On behalf of the NFTGA Nominations Committee, we are writing to announce the upcoming elections for the 2027–2028 Board of Directors. This is an exciting milestone as our organization continues to grow—recently welcoming the Arizona Guide Association and Mexico to reach 25 local associations representing 2,500 individual members. We are also preparing for our 2027 Biennial Conference in Salt Lake City!
To help lead NFTGA into the future, we ask each local association to nominate candidates for the Board of Directors. Serving on the Board offers your association a direct voice in guiding NFTGA’s direction and provides valuable industry experience for board members.
Key Election Information
- Open Positions: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and three (3) Directors at Large.
- Term of Service: January 2027 (end of the Salt Lake City Conference) through January 2029 (end of the 2029 Conference).
- Goal: At least two candidates per open position to ensure a robust election.
- How to Nominate: Local Association Boards must submit an official nomination letter verifying that the candidate meets the required criteria.
Important Deadlines & Timeline
- November 1: Deadline to submit letters of nomination to the Nominations Committee.
- November 15 (On or about): Ballots emailed to Local Association Presidents.
- December 15: Deadline for completed ballots to be returned.
- January 13, 2027: Election results announced at the Salt Lake City Conference.
Candidate Qualifications
Nominees should meet the following criteria:
- Experience: Active guide with at least 1 year of experience; proven involvement and success in local or national organizations.
- Standing & Alignment: Member in good standing with their local guide association; demonstrated team player with skills/talents beneficial to NFTGA.
- Availability & Tech Requirements:
- Owns a computer with internet access and is available for phone/virtual conferences throughout the year as needed.
- Able to attend board meetings held online and at the biennial conference. (Note: NFTGA currently reimburses board members 1/2 of the conference registration fee and 2 nights' hotel stay. Meals are included with registration).
Duties of Officers (Board of Directors)
A. President
- Serves as the Chief Executive Officer, providing general supervision, direction, and control over NFTGA’s business affairs under the guidance of the Board.
- Presides over all meetings of the Board of Directors and members.
- Oversees official documents, appoints committee chairs, and executes policies authorized by the Board.
- Serves as a voting member ex-officio on all committees (except the Nominations Committee).
B. Vice President
- Performs duties assigned by the Board of Directors or the President.
- Assumes the duties and powers of the President in their absence or disability.
- Authorized to sign and execute contracts pertaining to the regular scope of their duties.
C. Secretary
- Maintains and preserves record books, official meeting minutes, and the full NFTGA membership list.
- Acts as custodian of the Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, and Minute Books.
- Signs official corporate documents as lawfully required and issues required notices.
- Prepares and files necessary official reports, returns, and documents for non-profit compliance.
D. Treasurer
- Oversees complete financial record-keeping, receipts, disbursements, assets, and liabilities in designated NFTGA depositories.
- Renders quarterly financial statements to the Board, manages budget preparation, and notifies members of dues delinquencies.
- Coordinates the annual or biennial audit and manages state/federal tax filings in conjunction with the Secretary.
- Shall be bonded in an amount determined by the Board of Directors.
E. Directors at Large (3 Positions)
- Perform general leadership and operational duties as assigned by the President and approved by the Board.
We look forward to receiving nominations from all of our Local Associations! As a reminder, please join us for our monthly Leadership Meetings held every second Thursday.
Sincerely,
NFTGA 2027 Nominations Committee
- Anne Marie Ausland – President, San Diego Tour Guides Association (
president@sdtourguides.com) - Janie Cadena – Past Nominations & Conference Chair, San Antonio Guide Association (
jlkcadena@sbcglobal.net) - John Days – Former President, Washington DC Guild (
jwdays@gmail.com) - Judy Smith – Current Board Member & Past President, Philadelphia Guides (
judysmith0190@gmail.com) - Ellen Malasky – Advisor & Past NFTGA President, Washington DC Guild (
ellenguide1@gmail.com)
For the Nominations Committee,
Mike McMains (he/him/his)
Tours With Mike
mike@tourswithmike.com
tourswithmike.com