The new bylaws passed in October 2016. The proposed amendments recommended changes to that document. Each proposed amendment was accompanied by the text of the original, the proposed change, a rationale for the change, pros and cons of the change, and a recommendation to the membership by the board regarding the vote. To facilitate the election, ACPE chose Election Buddy to ensure voting integrity and a secure election. Eligible ACPE members received their ballots via email, an announcement on the ACPE homepage, weekly briefings, newsletters, the annual conference, and friendly email reminders.
About a dozen people reached out to the national office after the polls closed with concerns about the amount of time the polls were open and/or their ability to vote. Considering the margins of each amendment, these votes would not have changed the outcome of the election. However, I want to assure you that your concerns were shared with me. We will take your feedback and continue to work to improve our election process. Although not perfect, voting online allows for greater membership participation in our elections. We estimate that 340 people attended the annual member meeting in Minneapolis a few weeks ago compared to over 400 people who participated in our latest election.
Voter engagement is essential to the mission, vision, and future of ACPE because it not only empowers the members to work together, but it also helps us to further our goal to be “The Standard for Spiritual Care and Education.” I trust that we will continue to Work Together, Build Together our beloved ACPE for a brighter tomorrow.