Community, The most challenging positions the nomcom has to fill are the Area Director positions. In reviewing these positions, and in trying to find the best person for the job, it is always a good thing to have a rich set of candidates to consider. We think the process of volunteering for the AD position is a valuable process, not only for the nomcom, but also for the candidate: It gives an opportunity to consider the position not only from the perspective of "those people should do better", but from "how would I do this job if selected?". It also offers people a chance to have the necessary conversation with their management about getting the time commitment for the job - something that might prove very valuable when this conversation occurs again - as it very likely will. In this cycle, we have two slots in the ART area to fill. Both incumbents have said that they are willing to continue, and both have received positive feedback from the community - but the nomcom thinks that both the process and the community is better served if more people have considered whether they can take on this job, and have decided that the answer is "yes". The Nomcom has therefore decided to extend the nomination period for the ART slot until Friday, October 30, and ask that the community thinks carefully about possible candidates for these positions. For the Nomcom, Harald Alvestrand
