2025-2026 Elections are Open!

Letter to membersApply Now

It's that time of year…time to elect a new Board of Directors! Please find the materials below supporting the 2025-2026 (FY26) election process. We have many Board openings and strongly encourage your participation in a Chapter leadership role.

To educate candidates on the different Board roles and ensure they have the proper skill set and time to fulfill the responsibilities of the Board position they have been nominated for, an Elections Committee has been formed that will review all candidate applications and interview the top 2 – 3 candidates for each Board position based on an objective scoring system. The goal of this process is to propose a slate of candidates for approval by the general membership, known as ratification.

If you have any questions about this process, please do not hesitate to contact Lisa Kahle or Nishat Shaikh at elections@gichimss.org.

Overall Elections Process

Election Schedule

Nominations Open

Monday, April 1, 2025

Nominations Close

Thursday, April 24, 2025 (midnight)

Candidate Interviews

April 14 - May 7, 2025

Member Ratification

Monday, May 20-29, 2025

Election Results Published 

Wednesday, June 5, 2025

FY'26 Board Terms Begin

Saturday, July 1, 2025

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2025-2026 OPEN BOARD POSITIONS

Officers:

  • President-Elect (3-year term)
  • Treasurer (2-year term)

Directors: (2-Year Term):

  • Professional Development/Program Director
  • Communications Director
  • Sponsorship Director
  • Membership Director

Members at Large (1-Year Term):

  • Programs
  • Communications
  • Student Liaison
  • Sponsorship
  • Technology NEW!
  • Treasurer-Elect NEW!

NEW! Program Volunteer Opportunities: Event & Project Roles (non-board)

  • Program Chair/Vice-Chair (2-year term)
  • Golf Tournament Chair/Vice-Chair (2-year term)
  • Project Chair (1 & 2-year term)
  • Committee Volunteer Member (1 & 2-year term)

REQUIREMENTS FOR GIC HIMSS BOARD ROLES

Membership
  • Active HIMSS Global Membership has been in good standing for at least 1 year.
  • Current GIC HIMSS Chapter membership.
Skills & Qualifications
  • Demonstrated leadership skills.
  • Strong business acumen.
  • Commitment to performing all duties of the office in an orderly and responsible manner.
Experience
  • Officer Positions: Must have served in at least one (1) previous Director position.
  • Director Positions: Strongly suggested to have served in at least one (1) previous position.
Availability

Must attend at least 75% of:

  • Monthly Board Meetings (virtual and in-person).
  • In-Person Membership Events.
  • Virtual Webinars.
  • HIMSS National Chapter Reception.
  • Chapter Leadership Exchange.
Residency/Workplace

Must live or work within Greater Illinois Chapter limits.*

Eligibility

Members who are elected to the Board must be active, dues-paid members of National HIMSS and the Greater Illinois Chapter who have completed at least one (1) year of membership. Nominees for President-Elect must have held a position on the GIC HIMSS Board in at least one of the preceding three (3) years.

Term of Office
The tenure of elected Directors shall commence July 1 through June 30.  President-Elect, President, and Immediate Past President are each one-year terms that are served consecutively. The term of President is effectively 3 years with one year in each position. A President-Elect will be elected each year. Member-at-Large positions will be elected each year for one-year terms unless otherwise specified.   The terms of all other Directors shall be two years. All Directors, except President, may serve in the same position for two (2) consecutive terms.

Application Process

Please be prepared to submit your Resume/CV, personal statement and a head shot.

Nomination Process

If you meet the eligibility requirements and want to nominate yourself for one of the available Director Positions or volunteers on a committee, please complete the nomination form using the SurveyMonkey link.Questions regarding serving on the GIC HIMSS board should be directed to Lisa Kahle or Nishat Shaikh at elections@gichimss.org. Thank you and we look forward to your participation in our Chapter's leadership.

