Executive Committee Nominations

Nominations for Alternate ROOTS Executive Committee (ExComm) service are open now until Monday, March 16, 2026.

With over one hundred ROOTS Voting Board Members, the ExComm is the body of 9-15 representatives that the Voting Members elect to offer governance and oversight throughout the year. We are seeking leaders and learners who can commit to three years of service and will help us build a balance of skills and perspectives on the overall committee.

Read on for eligibility requirements, ExComm responsibilities, and how to apply. Then nominate yourself or another ROOTS Voting Member today!

Executive Committee Nominations

Alternate ROOTS Voting Members: please think about the leaders in your region who are deeply connected to the work of Alternate ROOTS.

Take a moment to nominate yourself or another committed ROOTS member: a visionary leader ready to learn and inspire. We aim to build a strategically chosen body of representatives with the capacities, experiences, and qualities required to guide and uplift the organization to achieve our mission.

Alternate ROOTS is an organization based in the Southern USA whose mission is to support the creation and presentation of original art, in all its forms, which is rooted in a particular community of place, tradition, or spirit. As a coalition of cultural workers, we strive to be allies in the elimination of all forms of oppression. ROOTS is committed to social and economic justice and the protection of the natural world and addresses these concerns through its program and services.

Eligibility Requirements

We’re seeking Nominees to the Executive Committee who:
  • Demonstrate a commitment to and involvement with ROOTS.
  • Are willing to share skills and proficiencies through their ExComm service.
  • Articulate connection and commitment to the work of the ExComm.
  • Live within ROOTS’ 14 states + D.C. service area.
  • Are ROOTS Voting Members with currently active status. Please note: both nominators and nominees must be Voting Members of active status. To check your membership status, email us through this form and select “Membership” from the drop down menu.
  • Contribute to the committee’s overall diversity across race and ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, class and education, ability, religion, geographic location, age and experience, artistic discipline, community and social justice affiliation, and socioeconomic demographics.

ExComm Responsibilities

We’re seeking Nominees who can consistently fulfill these Responsibilities over a 3-year term:

  • Perform oversight and exercise their responsibility to stay generally informed about the operations of ROOTS.
  • Review written and in-person reports from staff to maintain the health and effectiveness of the organization.
  • Exercise fiduciary responsibility through participation in the approval process of the annual budget, review the organization’s finances, and sign off on annual audits.
  • Oversee the hiring process of the Executive Director, assess their performance, and set their salary.
  • Work together with the Executive Director as well as ROOTS Members and staff on special projects, to develop strategic plans, and to recruit new members to represent the full diversity of the ROOTS community.
  • Collaborate to build collegial working relationships that contribute to consensus.
For more details about what ExComm service entails, read the section below.
If the above sounds like you, or a ROOTer that you know, please fill out the nomination form by Monday, March 16, 2026. We recommend copying the application questions into a separate document and drafting them there before copying your answers back to the form. Two important notes: both nominators and nominees must be Voting Members of active status. To check your membership status, email us through this form and select “Membership” from the drop down menu. If you choose to nominate someone else, please make sure they agree to serve before completing their application.

Once the application period closes on March 16th, the Nomination Committee in collaboration with the ExComm, will guide the selection and election process through these stages: 

  • April/May: Interviews with applicants who have advanced through the process 
  • Mid-June: Nominees are notified if they will appear on the official ExComm slate
  • Early July: Nominee names and bios are shared with ROOTS members 30 days in advance of ROOTS Week and online voting opens
  • August (ROOTS Week): Nominees are given a few minutes to speak about their interest in serving and then answer questions from members who attend the Annual Business Meeting
  • August (ROOTS Week): ExComm members are elected as a slate (a single group) in one vote 

The members of the Nomination Committee are:  

  • Abigail Gómez (she/her/ella), ExComm Treasurer
  • Bob Leonard (he/him), Voting Member & Founding Member
  • Carolyn Somers (she/her), ExComm At-Large Member
  • Corey Staten (he/him), ExComm At-Large Member
  • Wendy Shenefelt (she/her), Alternate ROOTS Executive Director

Time Commitment

It is difficult to establish an exact number of hours that ExComm members commit to this work. The time commitment varies depending on the day, week, month, and year due to the different needs of the organization. At a minimum, an ExComm member should expect to:

  • Attend at least one 2-hour virtual ExComm meeting per month.
  • Participate in 3-4 in-person meetings during the year (usually on weekends)
  • Help facilitate the Annual Business Meeting at ROOTS Week.
  • Allocate additional hours to review materials and participate in different committees, task forces, and Work Groups.
  • Commit to a term of 3 years of service.

At the start of each term, the ExComm sets a regular monthly meeting time for that year with the aim of finding an optimal time for the full group. ExComm Officers meet prior to the monthly ExComm meeting to plan the agenda.

Compensation & Benefits

ExComm members do not receive monetary compensation for their service. However, ExComm members do receive travel assistance and per diem funds to attend all in-person ExComm meetings. 

Serving on the Executive Committee is a fantastic leadership and professional development opportunity, as well as a chance to work closely with other ROOTS members and deepen your connection to the community.

The ExComm Nomination Committee welcomes your questions. You can contact them using this form – select “ExComm Nominations” in the dropdown menu.