Nomination to Offices of Leadership
“Who is he that will loan to Allah a beautiful loan, which Allah will double unto his credit and multiply many times?…” [Sûrah al-Baqarah: 245]
Hazrat Abdullah ibn ‘Amr bin Al’Aas (RAA) relates that the Noble Prophet (SAW) said: “The just and fair persons will be seated on chairs of light before Allah (SWT). Such persons are those who decide justly and deal justly in the matters relating to their families and other affairs entrusted to them.” (Muslim)
“We require a degree of integrity from those we will entrust with leadership . . . We look for principle and broad-mindedness., bigheartedness, kindness, and love for everybody from those who seek public office along with the qualifications he or she would need to do the practical job.”—Imam Dr. W. Deen Mohammed (R)
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CWSC PROCEDURES FOR NOMINATIONS TO OFFICES OF LEADERSHIP
Thank you for your interest in helping ensure qualified institutional leadership is in place for our and your future success. The stronger our national intelligentsia, the more help and support it can provide to institutions and communities. The better the leadership, the better opportunities can present for CWSC to execute its mission to help remake the world.
It was Imam Dr. W. Deen Mohammed (R) who reminded us that leadership is in the resourceful people that represent the productive life of society. His words inform us that leaders are not selected based on lineal relations, or ethnicity, or some other superficial perceived status that has no bearing on the true resourcefulness of the person. For when it concerns the vital issue of leadership, traits such as a big heart, openness of the intellect, and an expanse of commitment to the group intellect are more determinative factors.
Good leaders must be kind, compassionate, display wisdom and good judgment; they must be fair, trustworthy, visionary, accountable, patient, of even temperament, and good stewards of resources both human and material; they must be obedient firstly themselves to the standards set by the institution. Leaders must also understand the principles for implementing Shuraa at all levels of decision-making including linking Shuraa with the responsibility and accountability all office holders must exercise under the concept of delegation.
Above all, the leader must have faith in Allah (SWT) and believe in the inherent worth of others regardless of a person’s gender, title, and outer trappings such as socio-economic status, initials in front of or behind one’s name, or other less important attributes or labels than the fact that sometimes anyone of us can be blind, and any one of us might be also be granted the vision to see.
The leader must also have the support of the institution at every level to be successful, for “the issues are too technical and the pace of change too swift to expect that a leader, no matter how gifted, will be able to personally solve the major problems facing the system…Some leaders may be quite gifted at solving problems personally, but if they fail [or the helpers let them fail] to institutionalize the process, their departure leaves the system crippled. They must create or strengthen systems that will survive them…no individual has all the skills –and certainly not the time—to carry out all of the complex tasks of contemporary leadership. [Leaders need teams] and the team must be chosen for [their] excellence in [qualification], performance and [character]. —John W. Gardner as quoted in Genesis of New American Leadership, pg. 193.
We ask you to keep all the above in mind as we seek to identify the best qualified among us to lead us.
CRITERIA FOR NOMINATION
Criteria may differ by the level and scope of responsibility, accountability, and authority. Click here for Executive Director or other Governance Member criteria. For other leadership responsibilities, the criteria will made available at the time of an announcement or candidate search.
SELECTION PROCESS
The Board of Directors either directly or by its delegated authority via the Office of the Executive Director or other directors or department heads select leadership either by election or appointment and conducts the vetting process that may include several interviews and a thorough examination of a record of performance already established inside CWSC. In certain cases, the Board may consider persons for governance based on a record of performance at another institution; however, such cases are rare as the Board seeks persons preferably with a working knowledge of and relationship with the mission, vision, and guiding principles of CWSC. Certain CWSC offices of leadership may require taking the Oath of Office and accepting a Letter of Appointment.
NOMINATING PERSON
All CWSC registered volunteers with at least six (6) months tenure as a registered volunteer are welcome to nominate an individual he or she believes has the abilities, temperament, wisdom, and character to lead effectively as a servant of the people.
PERSONS NOMINATED
Nominees are asked to keep their nomination confidential until the slate has been accepted by the CWSC Board of Directors. Accepted Nominees will be notified by the Board. Once the slate has been accepted, it is published on the CWSC website. Nominees may then publicly share their nomination if they so choose. Additional information will be sent to nominees that accept consideration for leadership roles.
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
The Board of Directors seeks to meet multiple requirements when composing a qualified board of directors or other CWSC department or leadership team including consideration of complementary skills, diversity, and ability to serve.
Please complete the form below to submit your nomination. Thank you.