Meet the Candidates: 2021-2023 Board of Directors

Meet the Candidates 2021-2023 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Candidate statements are submitted for your information, as written. They have not been edited.

PRESIDENT

Wanda M. Simms, PRP

Wanda M. Sims, PRP, is an experienced leader who will further NAP’s mission. If elected president, Wanda’s focus will be to: • integrate targeted, needs-related training accessible via our website for members and non-members; • leverage technology to improve the quality and delivery of member services; and • provide units and associations with strategies and tools for developing their educational and leadership programs.

Wanda has been a member of the NAP Board of Directors for six years. In 2019, she was elected vice-president and is chair of NAP’s Membership Extension and Retention Committee and the board’s Personnel Committee. As treasurer for two terms (2015 to 2019), Wanda improved NAP’s financial position, strengthened its internal controls, and increased from $200,000 to nearly $600,000 its investment portfolio, which now is valued at $1.1 million.

Wanda joined NAP in 2008 and earned her Professional Registered Parliamentarian® credential in 2012. She is a member of the Florida State Association of Parliamentarians. Wanda served as the 2015 Biennial Convention’s assistant workshop coordinator and a workshop presenter at the 2016 Training Conference.

Wanda has the skills, knowledge, and abilities to serve as your president; she will continue to work tirelessly on behalf of NAP and would appreciate your vote.

VICE-PRESIDENT

Joyce Brown-Watkins, PRP

Joyce Brown-Watkins is asking for your support of her candidacy for the office of Vice-President of the National Association of Parliamentarians®.

Having served on the board 8 years has equipped her with the prerequisites that will enable her to effectively carry out the duties of Vice-President.

Involvement at the national level include serving on the Youth, Membership Extension and Retention, Minutes Approval and Pricing Committees as well as monitor for membership and registered test and facilitator for PQC and PRC credentials.

Along with having served 2 terms as District Director (2013-2017) and Director-at-Large (2017-2021) the challenges has helped her to achieve goals and carry out the mission of NAP. Continual committee involvement aid in goals to promote NAP, meeting management, and the credentialing process. These goals continue to aid in her desire to bring out the best in all of our members, potential members, and especially the leaders throughout our association.

A member of NAP since 1990 this candidate has the experience to successfully carry out the duties of Vice-President. Continual focus on the Vision and Mission of NAP and work with the President and executive board to ensure NAP continues to grow.

Joyce asks for your support and vote.

VICE-PRESIDENT

Kevin Connelly, PRP

I am asking for your support to allow me to continue to serve all of NAP, this time as your Vice President. As a Professional Registered Parliamentarian since 2002, I have had the honor and the pleasure to assist at the unit, association, district, and national levels, including serving the Washington State Association of Parliamentarians (WSAP) as its secretary, vice president, president, and parliamentarian. I have been and continue to be a member and officer in three parliamentary law units, and have presented educational workshops at all levels of NAP. Professionally, I have served as a parliamentarian to community associations, professional organizations, nonprofit corporations, and political parties.

Nationally, I have served on the NAP Board of Directors for the last three terms, first as a District Director Representative and then the last two terms as your Secretary.

I would like to use my experience as a District Director to work with the Membership Extension and Retention Committee to extend our recent successes in gaining new members and retaining current ones.

If elected, I will work as hard as I can to serve and assist NAP in its mission, and in its vision to provide parliamentary leadership to the world.

SECRETARY

Mona Calhoun, PRP

Mona Calhoun has been a member of NAP for more than 15 years and earned the PRP designation in 2010. She has served as First Vice-President for the Sartwell-Tunstall Unit; Treasurer and Delegate for the Registered Parliamentarians Unit; and as Historian, Chair of Parliamentary Law Day, and Treasurer for DCAP. On the national level, she has served as Chair of the Credentials Committee (2013, 2015), and the Budget/Finance Chair for the 2015 NAP Biennial Convention. She is the current Professional Development Committee Chairman.

Mona has served in several leadership roles for community boards, and civic and professional organizations. She has served as secretary for a regional conference, two international committees, and a state professional organization. She understands the importance of accurate and timely documentation. Mona has experience serving as a parliamentarian and presider; and she has provided consultation services to SGAs, HOAs and for the boards and annual meetings of national associations. She has presented workshops on parliamentary procedure at a vast array of conferences.

Mona believes it is important to keep the organization moving forward and implement new strategies to retain the current members and appeal to new members. Mona humbly asks for your support as NAP Secretary.

