The Gardner Chamber of Commerce nominating committee has chosen two individuals for three-year terms to the board of directors.
Each nominee has agreed to serve the interests of the chamber and the greater business community. The nominees are Melissa Prins, owner of The Hope Market, and Trisha Allenbrand, president of Spaces, Inc.
In keeping with the chamber’s bylaws, members have 14 days to nominate other candidates. The process is outlined in Sections 3 and 4 of Article IV of the bylaws.
Article IV – Board of Directors
Section 1: Authority. The government of the Chamber of Commerce, direction of its work, the control of its finances and property and the control and direction of its President/CEO shall be vested in a Board of Directors consisting of no less than nine members, plus any duly elected officer(s) whose three (3) year term has expired; but by virtue of his/her office shall be an additional member of the Board of Directors and shall be entitled to vote as such.
Section 2: Term of Office. Members of the Board of Directors shall be elected annually for a period of three (3) years on or before June 15 of each year and shall begin their term on July 1, ending on June 30 at the end of the third year. No director serving two consecutive terms shall be eligible for re-election until after the lapse of one (1) year following his/her prior term.
Section 3: Selection and Election of Directors. The Executive Committee will serve as the Nominating Committee and may include two (2) other members of the Chamber, as appointed by the Chairman. The Chairman shall designate the chairman of the committee.
No later than thirty (30) days before the election, the Nominating Committee shall present to the Board of Directors a slate of candidates to serve three-year terms to replace the directors whose regular terms are expiring. Each candidate must be an active member in good standing and must have agreed to accept the responsibility of a directorship. Upon the Board of Director’s receipt of the report of the Nominating Committee, the President/CEO shall immediately notify the membership of the names of persons nominated as candidates for directors and the right of petition.
Additional names of candidates for directors can be nominated by petition signed by at least ten (10) percent of all member in good standing of the chamber. All such additional nominations shall be given to the President/CEO within fourteen (14) days after notice has been given of the names of those nominated by the Nominating Committee. All such additionally nominated members must be active members in good standing and must have agreed to accept the responsibility of a directorship in order to be considered.
If no additional names of candidates have been provided to the President/CEO as prescribed above, the nominating shall be closed and the nominated slate of candidates shall be declared elected by the Board of Directors at their next regularly scheduled Board meeting.
Section 4: Ballot. If additional names of qualified candidates have been provided as set forth above and there are more candidates than there are vacancies, the names of all candidates shall be arranged on a ballot in alphabetical order. Instructions shall specify the number of vacancies on the board and instruction give to vote for the number of candidates necessary to fill any vacancies only. The President/CEO shall provide this ballot to each member of the Board of Directors (as then constituted). The ballots shall be marked in accordance with instructions provided and collected by the President/CEO, who shall declare the candidates with the greatest number of votes elected necessary to fill the board vacancies. Delivery and collection of ballots by electronic means is specifically authorized.
If no additional names are received, the two nominees will be officially elected, beginning their terms on July 1 and ending on June 30, 2026.
Questions can be emailed to info@gardnerchamber.com.
