The Military Order of the World Wars

SUBJECT:       Chapter Committee Members of the Nominating Committee.

TO:   Chapter Commanders, National Officers, Region, Department and State Commanders.

Purpose:  To provide guidance on the voting process and committee membership relevant to attendance at the National Convention Nominating Committee Meeting. This memorandum will also serve to accelerate the verification of committee members authorized admission to the Nominating Committee Meeting.

 NOMINATING COMMITTEE MEMBERS

1. Chapter Committee Members:  In accordance with the National Convention Rules of Order, for the nominating committee meeting, which are located on the website and mentioned in Chapter VIII of the MOWW Handbook, each chapter is authorized one representative to the committee and the Chapter Commander, by virtue of his election as Chapter Commander, is authorized to serve in that capacity as a voting member of the committee. He/she therefore is the PRIMARY representative of the chapter. Should he/she be unable to attend the national convention, he/she shall name an ALTERNATE committee member to represent the chapter at the Nominating Committee Meeting. The PRIMARY or ALTERNATE member of the committee will hand carry an authorization letter to the convention (see Attachment 1) and present it at the Nominating Committee Registration Desk prior to the nominating committee meeting. A numbered ballot and the chapter registered committee member convention badge will entitle admission to the meeting room and all balloting materials.
2. CHAPTERS WITHOUT A SELECTED REPRESENTATIVE: In the absence of a chapter PRIMARY or ALTERNATE committee member as designated by the chapter commander, the chapter members present at the National Convention may select one of the members present as it’s chapter nominating committee member. A blank committee member selection form may be obtained from the Chairman, Nominating Committee or the Nominating Committee Operations Director (Colonel Richard A. Colson) at the Committee Registration Desk during the convention.
3. DEPARTMENT COMMANDERS AS CHAPTER COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Department Commanders are NOT automatic voting chapter committee members to the Nominating Committee Meeting. However, a Department Commander may elect on his/her own authority to represent a chapter when there is NO chapter representative present at the National Convention. A blank committee member selection form may be obtained as outlined in paragraph 2 above. The Department Commander will only have one vote.
4. GENERAL STAFF OFFICERS AS CHAPTER REPRESENTATIVES: General Staff Officers are NOT automatic voting committee members to the Nominating Committee meeting. However, they may be selected to represent their chapter in the same manner as other chapter members, as described in paragraph 2 above.
5. PAST COMMANDERS-IN-CHIEF (PCinCs) AND ALL CURRENTLY INSTALLED REGION COMMANDERS AS AUTOMATIC DELEGATES: Chapter II of the MOWW Handbook specifies that all Past CinCs and all currently installed Region Commanders (posted on the rolls at National headquarters) are automatic members of the Nominating Committee with voting privileges.

a.       By custom however, as developed over the years, the Chairman of the Nominating Committee (2nd Past CINC) and the Vice Chairman of the Nominating Committee (Immediate Past CINC) will not cast ballots for any candidates or display any favoritism for specific candidates. Additionally, to ensure complete impartiality in voting, Companions and Spouses who assist the committee with the vote counting will not  be related or married to any announced candidate for national office. 

b.       Region Commanders and Region General Staff officers do not have the authority to represent a chapter in their region when that chapter is un-represented at the Nominating Committee Meeting. When the region commander is unable to attend, he/she may provide written authorization for the region’s senior vice commander or general staff officer to represent the region at the Nominating Committee Meeting.

6.  ANNOUNCEMENT OF VOTING RESULTS. The previous informal policy of not announcing the tally of votes for each individual candidate will be continued in 2009. Only the winner’s names will be announced for each National office. This is for two reasons: First, so as not to discourage future leadership candidates for office who may not be well known and receive only a few votes. Second, to avoid acrimony and hard feelings over closely contested positions. It should be reminded that the Nominating Committee report is a recommendation to the National Convention. Candidates not satisfied with the results of the Nominating Committee have the option of having their name entered as a candidate from the floor of the full convention after the Nominating Committee presents its recommendations.