Apr 222015
 

The Alberta provincial election is on Tuesday, May 5 – get out and vote!

You may have noticed that our usual roundtable event would also be on May 5, we will be moving it to another day, so that all our SEA volunteers can get to the ballots, and our members don’t have to choose one or the other.

The SEA does not support a particular political party; we mostly want you to go and vote, and for you to make an informed choice based on what you value when you cast your ballot. To help with that, here are some resources.

  • Elections Alberta: How to make sure you’re on the List of Electors, where to find your polling station, and information about special ballots and advanced polls.
  • VoteKit: All the basics for new voters, including video tutorials in 8 languages and opportunities to practice voting before the big day.
  • Vote Compass: A questionnaire to help you determine which political party is closest to your priorities.
  • Albert Politics: Possibly the best Alberta political blog, with links to candidate webpages and other opinion pieces.
Mar 152014
 

Our Board of Directors will be elected at this year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM). There will be positions with no incumbent Board members this year, as a few of our current members have decided not to run for elected positions. The elected Board consists of these positions: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Recording Secretary, and four Directors. The Past President can also be part of the Board if applicable.

What’s involved in being on the Board?

For more detail on each of the positions, we’ve put together descriptions of the positions. In most cases, the time commitment is only 1-2 hours a week, plus attendance at a monthly 2 hour Board meeting, and some events every month. If you’re already coming to events, then it’s not much more effort to be a Board member. We have tasks that need doing no matter what your interests are, whether you love getting out to network with people, or would rather make sure that everything in the background is organized.

Why would I join the Board?

While our members and volunteers have a big influence over how and what happens, the Board has a large amount of influence over the direction of the SEA. Do you want to see us heading in a specific direction, such as more activism, or more interaction with the city’s religious groups? Then the Board might be a good place for you to do that. It’s also a great way to learn new skills or, if your’re comfortable mentioning the SEA on the resume, show employers that you’ve volunteered in a leadership position.

How do I get elected?

Don’t worry, there isn’t usually a hard-fought election campaign involved, however you might be asked about your goals for SEA and what you feel you bring to the table. At the AGM, nominations are suggested by members for each position and voted on, starting with President, and ending with the Directors. Nominations can also be submitted ahead of time, you can nominate yourself, and you can be nominated for more than one position. This year, there is time set aside to mingle, talk to people about their nomination or vote, and ask candidates questions before the vote takes place.

What If I can’t attend the AGM but want to be on the Board?

You can still let us know ahead of time what position(s) you would like to run for, and one of the Board members will put your name forward at the AGM. If you would like to write up an explanation of why you should be elected to that position, we can have it read out as well.

What if I have no experience?

Don’t worry! There aren’t any tasks on the Board that are very complicated. If you’re willing to learn, we’re willing to teach you.

Mar 262012
 

Update: The election has been called for April 23.

Some time before May 31, 2012, Alberta will have a provincial election. We thought we’d get a jump on things and start our Voter’s Guide now for the Edmonton area ridings. The page will be updated as candidates reply with their responses to our questions on secular issues.

If you don’t see responses from the candidate you were hoping to, help us out! Give your candidate a call or a visit and ask if they were planning to respond. If they haven’t seen the survey, ask whether they’d like email or paper, and contact us, we’ll make sure they get one.

To see which riding you’re in, and get updates on the date of the election, take a look at the Elections Alberta website.

Happy voting!