Your Vote Counts

By AJ Moffitt, staff writter

It’s almost that time again! Every two years, the Porsche Club of America, Gold Coast Region, holds its elections for the Board, and this year December 31st is when the current Board’s terms will end. Board Members include a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, four Directors, and the Past President. There are also standing committees and special committees, with both of these needing Committee Chairs to ensure the proper execution.

But what does running for a Board Member or Committee Chair position entail? Can anyone run? Below are some important things to know about how members of PCA can run for a Board position or Committee Chair position with the club.

What are the requirements of each of the four Officer positions?

• President – The President is responsible for attending all Board of Directors meetings, in addition to representing the club at the National

Board of Directors meetings. • Vice President – The Vice President shall fill in for the President if the President is not available.

Additionally, they shall help the

President with administrative items. • Secretary – The Secretary is responsible for keeping the minutes of all meetings, including the results of all votes. This person also is responsible for maintaining all nonfinancial records. • Treasurer – The Treasurer is responsible for managing all monies, debts, obligations, and assets of the club. This person ensures monies are deposited, and bills are paid accordingly. The above explains the general responsibilities of the four Officers though other responsibilities can be added as necessary. The elected Officers, the elected Directors and the last Past President shall constitute the Board of Directors of the Club and they are responsible for the proper conduct of the administrative affairs of the Club, the proper functioning of the committees, and shall insure compliance with the Bylaws.

With regards to the Standing Committees, committees may be added as deemed necessary. Typically, there are eleven standing committees, each needing a Committee Chair. These are:

• Nomination • Historian • Membership • Website and Electronic Media • Official Publication • Autocross • Driver’s Education • Social • Club Race • Safety • Bylaws

There is also a 3-person Nominating Committee, assigned by the President, which includes the Past President and two other members who are appointed by the President. This group is responsible for nominating individuals for all offices, in addition to accepting nominations from club members. • You must be a member in good standing. Membership status includes active, family-active, associate, or affiliate member. • You must attend at least three (3)

Board meetings in the calendar year. o Contact a Board member to request and obtain an invitation and Zoom link to the meetings. • You must be nominated for a position by either the Nominating Committee – or – by a club member in good standing who has nominated you to the

Nominating Committee.

What are some other items that the Board Members and Committee Chairs participate in or assist with?

• Board Members vote on items pertaining to the club. This includes how money is spent, or donations are made. • These individuals and Committee

Chairs organize and run the various social activities that the club oversees, including but not limited to events for Autocross,

Drivers Education, Juniors

Events, social gatherings, and more.

If you meet the criteria and are able to run for a position as a Board Member, what are the next steps? Contacting the

To run for any of the above Board Member or Committee Chair positions, you must meet the following criteria:

Nominating Committee is an important step if running for a position. Are you interested in running? If so, contact Steve Kidd, Nominating Chair at Steve_Kidd@ bellsouth.net, today.

You can find full details on running for the Board of Directors and other policies of the club by reviewing the Bylaws, which can be found online at: https://www. goldcoastregion.org/gcr-bylaws-2019/.

Do you want to be more involved in the club, but you don’t want to run for a Board Member or volunteer for a Committee Chair position? Don’t worry! There are plenty of opportunities where you can help! Volunteers are always needed for the club. Each of our events is as wonderful as they are because of passionate members, just like you, who volunteer their time and resources. You can volunteer for events that are posted, or you can even suggest an event to run on your own. Club events are voted on during Board meetings, so even if you don’t want to run for a position, if you want to suggest and host an event, you will need to attend a meeting. Connect with Christy Spangler, Social Chair at ChristySpangler@yahoo.com, to make a suggestion for an event.

What are you waiting for? Come see what being a Board Member or a Committee Chair is all about. Join other PCA members at one of the Board meetings. Remember, it’s not just the cars, it’s the people!