December 06, 2011
SURS holding trustee election
The State Universities Retirement System (SURS) will conduct an election next spring to fill three seats on its 11-member board of trustees. Participating members in SURS will fill two of the three available seats, with the third open seat going to an annuitant.
Trustees serve six-year terms. The board consists of four trustees appointed by the governor, four trustees elected from contributing members, two trustees elected from annuitants, and the chair of the Illinois Board of Higher Education, who serves as SURS board chair.
The State Universities Retirement System serves more than 200,000 members and 68 employers throughout Illinois.
Candidate application packets, including petitions, are now available. Those interested in a participant trustee seat must be an active participant and have their petition signed by 400 active SURS members. Annuitants seeking the annuitant trustee seat must collect signatures from 100 SURS annuitants.
Applications are due by Dec. 31, with petitions due no later than Jan 31, 2012. Election ballots will be sent to qualified SURS members on March 30, and must be returned by 4:30 p.m., May 1. The winners will be announced May 2. The new trustees will serve their terms beginning July 15.
Applications and petitions should be returned to SURS, Box 2710, Champaign, IL, 61825 when complete.
The board meets four times a year -- in March, June, September and December. In addition to preparation and attending board meetings, trustees must also meet certain annual ethics training requirements and are encouraged to participate in other educational conferences.
Candidate applications packets and petitions are available by calling 800/275-7877, and asking for Stacy Smith. Additional detailed information is also available by visiting the “Board Election” section of the organization’s website at www.surs.org.