2022 CANDIDATES

The Sister Cities International (SCI) Board of Directors is elected by its voting members. The election normally includes both electronic voting and in person voting. However, this year the entire election will be held virtually
with electronic voting. The results of the Election will be announced at the SCI Annual Business Meeting scheduled for Friday, July 8, 2022. More information on the election, as well as service on the Board of Directors can be found in the FAQ.

Sister Cities International is committed to the values of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in our organization at all levels.

Nine (9) At-Large Board positions will be filled by election. Seven (7) at-large positions are for full three-year terms (2022-2025), and two (2) at-large positions are for two-year terms (2022-2024).

Voting will begin on Friday, May 27th, 2022, at 11:59 AM EDT and is available through July 7th, 2022, at 11:59 PM EDT, and will be conducted online. The ballot will be available to view below.

2022 Board of Directors Election Candidates' Forum

Date: May 26, 2022 03:12 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

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2022 candidates

Carlo capua

jessica coffield

lee guio

Greg Jackson

jessey lee

Judge Bill C Littlejohn

Manny Pelaez-Prada

drew powell

christine warnke

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3

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YOUNG Professional REPRESENTATIVE

KEVIN O'DONnELL

HELENE SCHNEIDER

IVAN JAIME

JIM DONOVAN

RECOMMENDED AMENDMENTS TO THE BYLAWS

The recommended Amendments to the Bylaws concern clerical edits to the document, changes to the composition of the Global Awareness Team, addition of Chair Emeritus Council to the Advisory Board section, as well as the addition of the purpose, role, and appointments of Country/Regional Representatives. Please find more details about specific changes under each proposed amendment. Thank you for you dedication and leadership in our world-wide network of Sister Cities International.

Current language: The number of Directors of the Corporation shall be twenty-four (24) to twenty-six (26) and the composition of the Board of Directors shall be as set forth in the Articles of Incorporation; specifically: 

A. Twenty-one Directors, who shall represent the general Voting Members of the Corporation, shall be elected by the Voting Members; 

B. One Director, who shall be a young professional representative and shall be between the ages of 21 and 34 years old at the time of election, and shall be elected by the Voting Members;

C. One Director, who shall be a qualified State Representative, nominated by the Chair and approved by the Board of Directors; 

One Director, who shall be the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, who is elected pursuant to the Bylaws of the Corporation. 

D. No more than two Directors appointed by the Chair, with the consent of the Board of Directors, who provide exceptional skills or resources to the Corporation 

In addition, the Immediate Past Chair of the Board of Directors, and the Chair of the Honorary Board Alumni shall serve as ex-officio members of the Board of Directors, but shall not be considered Directors and shall not have voting rights on the Board of Directors.

Change to: The number of Directors of the Corporation shall be twenty-four (24) to twenty-six (26) and the composition of the Board of Directors shall be as set forth in the Articles of Incorporation; specifically: 

A. Twenty-one Directors, who shall represent the general Voting Members of the Corporation, shall be elected by the Voting Members; 

B. One Director, who shall be a young professional representative and shall be between the ages of 21 and 34 years old at the time of election, and shall be elected by the Voting Members; 

C. One Director, who shall be a qualified State Representative, nominated by the Chair and approved by the Board of Directors; 

D. One Director, who shall be the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, who is elected pursuant to the Bylaws of the Corporation; 

E. No more than two Directors appointed by the Chair, with the consent of the Board of Directors, who provide exceptional skills or resources to the Corporation, and;

F. In addition, the immediate past Chair of the Board of Directors, and the Chair of the Honorary Board Alumni shall serve as ex-officio members of the Board of Directors but shall not be considered Directors and shall not have voting rights on the Board of Directors.

Purpose: Clerical. Change format and renumber sub items D, E and F.

Please carefully read the following bylaw amendment, and then cast your vote below. Select one of the responses.

Yes, I approve the amendment.

No, I reject the amendment.

Current language on page 9, Article VI, Section 4: The Global Awareness Team shall serve to extend the leadership representative and operational reach of the Chair and President/CEO, be comprised of the Eisenhower Distinguished Leadership Council, the Mayors Leadership Council, the Global Envoys and Continent/Region/Country Representatives annually nominated by the Chair and approved by the Board of Directors.

Change language on page 9, Article VI, Section 4 to: The Global Awareness Team shall serve to extend the leadership representative and operational reach of the Chair and President/CEO, composed of the Eisenhower Distinguished Leadership Council, Mayors Leadership Council, and the Global Envoys.

AND

Add on page 10: ARTICLE VIII – COUNTRY/REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVES 

Section 1. Purpose. Sister Cities International Country/Regional Representatives serve as the operational field team to support the growth and development of the SCI movement. They assist and work with the Corporation to facilitate the formation of new sister community relationships, to advise, assist and provide expertise at the local, municipal, county, state, provincial, territorial, regional, national or international levels, to encourage the growth of member programs and services, to serve as a conduit for communication between member communities and the President/CEO and to ensure dynamic and responsive service to existing relationships according to the Mission of the Corporation.

Section 2. Role. The role of the Country/Regional Representative is to represent Sister Cities International, to grow the network of member communities, to communicate between member communities and the Corporation leadership and staff, to connect member communities to organizations and resources, and to advise and assist member communities.

Section 3. Appointment. Each country within the Sister Cities Membership network may have one or more Country/Regional Representatives. The Chair of the Board of Directors shall nominate individuals to the Board of Directors for appointment as Country/Regional Representatives, as required.

Purpose: Redefine the Global Awareness Team composition and add a new Article to the bylaws to outline the purpose, role, and appointment of Country/Regional Representatives.

Please carefully read the following bylaw amendment, and then cast your vote below. Select one of the responses.

Yes, I approve the amendment.

No, I reject the amendment.

Add: Section 5. Chair Emeritus Council.  The Chair Emeritus Council, comprised of all past Chairs, serves as a historical, organizational and outreach resource, as well as a pool of experienced SCI national executive leadership representatives at the disposal of the Chair. 

Purpose: Content. Add new ARTICLE VI Section 5. Chair Emeritus Council highlighted title and paragraph.

Please carefully read the following bylaw amendment, and then cast your vote below. Select one of the responses.

Yes, I approve the amendment.

No, I reject the amendment.