Election Process and Board Member Recruitment

• Conservation District Supervisors
• Characteristics of successful district board members
• Analyzing the needs in district and desirable qualities and needed skills for board member recruitment
• Board member recruitment techniques
• Creating a more diverse board representative of those served
• Board member election and/or appointment process, procedures, forms and deadlines
• Orientation systems for new board members
• Board member removal

• Listens well
• Effectively solves problems
• Makes decisions based upon data
• Is passionate about the organization
• Understands the finances of the organization
• Focuses on the mission of the organization in all decision making
• Has a sense of vision and wants the organization to be more than it is today
• Understands the needs of the members
• Works as a team member but offers respectful dissent
• Asks probing questions, especially on matters that are unfamiliar
• Makes decisions based upon the organization’s strategic plan
• Follows through on Board and Committee assignments

1. Puts his/her agenda aside and does what’s best for the organization

2. Builds a sense of fellowship among those with whom he/she works

3. Sees the big picture

4. Is trusted by the other members of the Board and staff

5. Communicates well, in writing and verbally

6. Works well on a team

7. Is accepting of people with opinions different than his/hers

8. Asks questions which challenge the status quo

9. Understands the organization’s finances and takes fiscal responsibility

10. Has a strong commitment to the mission of the organization

"While women and people of color help to diversify boards, it’s important not to overlook other dimensions that shape discussions and  bring diversity into the boardroom. 

In considering your recruitment efforts, consider these attributes markers:

Boards are more in tune with the needs of the people they serve when they’re comprised of the same demographics. Strong debates are healthy and many perspectives coming together in the boardroom make for robust discussions and good decision-making.

The lack of diversity can cause harmful division in nonprofit boards. Best practices for nonprofit board diversity encourage nominating committees to do comprehensive outreach in their recruitment efforts."

- https://www.boardeffect.com/blog/7-steps-to-increase-board-diversity-for-nonprofits/ 

I.          Definitions (Chapter 39, Title 7, Del. Code)

(1)      “Landowner” or “owner of land” means and includes any person, firm or corporation who shall hold title to any land in this State;

(2)      “Farmer” means any person holding legal title to a farm and being actively engaged in farming operations;

(3)      “Cooperator” means a landowner for whom a district provides, or has agreed to provide, in accordance with this chapter, services, material and equipment with respect to the landowner’s land within the district.

II.         Eligibility of Candidates

(1)      (a)       The elected members of the Kent and Sussex Districts shall be farmers residing in those respective counties. In New Castle County, two (2) of the elected supervisors shall be farmers residing in the southern portion of the County, and the remaining two (2), who shall not be farmers, shall reside in the northern portion of the County, according to a division established by the Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, 7 Del. Code, Section 3907(b).

           (b)       The division of New Castle County established by the Secretary for this purpose is that the northern portion of the county shall include all land north of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, and the southern portion shall include all land south of the Canal.

(2)       The Department further requires that a candidate shall reside in a specified section of the District to provide geographical distribution of supervisors in order to facilitate the performance of their duties.

(3)       The four Supervisor Areas in each county shall be shown on a map prepared by the Board of District Supervisors and approved by the Department.

III.       Nomination of Candidates

(1)       The County Board of Supervisors may nominate qualified candidates including supervisors who shall be eligible to succeed themselves if otherwise qualified.

(2)       Other nominations may be made provided: (a) each nomination is supported by ten (10) signatures of landowners in the Conservation District, and (b) that the nomination with supporting signatures is presented to the County Board of Supervisors by the deadline set for nominations which shall be at least two weeks in advance of the election date.

(3)       The County Board of Supervisors shall invite other nominations through press and radio news releases at least once in each of the two weeks preceding the deadline for nominations.

IV.       Ballots

The County Board of Supervisors shall prepare the ballots for the election after review and acceptance of the nominations.

V.        Supervision of Polls

Each voting place shall be supervised by (a) two members of the County Board of Supervisors other than those that may be candidates for reelection, or (b) two landowners who are cooperators in the soil conservation program and designated by the County Board, or (c) one each from (a) and (b) above.

