Newsletter – October 2022

Dear Members of the House of Spain, Casa de España, in San Diego: 

The purpose of this letter is to inform you that following Article 4 of the bylaws of the HOS, CDESD the General Assembly and the election of the Board of Directors will be held on Sunday, November 13, 2022, from five – nine o´clock in the casita at Balboa Park, San Diego.  

We remind all members that the payment of the 2023 membership dues should be made at the very latest at the beginning of the Assembly meeting to be able to nominate and vote.  

Every member who has paid membership fees and wants to vote may do so in person or by proxy at the Assembly (copy proxy form below if you wish to vote by proxy.) 

The current President of the HOS/CDE in San Diego, Jesús Benayas, will preside over the Assembly and the Secretary, Pedro Romon Diaz, will fulfill the duties of secretary.  Henry Herms, Sergeant of Arms, will preside over the elections.

Members of the Board of Directors will be elected for a one-year term, from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023. According to the bylaw, the general requirements are:   “Candidates who are members in good standing and familiar with the history and culture of Spain shall be eligible to hold office. In addition, the candidates for President and Vice-President must have served on the Board of Directors for at least 1 year.”  
The positions and qualifications for officers and directors are as follows (a complete description can be found within the by-laws online.) 

President –Qualifications: Member in good standing, and familiar with the history and culture of Spain. Must have served on the Board of Directors for at least 1 year.  
Responsibilities: Primary director of the organization, with the approval of the board of directors supervises and controls all aspects of the HOS, CDESD, presides over meetings, represents the organization at every level, takes responsibility and acts to enforce all the rules and guidelines.  
Vice President – Qualifications: Same as President 
Responsibilities: in the absence of the president, fulfill the corresponding functions of the president. 
Secretary –   Responsibilities:  In charge of taking minutes and their availability, maintaining membership list, sending and responding to mail. 
Treasurer – Responsibilities:  Holder and custodian of the Association funds, primary person in charge of the use of said funds with the approval of the Board of Directors, oversees monthly reports, and oversees the necessary financial reports for government financial institutions. 
Members of the Board (3) Varied functions. 

CANDIDACY AND NOMINATIONS:  Anyone who wants to present themselves for one or more positions can announce their candidacy in advance or on the same night as the General Assembly at the beginning of the election process.

In order to have your name on the printed ballot, your nomination must be received by the secretary or Joaquin Anguera prior to 1 November. Those attending can nominate candidates for election as well.  Candidates must have paid their 2023 membership dues.  If they cannot be present the evening of the Assembly, their acceptance of the position in must be received in writing or by email to the secretary the day prior to the meeting. 

In order to avoid irregularities, a period of time will be reserved to nominate and announce the candidates for each position. Those candidates who so desire will be able to address the assembly and present a brief global vision of their candidacy (maximum of five minutes for president and two minutes per all other positions.) 

ELECTIONS:  The name of each position and the respective candidates will be announced and if necessary be written on the whiteboard or on the television screen. 

Voting by Proxy (Copy and send by email or in writing to the person receiving the proxy or to the secretary of the House of Spain, (secretary@houseofspainsd.org  ) General Assembly of the House of Spain, Casa de España, in San Diego.
Elections:  November 13, 2022

 
I, (full name)_______________________________________ current member of the HOS,CDESD having paid my 2023 membership dues,  by means of this statement, wish to make use of my right to vote during the upcoming elections, and not being able to attend the General Assembly on November 13, 2022 in person, delegate my vote and give permission to (full name)__________________________________________________ a 2023 paid member of the HOS/CDE in San Diego,  being present at the General Assembly to vote on my behalf. 
Date: __________________________ Signature: ____________________________________________________________________________ 

NOTICE FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY   
After the meeting is called to order and the agenda has been accepted, there will be time for general comments. Comments will be limited depending on the number of speakers, but the total time for comments will last no longer than 20 minutes. The person wishing to speak must submit a “request to speak form” to a designated person before the meeting is called to order. Comments will be limited to the subject written on the “request to speak form”.  Each person will be allowed to speak once. 
If a person wants an action be taken, they should submit a motion to the board in writing. It must be received by mail or email to the secretary no later than three weeks prior to the general meeting. A motion should be specific and in the form of “I move that…”. The board or executive board will then decide if the motion should be placed on the agenda. If the motion is not accepted by the board, the person may ask that the motion be placed under new business. This is done when the members are asked if there are any changes to the agenda. If the membership accepts that change (simple majority vote), the motion can therefore be presented as new business. If the membership does not accept the change, the motion will not be considered.  
Under New Business, the motion will have to be made and seconded before any discussion will be allowed. Any discussion must address the specific motion and be limited to one minute per person. Roberts Rules state that a member may speak twice but the second time only after each person wishing to speak has been given the opportunity.  
Comments or discussion may be stopped by “laying the motion on the table,” this action needs a 2/3 majority. This in effect kills the motion.