Section 1. A Nominating Committee shall consist of seven (7) persons. The committee shall elect its own chair no later than August 31st of each year.

(a) The seven (7) members of the Nominating Committee shall serve terms of two (2) years. In even years four (4) members will be elected by delegates at the MidAmerica Region Annual Meeting; in odd years three (3) members will be elected at the Annual Meeting. Members will serve no more than 3 consecutive 2 year terms.

(b) The Nominating Committee shall nominate at least one person for each open position on the Regional Board and for each open position on the Nominating Committee.

(c) The Nominating Committee will nominate members for open positions on the Midwestern Unitarian Universalist Conference board each year, in accordance with MUUC’s governing documents.

(d) The report of the Nominating Committee shall be submitted to the Secretary not less than sixty (60) days prior to the annual meeting. The Secretary shall publish the report of the committee and distribute it to member congregations not less than thirty (30) days before the Annual Meeting.

(e) The Nominating Committee shall endeavor to nominate individuals so that the membership of the Board of Trustees and each elected committee reflects the full diversity of the Region, especially in regard to historically marginalized communities, but also balancing amongst size of congregation, lay and ordained, geography, age (including youth and young adults), and gender, among others.

(f) In addition, the Nominating Committee shall recommend to the MidAmerica Board one (1) member of the Camp UniStar Foundation Board of Directors each year to maintain staggered terms, drawing their pool of candidates from those who have attended Camp UniStar and are members of good standing in a UU congregation. This recommendation shall be made no later than June 30 of each year.

Section 2. Nominations by Congregational Action. A member of a congregation in good standing with the Region may be nominated for any position to be elected by formal endorsement of the governing bodies of at least ten (10) congregations within the Region. Nominations by congregational action must be received by the Secretary no fewer than thirty-five (35) days in advance of the Annual Meeting at which the election is to be held.

Section 3. Vacancies. Vacancies on the Nominating Committee may be filled by action of the Regional Board until the next Annual Meeting at which time the vacancy shall be filled by election for the balance of the unexpired term of the previous incumbent in accordance with these Bylaws. Individuals appointed or elected to serve for less than one-half (1/2) of an unexpired term will be eligible to be elected for two (2) additional consecutive terms.