Regulatory and Policy

1. Not later than June 1 of each Fiscal Year, the Board Secretary shall notify all Members regarding the seats of those Directors and Alternates representing importers whose terms will expire at the end of that Fiscal Year, and shall seek nominations to fill those positions. A Member may nominate any person who is Member or who represents a Member to serve as a Director or Alternate if: (a) such nominee, or the company the nominee represents, has paid assessments on imports of Hass avocados during that Fiscal Year; and (b) such nominee, or the company the nominee represents, has been identified to MHAIA by the Hass Avocado Board as a substantial and regular importer of Hass avocados from Mexico. A Director or Alternate whose term is expiring may be nominated to serve on the Board again.
2. Nominations may be sent to the Board Secretary by certified U.S. mail or by electronic means and shall be received not later than July 10.
3. Not later than July 20, the Board Secretary shall transmit to all Members a ballot with the list of nominees for the open Director and Alternate seats on the Board. The ballot shall indicate the Certified Public Accountant (“CPA”) designated by the Board to assist in the election process.
4. Not later than August 15, Members shall vote by sending their completed ballots to the CPA, who will tabulate the vote and certify the results of the election to the Board.
5. A Member may cast one vote for each open Director seat.
6. All nomination and ballots shall include a certification that the Member imports avocados from Mexico for sale or marketing in the United States, is subject to and has promptly paid all assessments required under the Order, and is listed by the United States Customs Service as the importer of record of Hass avocados.
7. The nominees receiving greatest number of votes shall be elected to serve as Directors until the open seats are filled; the nominees receiving next greatest number of votes shall be elected Alternates, until each Director has an Alternate.
8. The results shall be presented and certified to the out-going Board at the Annual Meeting by the CPA, and the duly-elected Directors shall be seated. In the case of ties, the positions of Director and Alternate shall be decided by majority vote of the outgoing Board.
9. The Board shall arrange that the CPA retain all ballots for a period of five (5) years after an election.

Accreditation of Directors to Represent Packer/Exporters or Producers.

1. The Directors representing Packers and Exporters, and Alternates, designated in accordance with Article 10.A.2, above, shall be accredited by APEAM to the outgoing Board at the Annual Meeting, and such Directors shall be seated upon such accreditation.

2. Directors representing Producers, and Alternates, designated in accordance with Article 10.A.3, above, shall be accredited by APEAM to the outgoing Board at the Annual Meeting, and such Directors and Alternates shall be seated upon such accreditation