*GIC HIMSS Territory: Northern IL; Central IL (Sangamon to Cumberland County); NW Indiana (Lake, Porter, Newton, Jasper)

NEW! Program Volunteer Opportunities: Event & Project Roles (non-board)

Program Volunteer Roles & Requirements:

Our Chapter's success is only as strong as our volunteers. Delivering top programming in healthcare IT learning, best practices and social events takes a village of volunteers - including you! If you would like to help bring GIC HIMSS visions to life, please consider becoming a volunteer. The following positions are open on a rolling basis. Candidates are encouraged to choose a volunteer role in addition to Board position as an additional option.

Program Volunteer Requirements:

  • Program & Project Chair/Vice-Chair Positions: Project management experience highly desired.
  • Golf Chair/Vice-Chair Positions: Knowledge of golf, sponsorships, charity partnerships, and marketing recommended. Golf Tournament experience highly desired.
  • Committee Member Volunteer Positions: Open to new active members of GIC HIMSS and HIMSS. Must have a willingness to learn and a passion for healthcare IT. Undergraduate/Graduate students are encouraged to participate!

Sincerely,

Nishat Shaikh, Secretary – GIC HIMSS   
Lisa Kahle, Immediate Past President

Position Descriptions

Officers

President-Elect:  The President-Elect assists the President in conducting the business affairs and activities of the chapter through special assignments and duties delegated at the direction of the President and/or the Board. He/she acts in the President’s absence in chapter relationships with other related professional societies. The President-Elect assumes the office of the President upon conclusion of the one-year term as President-Elect.

 

Treasurer: The treasurer has charge of and responsibility for all funds and securities of the Chapter, including oversight of deposits and disbursements. Duties shall be conducted in conformance with the approved budget, Chapter’s fiscal policies and any financial decisions previously made by the Board of Directors.

Directors

Professional Development/Program Director: Provide leadership to the program committee to develop annual educational, professional development and networking opportunities for members and healthcare information professionals in the community. Professional Development leads the effort to increase chapter member awareness of the benefits of achieving distinguished volunteer designations and becoming CAHIMS or CPHIMS certified.

Communications Director: Responsible for the preparation and distribution of all Chapter publications, including a Chapter newsletter that shall be published on at least a semi-annual basis. Maintains the content of the Chapter website, communicates Chapter business to other individuals and groups, and promotes the Chapter in professional journals and with other professional groups.

Sponsorship Director: The Sponsorship Co-Directors shall be responsible for managing the Chapter’s Sponsorship Program, including soliciting sponsors supportive of the Chapter’s mission and ensuring that sponsorship dollars are used to meet the Chapter’s goals and objectives. The Sponsorship Co-Directors shall also work closely with the sponsors to ensure that the chapter meets their expectations as a sponsor.

Membership Director: Provide leadership to the Professional Development/Membership Committee in the development of annual recruiting, retention and value/benefits plans for members. Provides insights and analytics of members, growth strategies, and engagement.

Members At Large

Member At Large – Treasurer Elect: Works with the Treasurer to maintain all financial records and support the management of all cash and bank accounts of the Chapter.  Assists the Treasurer in preparing reports on the Chapter’s financial position for the Board

Member At Large – Communications: Works with the Communication Co-Directors and Communications Committee on newsletters, promoting GIC HIMSS events and other GIC HIMSS communications services to our members.

Member At Large – Programs: Works with the Programs Director on chapter-related events, educational programs, and webinars.

Member At Large – Sponsorship: Works with the Sponsorship Co-Directors and Committee in managing the Chapter’s Sponsorship Program, including soliciting sponsors supportive of the Chapter’s mission and ensuring that sponsorship dollars are used to meet the Chapter’s goals and objectives.

Member At Large – Student Liaison: Works with universities and colleges to promote the benefits of HIMSS membership to students. The Student Liaison shall be a student who is currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program.

Member At Large – Communications: Works with the Communication Directors and Communications Committee on newsletters, promoting GIC HIMSS events and other GIC HIMSS communications services to our members.

Member At Large – Technology: Works with the Board to select, implement, update, and maintain all technology tools (Microsoft 365, Analytics, Constant Contact, Socials, etc.). Previous experience highly recommended.