For those who were thinking that I am under-active, do not have enough responsibility, and simply usurp power when it is convenient, I can now prove that this is not true.  The director of HR at my workplace just called me to tell me that I won the Social/Sunshine Committee elections. 

The committee is literally called, The Workers Committee (Va'ad Ovdim).  However, we are not a union or a committee with any power.  Our role involves selecting 5 or so gifts at the holiday seasons, Rosh HaShanah and Passover, from which staff members can choose one.  Up until last year the committee also distributed chocolate on birthdays, but that was discontinued due to lack of funds.  The funding source for these gifts is workers' dues, 15 NIS/month (~$4.32).  So, really the "free" holiday gifts are pre-paid by the recipients.  In addition, the committee organizes a "Worker's Day" (yom oved), which is an organization-wide field trip.  This past year the field trip was at Ein Yael, but I missed it b.c it was held on the 10th day of Pesach.  I was en route back to Israel after spending the holiday in the US with my family.  To the best of my recollection, there was no "workers' day"/field trip the year prior.  Gifts for life cycle events and other special occasions are organized by the individual departments.  

The Sunshine Committee's elections were held last week.  They involved the previous committee exaggerating the greatness and importance of the committee, and encouraging all eligible voters to participate in the elections via email messages.  Voting slips were placed in the mailboxes of eligible voters, i.e., not administration, secretaries, temps, and three days were alloted for voting for any two or so staff persons of choice.  Personally, I did not actually understand the Hebrew-language voting directions.  I thought a nomination process was underway, had no clue who to nominate, and decided that I would vote once the real elections were underway.  I didn't realize that it was a one-stage election in which the direct elections were in progress.  However, during the voting window, my lunch buddy told me that she had voted for me!  I canceled my plans to abstain, opted for revenge, and voted for her.  

Point: I did not actively run and until her leak I did not suspect that anyone would vote for me. 

The director of HR called me to tell me that I won.  I simply burst out laughing.  What could be funnier?  Really?  Maybe that the committee even exists in the first place... 

Then I thought to ask how many votes I received.  Assuming there are ~100 eligible voters, I can't fathom turnout exceeded 50%, based on all of the empty voting slips left untouched in mailboxes.  How many ballots does it take to win a majority if no one actually votes?  And, shouldn't they cancel the committee if voter turnout is too low?  I was expecting him to tell me that I won with three votes.  However, he told me that I obtained between 11 and 12 votes.  How wild!  Of course this makes me curious regarding the actual turnout.  Did 20% of all voters really vote for me?  Maybe turnout and total votes cast was higher than my estimate.  Three of my closer friends at work each told me they abstained.  So who on earth voted for me?  Perhaps my reputation as fabulous President of the Condo Association is getting around...

[Edit: I have since been privy to the election results.  As I best recall, there were ~40 voters who cast ~115 votes.  The individual with the most votes, 11, is leaving at the end of the month.  The three committee members won 10, 9 and 8 votes respectively.]

To my pleasure, my friend and victim of my revenge also won.  There is a third, male member of the committee.  Our first order of business is to have a transitional meeting with the outgoing committee along with the HR director in order to start preparing the Rosh HaShanah gifts.  The holiday is only two months away...