TREASURER

Mark Apodaca, PRP

Mark has been a member of NAP since 2015 and currently serve as the Treasurer of the New Mexico State Association of Parliamentarians. He is also a member of the American Institute of Parliamentarians.

Since 1983, he has served on boards of more than 20 national, state, and local nonprofit organizations as Chair, President, Vice President, and Treasurer. Mark has also served as a parliamentarian and board consultant in the areas of finance and governance to state and national organizations.

Mark’s 42 years of management experience in the area of accounting/finance includes 15 years in corporate, a total of 13 years with two nonprofit organizations, and another 15 years in government. He also taught at a major university.

During the 2019 conference, while Mark was a Registered Parliamentarian, he was asked by some members to consider running for Treasurer but one of the requirements was to be a Professional Registered Parliamentarian. He became a PRP shortly after the conference.

Mark is asking for support from fellow parliamentarians to endorse him as NAP’s next Treasurer during the 2021-2023 term. It will be his way to share his experience, expertise, and knowledge, and contribute to the association.

TREASURER

Henry C. Lawton, Jr., PRP

Henry C. Lawton, Jr., joined NAP in 2011 after a long career in the computer field, (where he assisted in the development of a number of financial systems), and management positions at Job Corps.

Henry: • Has extensive work experience provides him with the ability to manage business finances, using his knowledge of spreadsheets. • Has the ability to collaborate with team members and drive results. • Has strong verbal and written communications skills.

Upon becoming a regular member of NAP in 2011, he organized two units in Jacksonville, Florida. Henry began preparing for his RP credential in 2011 and obtained it in 2018. It took longer than expected due to a number of unexpected orthopedic surgeries. Reengaged, he obtained his PRP credential in 2019.

Currently, Henry, is president of the Jacksonville Parliamentary Procedure Study Group and the Florida State Association of Parliamentarians, a member of the Professional Development Committee, the Webinar and Meeting Support Committee, 2021 Biennial Convention Workshop Coordinator, and a facilitator for the PQC, PRC and Train-the-Trainer.

Henry believes deeply in the mission and vision of NAP. To that end, as NAP Treasurer, he will work diligently with the board and NAP staff to continue to improve the association’s finances.

DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE

Adam Hathaway, PRP

Adam Hathaway is dedicated to promoting equal access to democracy through his teaching and promotion of parliamentary procedure, as well as through public service, having held leadership positions in organizations ranging from the international to the local. This conviction led him to join the National Association of Parliamentarians in 2005. Adam’s education clearly reflects his devotion to leadership and development, as he holds a Bachelor’s in Organizational Communication and a Master’s in Public Administration.

Adam served as Albuquerque Parliamentarian Unit President, New Mexico State Association Secretary, Vice-President, President, and Parliamentarian for several years. He is also a member of the American Institute of Parliamentarians, Green Gavel Electronic Unit, eNAP Unit, and the Electronic Association of Parliamentarians.

In his second year on the Board, as Director-at-Large, Adam serves as Chairman of the Communications Committee and member of the Personnel, Association Management System, and Minutes Approval Committees and performs other tasks as assigned.

Adam has presided over non-profit organizations with budgets in the millions, overseen their investments, and supervised large numbers of volunteers, individually and in teams.

Adam believes deeply in the mission and goals of NAP and the fostering of the five R’s of success: Recruitment, Retention, Reinstatement, Reinvigoration and Relevance.

DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE

Carl Nohr, PRP

On election day in Las Vegas in 2019, I told you how amazing it was to discover NAP. After one term as a Director, I am even more impressed with our organization and my fellow members!

I became a member of NAP in 2013; Registered Parliamentarian in 2017 and Professional Registered Parliamentarian in 2018. I am a credentialled corporate director through the Institute of Corporate Directors, and serve as a Director, Speaker, Chair and Secretary for other organizations.

This is an exciting time for us. We can enhance our financial stability and simultaneously increase our influence in the world through expanded educational offerings. While continuing to build a strong internal focus on high quality member services and credentialling, we can simultaneously look externally to engage others through education. Some will just want to learn, while others will become members as we travel the path to parliamentary excellence together. Instead of serving thousands, we can serve tens of thousands!

I offer professionalism, experience and enthusiasm. It would be a great privilege to serve a second term as one of your Board Directors. I am happy to hear your thoughts anytime; email cnohr@telus.net or call (403) 581-8776. Thank you for considering me.