2015 DEMA Board of Directors Election Slate Announced

- DEMA Member Write-In Petitions Must Be Submitted by October 10, 2014 –

DEMA has announced that its 2015 Board of Directors election will take place from December 15, 2014 to January 30, 2015.  All 2015 DEMA Members are eligible to vote.  DEMA's 2015 Board of Directors Election candidates are:

Category A1 – Manufacturers, Distributors and Affiliated Field/Sales Representatives:

• Tom Bird, Trident Diving Equipment
• Mike Hollis, American Underwater Products
• Stefan Michl, Mares

Category A2 – Diver Certification and Training Agencies, and Affiliated Field/Sales Representatives:

• Kristin Valette, PADI

*Category A3 – Dive Publishing, Media, Dive Industry Consulting, Associations & Non-Retail Service Providers:

• William Cline, Cline Group Advertising, Inc. (incumbent)

• Dan Orr, Dan Orr Consulting

Category A4 – Retail Distribution of Diving Goods & Services:

·        Bill Cole, Sea Experience

·        Davis Graham, Texas Dive Center

·        Darcy Kieran, Divers Direct (incumbent)

·        Tom Maddox, American Diving Supply

Category A5 – Dive Travel Provider or Resort:

·        Keith Sahm, Sunset House

·        Tim Webb, Caradonna Dive Adventures

The DEMA Board members serve for three year terms.  In the 2015 Board election two seats are open in the A3 category.  Pursuant to DEMA’s bylaws the candidate with the most votes shall be elected for a period of three years.  The candidate with the second most votes shall be elected for a period of two years. The following Board members will continue their terms, serving through 2016:

Scott Daley, Body Glove International – Manufacturing (A1)

Tom Leaird, Scuba Educators/PDIC International – Training Organizations (A2)

Werner Kurn, Ocean Enterprises – Retail (A4)

Stuart Cove – Travel and Destinations (A5)

Write in nominations for the 2015 Board of Directors election slate are currently being accepted by DEMA and to be valid must be received by 4:30 pm Pacific Time on October 10, 2014.  There are two options for a write-in candidate to be included on the final election slate:

1. The nomination can be proposed by a petition of Members (renewed for 2015) holding two percent (2%) or more of the voting power of the Association; or
2. The candidate may be written in by a petition of at least ten (10) A-class Members (renewed for 2015). 

The write-in candidate may choose the petition option that best fits their circumstances.  Those primary DEMA Member Voting Delegates interested in becoming a write-in candidate should contact DEMA at secretary@dema.orgto request a write-in petition form.

All A-category DEMA Members who pay their 2015 dues by 4:30 pm Pacific Time on January 9, 2015 will be eligible to vote in this election.  DEMA encourages Members to consider each candidate carefully and to vote for the candidate in each category that meets industry needs as perceived by the individual Member.  There is neither a requirement in the DEMA Bylaws nor any obligation in the voting procedures which compels DEMA Members to conform to a “voting bloc.”  For membership information please contact membership@dema.org or (858) 616-6408.

In accordance with the DEMA Bylaws, Directors serve three-year terms.  For more information on DEMA's Board of Directors and Bylaws visit www.dema.org.