Board of Directors FAQ
The GALA Board of Directors is a committee comprised of volunteer members who provide strategic direction for the Association. Board members are elected by the GALA membership. Candidates are self-nominated, and some may have been invited to run by the Nominating Committee based on their qualifications and engagement with GALA.
This page includes General Voting FAQ, which details the election process, the Candidate FAQ, for members interested in running for the Board, and the Board Service FAQ, for those elected to serve.
Please consult GALA's Bylaws and the GALA Board Eligibility, Qualifications, and Duties document to learn more. For further questions, contact us at [email protected]
Who can vote?
All member organizations at GALA have the right to vote; this includes language service companies, client organizations, and academic members. Each member organization receives one ballot, distributed to a designated voting contact. The designated voting contact is confirmed each year prior to the ballot distribution.
How is the board election administered?
The election is administered through an online survey tool. The candidates with the highest number of votes will be elected.
What precautions are in place to avoid voter fraud?
Ballots are uniquely linked to emails of voting contacts, and only one vote is allowed per email. GALA staff reviews the results to ensure no organization submitted more than one ballot.
Can a candidate's organization vote for their candidate?
Yes. Your organization's designated voting contact may vote for a candidate from their own organization. If the candidate is the voting contact, they may vote for them self.
Who has access to the results?
Only GALA staff has access to the voting platform. At the conclusion of the voting period, the current Board of Directors receives a tally of the results.
What happens if there is a tie?
Per the GALA Bylaws, in case of a tie, the sitting Board of Directors will select the new Director from the tied candidates.
How are the results announced?
Results are announced by email and shared on GALA's website in November/December.
What are the requirements to be a candidate for the Board of Directors?
Candidates must be a current member of GALA, with 2 years of membership (need not be with the same member organization). Candidates should be at the mid- to senior-level with a minimum of 5 years of industry experience (i.e., sufficient to have a "big picture" understanding of the industry). Candidates must have the endorsement of their employer.
How many positions are open?
GALA has 7 Board Directors. The number of positions up for election alternates annually; 3 positions are available in the odd-number years and 4 positions in even-numbered years (example: in 2023 there are 3 open Board positions).
What is the role of the Nominating Committee?
The Nominating Committee ensures that all board candidates meet established criteria for GALA leadership and help to identify potential future leaders. Their goal is to ensure that the GALA has a board that is balanced, representative of the membership, and equipped to lead the association.
What happens once I submit the candidacy form?
GALA staff and the Nominating Committee will review your application to ensure you meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements. You will receive an update on your status from Alicia Deadrick (Membership & Engagement Manager), who will be your point-of-contact throughout the elections. GALA will create your candidate webpage and campaign materials (social media assets, etc.) using the information provided on the application form. Once GALA makes the official announcement of candidates, you may start your campaign.
What are the campaign guidelines?
GALA promotes all candidates equally via email and social media. GALA does not distribute any “campaign” e-mails to the membership on behalf of the candidates or share mailing lists. However, you are welcome to get in touch with your personal contacts directly. We also encourage you to share your candidacy on social media sites and at industry events. Please do not distribute any emails or links to the candidate pages until after the official GALA announcement.
What is the Board of Directors?
The GALA Board sets the strategic direction of the association and provides oversight and stewardship of GALA's operations and resources. It also represents the diverse interests of GALA's stakeholders in decision making. The Board is the authority responsible for the governance of GALA. As the governing body, the Board establishes policy, and monitors implementation of policy, by GALA’s staff under the direction of the Executive Director.
How long is a Board term?
Is there any compensation for serving?
What are the benefits of serving?
What is the time commitment?
The monthly commitment is 3-8 hours, depending on involvement in subcommittees. The GALA Board meets virtually once per month for 90 minutes. There is an all-day meeting the day before the start of GALA’s annual conference and board members are expected to attend in person. Prior to board meetings, some preparation is required to read financial and staff reports. There are rare offline/asynchronous tasks as well, such as conducting interviews, creating content, participating in panel discussions with other industry associations, serving as the board liaison for other volunteer committees, and other responsibilities as decided by the director and sitting Board.