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The WFA is a relatively new organization. The interim board of directors (or Council) was self-appointed. However, the Council created the WFA as an organization with a voting membership (see the WFA Bylaws). Consequently, the WFA Council has created an Election Committee and organized elections. We filled 5 Councilor positions during our first election in 2009, and another 3 Councilor positions in 2010. We plan to have elections to fill the final interim positions (President and Secretary) in 2012. Elected terms are 3 years, and Council members cannot serve more than 2 consecutive terms.
All WFA members who have paid yearly dues or are issued complimentary memberships are eligible to vote.
All members shall be entitled to hold office and may be eligible to officially represent the WFA when appointed to do so by the Council or the President in lieu of the Council.
The Bylaws state that the Board of Directors (or Council) governs the WFA and is composed of five officers: President, Vice President (North America), Vice President (other than North America), Secretary, and Treasurer; and six Council members, five elected by the membership of the Wild Felid Association. The sixth is typically the past President. At this time, WFA does not have a second Vice President position, but hopes to in the future.
Interested in running for office
(or helping with future WFA elections)?
Candidates for Council positions are chosen by the Election Committee. Any WFA member can also nominate a candidate, though the nominator must verify that nominees are members and have agreed to run for office and serve if elected. WFA members who are interested in being part of Election Committee or running for office, or helping in some capacity with future elections should Contact Us for more information.
More information on the duties of each office are given in Article III of the WFA Bylaws.
The WFA membership will be electing 4 officers (President, Vice President North America, Vice President Latin America, Secretary) and 1 Councilor in the upcoming election. Look for your ballot in the Winter 2012 issue of Wild Felid Monitor. See candidate biographies here.
NOTE: This year we are also offering an alternative to traditional mail-in ballots for our members. Go to the Members-only section to access an electronic ballot (fillable PDF) that can be completed on your computer and emailed to us. Either method is acceptable and we hope having alternatives makes it that much easier for all members to get out the vote!
The January 2010 issue of the Wild Felid Monitor contained a mail-in ballot to elect 3 members of the WFA Council. No officer positions were up for election. These Council members will serve during the 2010-2013 term.
About 25% of the membership returned ballots. Results were close, but the membership elected to the WFA Council the following individuals:
Ivonne Cassaigne
Marcella Kelly
Chris Papouchis
Congratulations to the new Council members and THANK YOU to all of the candidates.
The Winter 2008–2009 issue of the Wild Felid Monitor contained a mail-in ballot to elect 5 members of the WFA Council. The available positions included 4 general Council member seats and the Vice President. Interim WFA Council members who stepped off the Council include John Beecham, Rich DeSimone, Gary Koehler, and Hugh Robinson. These elected Councilors will serve during the 2009-2012 term (except Melanie Culver and David Stoner, who will serve until the election in 2013).
General Council members elected in 2009 included:
Chris Belden
Melanie Culver
David Stoner
Mike Tewes
Elected Vice President
Jim Williams