2015 Dons Trust Board election

Would you like to play an active role in setting the strategic direction for our club? Could you hold the club’s executives to account on behalf of Dons Trust members? Election Steering Group chair John Dolan has details of this year’s Dons Trust Board election.

The Dons Trust Board election process started on 1 October, when nominations opened, and this year there are six positions to fill. Whatever the result of the Back in Two Ticks vote, the new Board will have a key role to play in setting the club’s vision and direction.

The Board sets the strategic direction of the club, appoints the staff who deliver the strategy and ensures that they deliver it. The Board also engages with Trust members and the wider community, to ensure that the strategy reflects the wishes of stakeholders.

The Board has nine members, each of whom is elected for a period of two years. This year, five members’ terms come to an end. There is also a casual vacancy to fill, because a member who would otherwise have continued in office until next year has resigned. So the current election is to choose five members to serve for two years and another member (the casual vacancy) for one year. The terms of the remaining three Board members – Matt Breach, Nigel Higgs and Sean McLaughlin – end next year.

Many different skills can be an advantage in helping the Board deal with the various aspects of its activities, but no specific skills are required of Board members. The essential attributes a Board member must have are commitment, effort and the ability to work within a team environment. A joining pack is being drawn up, and training opportunities will be available. Any member considering nominating themselves for election to the Board will find it invaluable to discuss the role with an existing Board member or with the Dons Trust Secretary.

All Trust members are entitled to vote in the election, and any member (with the exception of club executive officers) can stand for election to the Board.

Each year, the Board delegates the running of the election to the Election Steering Group, whose role includes arranging for independent oversight. Neil Springate of the Fulham Supporters Trust will again provide independent oversight.

The election process began on 1 October, when the election documentation was made available on this website. At the same time, letters/e-mails were sent to members to formally announce the opening of nominations. Nominations should be submitted by 2.30 pm on 17 October, the day of the home match against Morecambe. Voting is scheduled to open on 2 November and close on 7 December, and the result will be announced at the Annual General Meeting of the Trust on 10 December.

If you wish to contribute to the club through elected membership of the Board, you must nominate yourself as a candidate. You should also:

  • familiarise yourself with the Dons Trust rules for the 2015 election
  • have been a full, paid-up Trust member on 30 September 2015
  • have two proposers, each of whom was also a full, paid-up Trust member on 30 September 2015 (candidates cannot propose themselves but can propose another candidate)
  • provide a manifesto of not more than 800 words
  • provide a manifesto summary of not more than 120 words and a good-quality photograph for use in a matchday programme.

Supporters must have been full, paid- up Trust members on 30 September 2015 to vote in the election.

This article originally appeared in the matchday programme for the game against Barnet, played on Saturday, October 3.