Becoming a CAP Board Member

• Candidates for Governor must have been a CAP Fellow in good standing for a minimum of five years prior to nomination.

What are the qualifications required to run for an officer position?

• Candidates for an officer position (ie, president-elect or secretary-treasurer) must have been a CAP Fellow in good standing for a minimum of ten years prior to nomination.
• Candidates for an officer position must also have served on the CAP Board of Governors prior to nomination.

• Members of the CAP Board of Governors are not paid. However, CAP officers (ie, president, president-elect, and secretary-treasurer) receive a small per diem for days spent away from their practice on CAP business.
• The CAP reimburses Board members for meeting travel costs and provides a small budget for reimbursement of reasonable office expenses necessary to fulfill their duties.

• Governor: 3 years (can be elected to a maximum of two terms)
• Secretary-Treasurer: 3 years (can be elected to two full terms)
• President-Elect: 5-year commitment (serves as president-elect for two years, after which automatically becomes president and serves two years in that role. After completion of presidential term, becomes an ex officio member of the Board of Governors as immediate past president for one year)

The Board holds four meetings per year for one to three days each. Board members must also factor in considerable time commitments in preparing for meetings.

• The Board frequently holds monthly calls to discuss and approve action items outside of regular Board meetings. These calls typically last an hour.
• Board members are also required to vote on policies via electronic ballot. Board members are given two weeks to review and vote on policies.
• Board members are appointed to at least one council and will attend those meetings.
• Board members are appointed to committees of the Board and will attend those meetings.

• No, campaigning is not required to run for CAP office.
• Per CAP policy, candidates that carry out campaigns are expected to use positive messaging and appropriate decorum.
• Concerns about campaign conduct should be reported to the Governance Services Department. Policy violations may result in disciplinary review or disqualification.
• For questions on infractions please reach out to the Governance Services Department.

• Official campaigning for potential candidates in the next election cycle may not begin until after the previous year’s election results have been announced.
• Potential candidates may only campaign for open positions in the next election cycle.
• The election cycle begins immediately upon official announcement of the previous year's election.

No. Per CAP policy, candidates for office will not ask staff members for assistance with their campaigns or otherwise place staff members in a compromising position. Candidates seeking assistance within CAP policy (eg, copies of mailing lists, information about election procedures) should contact the Governance Services Department.

• 100 Fellow signatures are required to petition to run for office.
• Membership classes other than Fellows and Life Fellows (i.e. Junior Members, International Fellows, etc.) do not count towards the 100-signature requirement.

No, but candidates that are nominated by the Nominating Committee are still encouraged to obtain 100 signatures.

No, participation in the CAP House of Delegates Forum is not required but is highly encouraged. The CAP will reimburse candidates for expenditures related to the House of Delegates Candidate Forum.

Campaign expenditures and activities must be limited to reasonable levels necessary for adequate candidate exposure to members.

No.

• Only business cards may be distributed to members. All other campaign memorabilia, including giveaways that have the candidate’s name or likeness may not be distributed at any time during the election cycle.
• Any items of value including but not limited to campaign stickers, pens, pins, buttons, and similar campaign materials are disallowed. This also includes distribution of CAP copyrighted material (including CAP publications authored by the candidate) that the candidate purchased.

Yes.

No.

For group dinners (including group drinks) attended by announced candidates in a currently contested election, each participant pays their own share of the expenses, with the exception of reimbursable expenses as per CAP policy. Gatherings of four or fewer members are exempt from this rule.

Yes, but campaign videos cannot include the CAP logo. Incidental appearances of the logo in campaign videos are permissible, but the video must include a disclaimer statement provided by the Governance Services Department that the CAP does not endorse their candidacy.

Candidates may not use the CAP logo in campaign materials. Incidental appearances of the logo in photographs are permissible, but all campaign
materials must include a disclaimer statement provided by the Governance Services Department that the CAP does not endorse their candidacy.

• Photographs of members and non-members (not including CAP staff) may only be used with their explicit consent to the candidate prior to publishing.
• The CAP Governance Services Department will not maintain or receive photograph releases. It is the responsibility of the candidate to maintain these releases.
• Consent is not required for group photographs containing six or more people.
• This applies to social media pages and personal websites.

• Photographs of CAP staff cannot be used in campaign materials.
• Group photographs including CAP staff may be included in campaign materials, so long as the group is not primarily composed of staff.

Use of the image of a cover of a CAP publication in campaign materials is permissible so long as the candidate includes a disclaimer statement provided by the Governance Services Department that the CAP does not endorse their candidacy.

• Candidates are encouraged not to circulate petitions while CAP meetings are in session.
  • For example, during presentations or when CAP business is under discussion (including virtual meetings).
  • Circulating petitions during downtime during meetings, such as meals, is preferred.
  • Other members may circulate petitions on behalf of candidates.

No. Electronic communications to the membership will be sent by the CAP on behalf of the candidates.

Candidates may present as a subject-matter expert on behalf of the CAP, but may not mention that they are running for CAP office while speaking on behalf of the CAP.