Dear Nicky,
I've been seeing and hearing a lot about proxies and voting lately. Is that something I need to pay attention to?
Olivet Owner
Dear Ollie,
Great question! Our 2022 Annual Meeting is approaching, so that's why you've been hearing so much about proxies and voting. NPAworldwide is a member-owned cooperative. The owners of each member firm own the network, which means owners must participate in the running of the network. While the Board of Directors and NPAworldwide staff have responsibility for the day-to-day oversight and operations, there are other activities that must be approved or undertaken by the owners. Some of these include:
- Election of officers and directors
- Acceptance of audited financial statements (every other year)
- Amending the bylaws
- Approving the actions of the Board of Directors
- Suggestions for new services and programs
These activities are addressed officially each year during the Annual Meeting. Owners are strongly encouraged to attend in person if possible. For those who are unable to attend, a proxy is used so that your vote can be counted. The proxy gives the NPAworldwide Secretary/Treasurer (currently Pam Robison of J. Gifford, Inc. in Tulsa, OK) the authorization to vote in your place. We use a "limited" proxy, which means you can give specific voting instructions on some questions. For the remaining ballot items, your proxy allows the Secretary/Treasurer to vote in accordance with the position of the Board of Directors.
For 2022, the deadline to submit a proxy has passed, but there is still time to register to attend the Annual Meeting which takes place at 7PM US ET on Thursday, March 3rd. The last day to register is March 2nd.
Nicky
send letters to: nanderson@npaworldwide.com