In accordance with the NAVREF by laws, I am writing to initiate board of directors’ elections to fill six NAVREF board positions that are scheduled for rotation in September 2009.  To begin this process, member NPCs are invited to nominate a representative for a position on the NAVREF board.

NAVREF welcomes the involvement of all NPCs and encourages your board of directors to nominate a candidate from your NPC.  NAVREF has a number of issues on the table–a renewed effort to update and clarify the NPC authorizing statute, responding to evolving VHA plans for NPC oversight, and the continuing transition to CRADAs–to name just a few.  In addition, NAVREF constantly explores new ways to help NPCs support VA’s research and education missions.  To accomplish its goals, NAVREF must continue its tradition of strong voluntary leadership.

Nominations are being solicited for six positions on the NAVREF board of directors in the following categories of personnel associated with member NPCs:

§  Executive Director - Two positions

§  Chief of Staff (COS) – One position

§  Associate Chief of Staff for Education (ACOS/E) – One position

§  Medical Center Director (MCD) – One position

§  At Large – One position – may be filled by an Executive Director, COS, ACOS/R, ACOS/E, or MCD

For a table that provides details of the positions up for election, please click here.  Although incumbents are eligible to run for some of the positions, interested individuals are encouraged submit nomination packages.  The Nominating Committee will fully consider all candidates.  If not placed on the slate for 2009, vacancies do occur from time to time, and it is helpful to know who may be interested in an appointment to the board.

Board member terms are three years and an individual may be elected for up to two consecutive terms.  For details of NAVREF’s expectations of board members as well as board operations and logistics for meetings, please click here.

Each board member must represent a different foundation or affiliated VA medical center.  Consequently, foundations already represented on the board may not nominate another representative unless that board member’s term expires in September 2009.

The documentation required to nominate an individual for election to the NAVREF board consists of three components, each of which should be addressed to the Nominating Committee and mailed to the NAVREF office, preferably in one envelope:

1.    A brief letter on foundation letterhead from the nominee’s board of directors nominating the individual for a position on the NAVREF board of directors.  The letter should be addressed to the NAVREF Nominating Committee and should clearly indicate the category for which the individual is nominated (executive director, COS, ACOS/E, etc.).

2.    A separate letter from the nominee addressed to the Nominating Committee providing brief biographical information and discussing his/her interest in serving on the board and personal goals for NAVREF.  This letter, which should be no more than one page in length, will be copied and sent to member foundations with the voting ballots.  It should be on foundation or personal letterhead.

3.    A separate short statement addressed to the Nominating Committee and signed by the nominee 1) authorizing his/her nomination; 2) providing his/her agreement to serve if elected; and 3) verifying his/her commitment to uphold the highest standards of corporation management.

Individuals planning to submit a nomination are asked to contact the NAVREF office prior to submitting a nomination packet.  Samples of all three documents are available upon request.

Joy Mitchell, executive director of the North Florida Foundation for Research and Education (Gainesville), and Jedd Nelson, executive director of the Biomedical Research and Education Foundation of Southern Arizona (Tucson), have graciously agreed to serve on the Nominating Committee for the 2009 elections.

Reminder: Send all nominations to NAVREF in time for receipt no later than close of business on April 9, 2009.  Mail to: NAVREF, 5480 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 214, Chevy Chase, MD 20815.  Faxed nominations are not acceptable, but a PDF of nomination materials may be emailed to bwest@navref.org with the originals to follow by mail.  The Nominating Committee will review all nominations and will determine the slate.

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact the NAVREF office.

Linked documents:

   Board Positions Up for Election in 2009

   NAVREF Board of Directors Expectations, Policies and Customary Practices