Dear Local LPS President, Area Representatives and Members:

As instructed by the Election Committee I have to make following declaration.
The term for the 2007 Board of Area Representatives and the 2007 Executive Committee will expire in early 2008, which means that elections for the 2008 Board of Area Representatives and Executive Committee are near. To facilitate the election process, local leaders and members must elect respective Area Representatives and forward those names to the Election Committee before the deadline of: FEB.1, 2008.
Number of Nominations. Any number of eligible candidates may be nominated for the position of Area Representative for a particular State, so long as the nominee resides in that particular State. Number of Area Representatives per State. As per LPS Bylaws, the number of Area Representatives for any particular State derives from the total number of members and life memberships for that particular State. Attached is an excerpt from sections 6 and 7 of the LPS Bylaws regarding pertinent election information.
Actual Election of Area Representatives. The nominees for each State must be compiled and a local election finalized in time for the 2008 annual meeting. Each eligible member must receive a ballot listing the nominees for his or her respective State, indicating the total number of Area Representative Positions to be filled for that State. The member may then vote for up-to the maximum number of Area Representative positions available
for his or her State (e.g., if there are three positions available, a member may cast a vote for up-to three nominees). A member may not cast multiple votes for any single nominee.
Requirements. In addition to any other requirements set forth in LPS Bylaws, persons elected must be able to travel, attend meetings and provide various community services as required from time to time in the best interest of LPS.

6.0 AREA REPRESENTATIVES

6.1 General Powers: The affairs of the Samaj shall be managed by the Board of Area Representatives (“Board”), who shall have supervision, control, and direction of the Samaj’s business matters. The Board shall determine the policies of the Samaj and any
changes therein within the bounds established by law and these bylaws. The Board shall actively pursue its purposes, and it shall have discretion in the disbursement of Samaj funds. The Area Representatives may adopt such rules and regulations for the conduct of the Board’s business as it deems advisable and may in the execution of the powers granted, appoint such agents as it may consider necessary.

6.2 Composition of the Board: The number of Area Representatives of the Samaj shall be proportionate to the number of lifetime and annual members of a particular state as follows.

6.2.1 Area Representatives per lifetime members: Once a state has achieved at least twenty (20) lifetime members, that state shall be entitled to elect one Area Representative therefore. Once that state achieves an additional twenty (20) lifetime members, that state
shall be entitled to elect one additional Area Representative therefore.

6.2.2 Area Representatives per regular members: Notwithstanding lifetime members already represented as set forth hereinafter, there shall be one Area Representative for the first seventy-five (75) members, or fraction thereof, with an additional Area Representative for each additional fifty (50) member increment, or fraction thereof. Where a state has fewer than seventy-five (75) members that state will be allocated one Area Representative as long as the members have a local Samaj and send the names of an elected Area Representative to the LPS office or current President. An Area representative must be a member of the LPS of USA for at least two years prior to becoming an area representative. If there is more than one local Samaj in any state, then the number of Area Representatives shall be prorated proportionate to the cumulative membership in LPS for each Samaj by local Samaj leaders, however, the total number of Area Representatives for such state still remains the same as allocated by above formula, subject to additional Area Representatives arising from the incidence of lifetime memberships as set forth hereinafter.

6.3 Election of the Area Representatives: At the annual meeting, each state will send the names of the elected Area Representatives to the Board. Representatives shall be elected by a majority of the votes of the members present and voting at the annual meeting. Area
Representatives shall be elected every one (1) year for a term of one (1) year.

6.4 Election of the Executive Committee: Beginning in July 2009, each year, the Area Representatives shall elect the members of the Executive Committee for a term of one (1) year. During years in which Area Representative elections occur and upon election of the
representatives, the new Area Representatives shall elect the members of the Executive Committee.

6.5 Vacancy of Area Representatives: The Executive Committee shall fill any Area Representative positions vacated, due to resignation or otherwise, with the replacement coming from the affected local Samaj.

6.6 Meeting of Area Representatives Board: The Board shall strive to meet semiannually at such times and places as it may elect. At all Board meetings for the Area Representatives, the President shall act as Chairman. In absence of the President, the first Vice-President shall act as chairman. In the absence of both, the second Vice-President shall as chairman. Notice of meetings of the Board shall be sent to each Area Representative. Following good-faith posting of notice, failure in receipt or delivery of notices shall not invalidate the meeting or any action taken therein.

7.0 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

7.1 Composition of the Executive Committee: The Executive Committee consists of the following twenty (23) voting members:

President
First Vice-President
Second Vice-President
Secretary
Joint Secretary
Treasurer
Joint Treasurer
Publication Officer
Chief Editor
Joint Editor
Public Relations Officer (I)
Public Relations Officer (II)
Public Relations Officers (III)
Public Relations Officer (IV)
Public Relations Officer (V)
Public Relations Officer (VI)
Public Relations Officer (VII)
Youth Committee Officer
Joint Youth Committee Officer
Information Technology Officer
At-large Member Ex-Officio
*At-large Member Woman east of Mississippi
*At-large Member Woman west of Mississippi
• Of the twenty (23) Executive Committee members, two (2) positions are reserved for women, one of whom will reside east of the Mississippi river and one of whom will reside west of the Mississippi river.

7.2.1 Duties and Authority: The Executive Committee shall possess and may exercise any and all powers of the Area Representatives between meetings of the Board. The Executive Committee will also perform such specific duties and functions as may be assigned it by the Board. At each meeting of the Board, the Executive Committee shall report its actions taken since the previous Board meeting.

7.3 Meetings: The Executive Committee shall meet as often as deemed necessary by the President of the Board, who shall give the members of the Committee at least fifteen (15) days advance notice of such meetings, unless such advance is expressly waived by Executive Committee members who do not attend the meeting.

ELECTION COMMITTEE:
C.M.Patel
Dan (Dhansukh) Patel
R.V.Patel

Please click here to download the election process policies and procedures