As the ICF continues to grow and accomplish its strategic goals, one of the most important decisions made each year is the selection of volunteer leaders to serve on the global ICF Board of Directors. Each year, ICF members are asked to step forward and volunteer to serve in the role of the president-elect or in one of several at-large global Board of Directors openings. 

ICF Election Information for 2011 Board Openings
Please note that the deadline to submit a Board nomination application has passed. The Call for Petitions is open now through 5 p.m. (New York), September 13. See more information on petitions.

ICF bylaws call for the existence of a Nominating Committee to be responsible for the review of all volunteer applicants and the selection of a slate of candidates for vacant positions. ICF Credentialed members vote on the final ballot or slate presented by the Nominating Committee. Terms of office begin January 1 each year. Directors at-large serve for three years. For more information on the Nominating Committee, please click here.

Election Timeline:

• June 1-July 2: Call for Nominations-official request for applicants for open 2011 Board of Directors seats and president-elect position. Deadline: 5 p.m. (New York).
• July 12-August 13: Nominating Committee interviews, research and deliberations. 
• August 16: Slate of Candidates announced. 
• August 16-September 13: Call for Petitions (Any qualified member not on the slate may place his or her name in nomination by going through the petition process. Deadline is September 13, 5 p.m. (New York)). More information.  
• September 15: ICF Ballot announced. 
• September 15-October 15: Voting (online voting utilizing an independent firm). 
• October 15-October 18: Tabulating and reporting of election results to ICF by independent service. 
• October 18-20: Notification of candidates as to the status of their results.
• October 28: Public announcement of the new Board members and president-elect at the ICF Annual Business Meeting during the ICF Annual International Conference in Fort Worth, Texas, USA and by e-mail to the membership.

How ICF Members Can Participate:
Step one: Familiarize yourself with the below requirements and commitments of the open positions. Nominations are open for three at-large Board of Director seats and president-elect. Directors serve for three years. If any of the current Board members with time left on their terms vacate their seat for the next year, additional at-large director seats will open up for the election. More specific duties and responsibilities for directors are outlined in the ICF bylaws. 

Potential Nominees are required to:

• Have been a member of the ICF for a minimum of two years.
• Have an ICF Credential (ACC, PCC, or MCC).
• Have served on an ICF Committee at the International level and/or demonstrated leadership at the local level (officer, Board, or chairmanship).
• Be familiar and up-to-date on the present ICF strategic plan and global initiatives.
• Document a sustained, successful coaching practice of which less than 25 percent of clients are coaches.
• Be the consummate coach: reflecting the spirit, training, credentials and integrity of the coaching profession.

Potential Nominees are expected to commit to:

• Model a top-notch professional coach image by being a high-integrity, positive supportive ICF member.
• Attend three in-person ICF Board of Directors meetings.
• Attend regular bi-monthly Board tele-meetings (2 hours, pre-scheduled).
• Be flexible and willing to attend urgent or impromptu Board conference calls.
• Be prepared to attend a part or the whole Annual International Conference.
• Be a part of a Committee as a Board liaison.

In addition, the Nominating Committee will be looking for the following qualities when choosing the slate of candidates:

General:

• Visionary
• Strategic
• Passion for the profession
• Strong personal and professional foundation
• Desire to be collaborative, creative and innovative
• Open to different perspectives
• Represent the diversity of our field across geography, culture and training
• Have leadership experience within ICF
• Understanding of and support for the ICF strategic plan

In addition, the following qualities are being sought for:

The ICF President-Elect:

• Strong, Articulate
• Business acumen
• Networked in the community including internationally
• Professional representative of coaching community
• Decisiveness
• Tolerance for ambiguity
• Facilitation skills (as chairman of the Board)
• Ability to work well/hand-in-hand with the Executive Director
• Served for at least one year on the ICF Board of Directors at any time prior to an elective term of office

For the Directors-at-Large:

• Minimum of one year of Committee, volunteer or local level work
• Diversity in field work
• Ability to review and understand financial statements and budgets
• Ability to commit time to work with staff and officers

Step two: Nominate yourself or someone else. If you are nominating someone else, be sure to contact your nominee first to make sure they are interested, have the time to serve, and meet the requirements. Nomination forms need to be completed by the actual candidate.

Step three: Submit a Nomination Application.

Step four: The Nominating Committee will carefully review the nominations received and recommend one candidate for each open seat.

Step five: There will be a period of at least 30 days to allow additional nominations from the membership. A qualified member wishing to be added to the slate must submit their petition (declaration of support of the candidate). More information.

Step six: If no nominations by petition are received for open seats, the current Secretary/Treasurer of the global Board of Directors casts a unanimous vote for the slate put forth by the Nominating Committee.

Step seven: Vote commences.

Step eight: Results will be announced via e-mail and then at the Annual Business Meeting at the ICF Annual International Conference.