Four open Board seats filled at election; nominations open
Outgoing National President Keith Oliver congratulates new National President Dan Clare at the annual business meeting.
The first election conducted by the USMCCCA in recent memory resulted in four out of five candidates for the USMCCCA Board of Directors earning seats. The election was conducted at the Association’s Annual Business Meeting, Aug 2, in Atlanta, GA.
Bryan McDonnell garnered 72 votes and Sharon Fox got 65 votes. These candidates will fill the two open Director seats on the board.
Karen Anne Holliday and Conner Downey received the third and fourth most votes and the two will fill seats left vacant by recent resignations.
The fifth candidate, James Chittenden, will be invited to serve on the USMCCCA Foundation Board.
President Dan Clare, Vice President Shawn Rhodes, Secretary Chris Whiting and Treasurer Annita Best all ran unopposed. The membership approved the slate, making the election results official.
“This year’s candidates represent a younger generation of Marines stepping up to take on leadership roles in our Association,” said Nomination Chair Chris Whiting, the “tribal elder” of the board who was elected for her 21st term as Secretary. “We have the highest number of active duty board members in my memory. Another first is that we have a lance corporal on the board.”
Outgoing President Keith Oliver said, “We have successfully ‘younged it up’,” referring to a comment former Director Dale Dye made back in 2017. He credited Rhodes for encouraging people to be involved.
President-elect Dan Clare agreed that we have “younged up” the board, but said we also need the support of USMCCCA veterans.
Following the election, nominations were opened for the 2021 Board. No nominations were taken from the floor at the meeting.
Nominations will be accepted for President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer, and three Director’s seats.
Nominations should be sent to Nomination Chair Chris Whiting at nominations@usmccca.org. Those making nominations should provide contact information for the nominee. Regular and associate members may hold office, according to the Association bylaws. Active duty Marines may hold any office except President. Members may nominate themselves.
“I hope to get some more enthusiastic candidates this year,” said Whiting. “It was great that we could have this year’s election for the Director seats, now let’s get some competition for the officer seats, even mine.”
Nominations remain open until May 15, 2020.