1
Term ends 2008
5
1
0
Term ends 2009
3
1
2
Next Steps:
If the Motion is approved, appropriate Bylaw changes must be drafted and published in CPMT Newsletter
to notify members and allow for comment. Revised Bylaws must then be submitted for approval by the
Technical Activities Board. Assuming all approvals are obtained in expected time, the Plan could be
implemented for the elections in 2005.
DRAFT REVISIONS FOR APPROVAL – ELECTIONS, NOVEMBER 2004.
Bylaws:
4. Nomination and Election of the Members at Large: The geographic composition of BoG
Members-At-Large will reflect the geographic composition of Society membership. The Nominating
Committee shall be reconstituted and instructed by the President on or before the Spring BOG Meeting of
each year; it shall have a chairperson and four or more members of the Society, at least one of whom shall
be members of the BOG.
4.1 Annually, prior to formulating the slate of candidates, the Nominating Committee, using IEEE Region
definitions and Society membership statistics as of 31 December of the preceding year, will determine the
proportion of Society members in each of the following Regions/grouping of Regions: 1-6 (US), 7
(Canada), 8 (Europe, Africa, Middle East), 9 (Central and South America), 10 (Asia, Pacific). Any
Region/grouping of Regions determined to have at least 10% of CPMT total members will have the
proportional number of Member-at-Large positions designated to it for representation on the BoG. The
slate of candidates for each year’s election will be constructed to ensure that the resulting total of newly
elected Members-at-Large plus continuing Members-at-Large has the proper proportion of representatives
from each Region/grouping of Regions.
4.2 Candidates will be solicited and selected by the Nominating Committee from among members of the
respective Regions/grouping of Regions, by a process that ensures input from Society volunteers in the
respective Regions/grouping of Regions, as well as from members of the BOG, and chairpersons of all
other organizational entities of the Society. The slate will contain at least 1.5 candidates for each
forthcoming vacancy.
4.3 Society members in each Region/grouping of Regions with designated BoG positions will vote for
their Region/grouping of Regions’ respective positions only. That is, members in Region 8 will vote for
Members-at-Large for Region 8 only. Society members in Regions without designated BoG positions will
vote with the Region/grouping of Regions with the majority of members.
4.4 The Nominating Committee shall cause to be published for the Society membership a call for
nomination by petition, such petitions including statements of nominees' qualifications, to be received by
the Chairperson before a specified date. A petition nominating a Society member in good standing and
supported by the identifiable signatures of at least 25 Society members shall automatically place that
member's name on the slate.
4.5 The Chairperson shall ensure that all candidates are properly qualified. The ballot shall provide for
write-in candidates. The ballots should be mailed to the entire Society membership including Society
affiliates. The results of the vote shall be transmitted to the President and Nominating Committee Chair
prior to the date of the new calendar year meeting of the BOG. Newly elected BOG members assume their
positions on the first day of the year.
4.6 Those candidates having a plurality of votes will be declared to be elected. Ties shall be broken by
the BOG. If an elected member fails to accept the office, the candidate receiving the next highest number of
votes will be certified elected. If the vacancy cannot be filled in this manner, the President shall make
appointments in cooperation with the Nominating Committee Chairperson.
4.7 The Nominations Committee and the BOG should provide names periodically to the CPMT President
for consideration to Divisional Director positions and other IEEE posts.