VI.       Distributing and Collecting Ballots

(1)       The Supervisors of Polls appointed under V above shall obtain the ballots from the office of the Board of District Supervisors and take them to the designated voting place.

(2)       The Supervisors of Polls shall determine the eligibility of those voting and maintain a roster of names of those voting.

(3)       At the close of the voting period, the Supervisors of Polls shall seal the ballot box and deliver the ballot box and the roster of names of those voting to the County Board of Supervisors.

VII.      Qualification of Voters

(1)       a.         In Kent and New Castle Counties, landowners who shall declare in writing that they hold title to any land in the Supervisor area holding an election shall be eligible to vote.

           b.         In Sussex County, landowners who shall declare in writing that they hold title to any land in Sussex County shall be eligible to vote in all Supervisor area elections.

(2)       When land is jointly owned, for example husband and wife, each owner shall be eligible to vote.

(3)       Landowners shall be entitled to only one vote regardless of the number of tracts of land owned.

(4)       In the case of corporations, only one vote may be cast regardless of the number of owners or number of tracts of land owned.

(5)       The written statement indicating ownership by a corporation shall include an affirmation that no other person is voting for the corporation.

VIII.     Voting Places

There shall be at least (3) but not more than five (5) polling places located within the Supervisor Area holding an election.

IX.       Hours of Voting

(1)       Urban Supervisor Areas – The voting place shall be open between the hours of 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

(2)       Farmer Supervisor Areas – The voting place shall be open for a period of not less than six (6) hours, the precise hours to be designated by the Board of District Supervisors and publicized as required in XI

X.        Counting Ballots

(1)       The County Board of Supervisors, in executive session, excluding incumbent supervisor candidates, shall count the ballots cast, check the number of ballots cast against the number of names on the roster of voters, and determine who has been elected.

(2)       They shall then seal the ballot boxes and forward the ballots and the roster of names for each voting place to the Director of Soil and Water Conservation with a report on the result of the election.

XI.   Notice of Pending Election

(1)       Public notice shall be given at least one (1) week in advance of the election. Such notice shall appear in at least two (2) newspapers distributed in the County. The notice shall include (a) the names of the candidates for the County Board of Supervisors, (b) the date of the election, (c) the hours the voting places will be open, and (d) the location of the voting places.

(2)       In addition, posters announcing the coming election shall be displayed at each of the voting places at least one (1) week in advance of the election.

XII.      Action When Only One Candidate is Nominated

In the event that there is only one (1) nomination for a candidate to the Board of District Supervisors after due notice has been given and the time for nomination has elapsed, the Board of District Supervisors shall not hold an election, but shall declare the nominee elected, provided he meets all legal requirements.  They shall so notify the Director of Soil and Water Conservation and they shall also give public notice of their actions.

"A mistake that many boards make is not investing enough time in  preparing for and planning a good board orientation  session. The reason is often not having enough time. But not having enough time is more of an excuse than a reason, because boards will always make time for things they consider to be a priority.

A board orientation process is central to giving board directors information, context and perspective so they don’t have to pick things up as they go."

https://www.boardeffect.com/blog/board-orientation-best-practices/

Can Supervisors be Removed?

YES

By Secretary

“For neglect of duty or misconduct”

•  Conservation District Guide – Tools for Recruiting Board Members  (available through NACD's Members Only Section or through request from DACD)
•  Board Diversity: Adding Diversity to the Conservation Partnership  (NRCS publication)
•  Did You Know? Diversity and Customer Service  (NACD Blog Post)
•  NACD's web page on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion 

Part One of the Conservation District Guide listed above asks seven questions to analyze the needs of your district:

1. List major programs and activities of your district.
2. What are the strengths and weaknesses of your district?
3. What programs and activities would you like to do, but because of a lack of resources, have been unable to accomplish?
4. Identify types of people who have the knowledge, experiences or skills that can help you meet these accomplishments.
5. List skills, abilities, knowledge and experiences provided by each current board member.
6. Who does your district serve? List your clients.
7. What new types of board members could help diversify your board, accomplish your mission, and better serve your clients?

Parts Two and Three of the guide help you narrow down the key qualities to look for in a new board member, develop a recruitment prospectus and conduct outreach to recruit successful candidates.