Elections

Frequently asked questions

If you have questions regarding the election results, please contact Wendy Dinwiddie, Manager, Board Operations, at 703-295-6495 or [email protected].

• What are the qualifications to run for office?

  Candidates for all elected positions must be ASCE members in good standing. In addition, Candidates for:

  • President-elect must have prior service on the Board of Direction.
  • Geographic Region Director must have an Address of Record within the Region they wish to represent and have served as a Region Governor.
  • Technical Region Director must have served as a voting member on an Institute Board of Governors.
  • Region Governor must have an Address of Record within the Region they wish to represent and have prior service as a Section or Branch officer, a member of a Section or Branch committee, or as a member of a Society-level committee.

• What are the duties for elected office?

  • The President is the chief elected officer of the Society and the chief representative and spokesperson for the Society, working in partnership with the Executive Director. The President chairs the Board of Direction and the Executive Committee, and exercises those executive functions defined by the Society's governing documents. The President represents the Society domestically and internationally, strives to educate and motivate members and potential members, strengthen the Society, promote Society principles and policies, fulfill Society goals, influence Society future directions, and implement Board of Direction decisions.
  • The President-elect's primary duty is to prepare for a term as President. The President-elect serves as the communications link between the Society and its Organizational Entities, and represents the Society with other associations, industry groups and organizations as requested by the President, Executive Committee or Board of Direction, sets goals and develops structure for the upcoming administration, and nominates individuals for service on committees for Board of Direction approval.
  • Society Directors represent the Society's best interests as a member of the Board of Direction. They help monitor and steer the Society toward its goals. A Society Director acts as the conduit between Society corporate operations and the Organizational Entities. A Society Director chairs their Region Board and also serves on committees, task committees and/or in other roles as assigned.
  • Region Governors participate in Region Board meetings, facilitate communication between the Society-level and the Region members, serve on Society-level committees as appointed, provide leadership at Council meetings, Workshops for Section and Branch Leaders and Younger Member Forums, attend meetings of Councils, Sections, Branches, student organizations, technical and professional groups and Younger Members, and file a report to the Region Board following each.

• How long is a term of service?

  • President-elect: One (1) year as President-elect, one (1) year as President, one (1) year as Past President
  • Society Director: Three (3) years
  • Region Governor: Three (3) years, in most cases

• What is the time and financial commitment to serve?

  First- and second-year Society Directors should expect to spend a minimum of 49 days per year preparing for and participating in various meetings; third year Society Directors should expect a minimum of 64 days per year. (Due to COVID-19, meetings are being held virtually which has significantly reduced the number of days needed for travel to and from meetings.) Many meetings occur over weekends, but week days will also be required. A Society Director must be able to attend all Board and applicable committee meetings to be effective and to provide adequate representation.

  The approximate annual time expected from each Region Governor is approximately 34 days.

  The Society reimburses Society Directors and Region Governors for reasonable transportation costs, plus up to $175 per authorized room night for meetings attended.

  The Society Director bears all other expenses including registration fees for the Annual Convention and OPAL gala. There is also an expectation that each Society Director and Board member will support the ASCE Foundation financially each year, at a level of their choosing.

  The personal expense to a Region Governor is estimated to be approximately three hundred dollars ($300) to twelve hundred dollars ($1,200) per year. This amount may vary depending on the size of the Region, the number of units within the Region, and the number of committee appointments assigned to a Region Governor.

• I am ready to commit, so what do I need to do?

  • President-elect: First determine whether to pursue nomination through your Geographic or Technical Region, or as a Past At-Large Director. To declare, the Letter of Intent and Election Materials must be submitted to the Chair of the respective Region Board and Society Secretary not later than November 1. Once declared, a Candidate may not change their selected path for nomination.
  • Society Director and Region Governor: Submit the Letter of Intent and Election Materials to the Chair of the respective Region Nominating Committee and the Society Secretary not later than December 1.