PLASA Elections Underway for 2013

PLASA members worldwide have begun voting in the association's yearly elections, which commence this week.

The month-long ballot will decide places on PLASA's European and North American Regional Boards, together with a single seat on its over-arching Governing Body.

The role of the Regional Boards is to represent the interests of members affiliated to those regions, ensuring that PLASA offers strong on the ground support to members. Both the North American and European Regional Boards are looking to fill a number of places for 2013.

For the European Regional Board, Martin Hawthorn of Hawthorn's has put his name forward for a second term as treasurer; Chris Parry-Jones of Gallowglass and Mark Surtees (incumbent) of Outback Rigging have put their names forward to represent production services members; Gerry Francke of Creative Technology and Noreen O'Riordan of Entec Sound and Light are standing for the position of rental company representative; while Steve Macluskie of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is standing for a second term as the organizational representative.

There are five positions up for election on the North American Regional Board. Scott Hoyt of Heartland Scenic Studio is standing for the position of treasurer, Mike Gormley of Blue Planet Lighting and David Schraffenberger of Production Advantage are standing for the position of dealer representative; Tracey Cosgrove of Rosco Laboratories and Julie Sanders of Leprecon are standing for the position of manufacturer representative, Shane Lacey of George Lacey Sales and Jules Lauve (incumbent) of Theatre Projects Consultants are standing for the position of professional services representative, and Marc Stephens of MPS Studios Dallas and Steven Way (incumbent) of ALPS/Advanced Lighting & Production Services are standing for the position of rental company representative.

John McGraw (incumbent), an individual member, and Pio Nahum of Clay Paky have put their names forward for the single "at large" position available on the main Governing Body, the board which has oversight of the two regional boards and sets the overall strategic direction of the association.

PLASA CEO Matthew Griffiths said: "I strongly encourage all voting members to exercise their right to vote. Our members' views are vitally important to us and we need to work closely with them to ensure we serve them effectively, both now and in the future."

The results will be announced in early November, ahead of the new members of the boards taking up their positions in the New Year.