Dear Fellow Alumni,
First, let me extend to each of you my best wishes for 2024 and thank you for your continued support for VMI and the VMI Alumni Agencies.
As I stated at the last annual meeting, I heard the feedback from many alumni and directed a review of our nomination and voting procedures. Today’s technology allows us to further engage the entire alumni body, providing you with the ability to vote on the slate vetted and developed by the Nominating Committee of the VMI Alumni Association.
I am happy to report the Board of Directors approved the use of an electronic voting system for our members beginning with the upcoming spring annual meeting. During this process, the members will vote on the slate of directors. This will allow greater participation in the annual voting meeting, and it eliminates the burden of attending the meeting in person.
Since last fall, our staff has investigated possible platforms for electronic voting with the objective of protecting private information while securing an effective process. After researching the reputation and experience of several companies, we selected Simply Voting.
There are two critical components to the success of this process. The first is acquiring the email addresses of our alumni. More than 85% of our alumni have provided their email addresses within VMI Ranks. Please review and update your email information as needed. If you need assistance in updating your record, please contact Mrs. Norma Robinson at nrobinson@vmiaa.org or (800) 444-1839, ext. 243.
The second component of a strong and healthy election process is a robust nominating process. For many years and in accordance with our bylaws, regional directors are nominated through our network of chapters and chapter presidents. Nominations of at-large members of the BOD are taken from the full membership.
In the fall of 2023, we sent out announcements asking for nominations for at-large members. Per our policies and guidelines, the Nominating Committee interviews and thoroughly vets all nominees to determine the final slate. They are looking for those who have proven track records of active engagement in our alumni affairs and have the demonstrated skills to be engaged representatives of all our alumni. If you are interested in BOD leadership in the future, we encourage you to get involved with your chapter and other alumni activities. It is a great way to meet new people and better understand the inner workings of the Association.
We have been blessed over the years with a broad section of alumni to serve as directors who give unselfishly of their time and resources to attend approximately three Board meetings annually and participate in our numerous committee meetings, all at their expense. On average, directors spend about two hours a week supporting our alumni.
Prior to the voting period, the Association will provide you with the slate and bios of the nominees, and Simply Voting will provide you with your ballot and tabulate the votes. For those attending the meeting in person, VMIAA staff will be available to assist you in casting your electronic vote.
In the coming weeks, you will receive the notice of the meeting and the electronic voting information. We are confident this election will go smoothly, and we will continue to find and elect great alumni. They will serve you and the Institute by providing opportunities to connect and celebrate, while securing the path for future graduates of the Virginia Military Institute.
Yours in the bonds,
Anthony U. Moore ’78
President
