I don't see how a membership of, say, 3000
> could possibly agree on *the* best candidates for the board otherwise.
>

I have a savings account with a buildong society who have a board of
directors elected by the entire membership (lots more than 3000 I
would imagine). These people are elected for, I think, one year.

Clearly it is not impossible to carry out elections for the BOD on
this scale, - more a matter of willing?

Jane