• Mailed out letters to all chapter members (88 total) to notify them of the upcoming election, especially to mention the March and April meetings. The letter of course included an invitation for anyone to step forward to be a candidate for one of the Officer or Director positions. Use the link below to view the letter that was sent out to the chapter membership.
  Click here to view the letter sent to membership via mass mailing
• Sent out emails (to those chapter members with email) with Committee activity updates and providing links to election-related documents, such as chapter Officer and Director duties (job descriptions). The emails also included the same information as was in the mass mailing letter.
• Committee members have had face-to-face conversations with several chapter members at the January chapter meeting regarding their nominations for chapter officer positions.
• Committee members are staying in constant contact with each other via email and phone conversations to discuss and exchange information and updates with regards to incoming nominees, and other related items.
• Created a webpage on our chapter's website that contains all election-related information and includes the latest progress of the Committee and links to important election-related documentation. Members may refer to this webpage at anytime for the latest information regarding the election process.
• Created election-related handouts for distribution at the March and April meetings. One special handout for this March meeting included some election process information and also included contact information for the members of the Nominations Committee. Use the link below to either view or print a copy of that handout.
  Click here to view or print the handout
• Committee members have also had phone conversations with several potential candidate nominees for all chapter officer and BOD positions, and with good results. And there have been other contacts via email. In all, the committee feels that we should have a good field of candidates for the election in April.
• Chapter Secretary/Treasurer, John Steelman, has furnished the committee with a handy guidelines document that he created for the 2017 chapter election - a very helpful document for the nominations committee. Much thanks John!

It was then time to present to the membership, the list of candidates for the upcoming election. Bob then displayed a slide on the projector, showing the list of candidates - see below.

Candidates for President:

• Frank Laitkep
• Joe McCreary

Candidates for Vice-President:

• Frank Laitkep
• Randy Ratcliff
• Augie Limas
• Larry Monroe

Candidates for Secretary/Treasurer:

• John Steelman

Candidates for Director (4 required):

• Frank Laitkep
• Augie Limas
• Larry Monroe
• Richard Wayne Woods
• Prudencio Arriaga
• Jimmy Ochoa

As Bob called out each Candidate's name, that member raised his hand so that everyone attending could see who the candidate was. Everyone then gave a nice round of applause for the candidates! Note that the Nominations Committee also provided a handout to the members, listing the candidates. Use the link below to either view or print the handout.

Bob then talked a bit about the upcoming election that will be held at the April 14th chapter meeting. The following election process items that the Nominations Committeer were still comitted to perform, were mentioned...

• Letters will be mailed to only those chapter members who do not have email access (22 total), alerting them of the election candidates and also urging them to attend the April Annual meeting. The Committee wants to make sure all chapter members are aware of the upcoming election process.
• Emails will be sent to those members with email access, alerting them of the election candidates and also urging them to attend the April Annual meeting.
• The actual election voting will take place at our next monthly (Annual) meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, April 14th, 2021.
• The Nominations Committee members (Bob, Louis, Harold) will administer the election voting process at that meeting.
• Before voting begins, all candidates (if they choose to do so) will be allowed time (3 minutes max) to present their thoughts on the position they are running for.
• The Committee will then administer the voting process, and hand out the 1-page voting ballot to the attending members (secret ballot).
• A new simple "check the box" voting ballot has been created by the Committee.
• In case of a tie vote, a newly created "Run-Off" ballot will be used to break the tie.
• And again, the 3-man Committee will handle the vote counting and announce the wining candidates.

In closing, Bob reminded everyone that the April Annual meeting is very important, and urges all members to try and attend. He mentioned that despite the new Texas Govenor's mandate that wearing face masks is no longer required, all those attending the meeting who wish to still wear a face mask, are encouraged to do so. Social distancing will still be required at the April meeting at Mikeska's.

One more thing - "Something Special" has been setup for the April meeting by the current Officers. It was announced at the meeting, however, our membership (you) will be notified by direct email and direct mailed letter of what's being planned for the meeting. We hope to see everyone at the April chapter Annual meeting! It's time for us to again start getting together monthly as a Vietnam Veterans of America chapter, and what better time to do that is at our next chapter's election meeting.

And finally, the Nominations Committee would also like to thank all those members who have shown interest in running for chapter officer positions. It is much appreciated by all the members of VVA chapter 1069!