The members of Dignity/NY are invited to participate in the annual election of the Steering Committee of Dignity/NY, the governing body of Dignity/NY, pursuant to the bylaws of this Chapter and vote for candidates standing for election to the Steering Committee.
NOMINATING PETITIONS for prospective candidates will be available online from Sunday, August 23, 2026 until Sunday, September 13, 2026 at the Candidates Forum . Nominating petitions can be completed either electronically or by paper. An email will be sent to all members of record with a link to a Google Document containing the electronic nominating petition, and paper nominations may be picked up at church.
Under 7.2 of our bylaws, up to five (5) people are up for election in years that end in an odd number and up to four (4) people will be elected in even-numbered years. People are elected for two-year terms.
The terms of three current Steering Committee members (Chris Alberti, Danny Larkin and Lewis Speaks-Tanner) will expire on October 31, 2026 while the terms of four elected last year (Robert Brande, Nicholas Cimato, James Osbourn and Jeff Stone) will continue for one more year.
- Under 4.1, our bylaws envision a Steering Committee of nine (9) people, although that is not a requirement. However, there must be a minimum of five (5) members. Therefore, up to five (5) people may be elected to serve on the Steering Committee this year for a term that will expire on October 31, 2028.
WHO MAY STAND FOR ELECTION
Under 8.5 of our bylaws, any person who has been a member of Dignity/NY or DignityUSA for one year within the month of election and who has not been removed from any position within the organization for cause may stand as a candidate for the Steering Committee upon submission of a valid Petition of Nomination. The Elections Committee shall accept as valid any Petition of Nomination signed by ten (10) members in good standing so long it has been received before commencement of the Candidates Forum.
WHO MAY VOTE
All people who are enrolled as members of Dignity/NY upon the night elections conclude may vote. Persons who are not carried as current members on the most recent DignityUSA roster may join, renew or be reinstated as members on or before Sunday, September 27 and may vote. If you feel your membership has lapsed or have any questions about membership, you should email Elections@dignityny.org.
THE FOLLOWING ARE DATES OF IMPORTANCE IN OUR 2026 CYCLE OF ELECTIONS
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13th after liturgy at St. John’s in the Village – A CANDIDATES FORUMwill be conducted in person and those who want to remain on Zoom to participate are welcome to do so. People who wish to offer themselves for election will have an opportunity to present their programs and or/respond to question from their peers and members of our online congregation. (8.7) Candidates may also post written statements on our website. Election Buddy (a simple online app very much like Survey Monkey) will be sent out ASAP after the Forum to all members of record. If you can vote electronically via Election Buddy, you are requested to do so for ease of counting votes. Anyone with questions about their ballot should email Elections@dignityny.org.
REQUESTS FOR PAPER MAIL-IN BALLOTS must be received by the Elections Committee no later than MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2026. This request must be done either online at Elections@dignityny.org (please type “MAIL-IN BALLOT” in the subject line) or phone Ben Speaks-Tanner at 703-864-1724. Mail-In Ballots must be postmarked by Saturday, September 26, 2026 and received no later than midnight Friday, October 1, 2026. Please mail them back as soon as possible after receiving them.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2026: ELECTIONS CONCLUDE Currently enrolled members of Dignity/NY must vote either online before 11PM on SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2026 or by Mail-In Ballot as described above. (8.2)
If your name appears on the most recent membership roster received from DignityUSA. This qualifies you as an Elector of Dignity/NY under 8.8 of our bylaws.
Please note if your membership has lapsed before September 1st, you will not be able to vote in this election unless you renew your membership on or before Sunday, September 27th. If it expires within the month of September, you will be able to vote and we hope you will renew your membership as soon as possible.
If your membership has lapsed and you renew or have proof that you renewed, please email Elections@dignityny.org and let us know so we can make sure you have a ballot and are able to vote.
Here is the Nominations Petition. You are free to use the electronic version or print a copy and hand in at the Candidates Forum which will be held after liturgy on Septmmber 13, 2026.
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