NATCHEZ — A crowd of nearly 90 animal lovers filled large round tables and lined the perimeter of the Natchez Convention Center to elect three new members to the Natchez-Adams County Humane Society Tuesday night.

Sue Stedman, David Paradise and Richard Leet were named the newest members of the NACHS board of directors.

NACHS President Barbara Platte said Tuesday night’s gathering was the first annual meeting the society had hosted in several years.

“We’re so excited to have so many (people) turn out,” Platte said.

Following open floor nominations, the vote for the three nominees was nearly unanimous, with one person dissenting.

Shirley Green, who voted against the set of names, questioned why only three names — the same number of members rotating off the board — were on the table for voting.

NACHS Vice President Nan Garrison, who will rotate off the board in January along with board members Pat Cox and Ann Vaughn, said the elections followed the current bylaws.

Platte said the new board would be meeting soon and revising the outdated bylaws and moving forward with new shelter plans will be the board’s the top two priorities.

The current bylaws — last revised in 1976 — required a nominating committee to provide voting members with a minimum of three replacements to go to a vote.

Kathy Fitch, Kim Lindsey and Susan Mingee were recently appointed as the nominating committee, and the subsequent election followed the current bylaws.

The annual meeting arrived after months of discussion between board members and NACHS members that board members were serving past their terms.

Ashton James, who participated in mediation between board members and their critics, said the meeting was productive, but it left the members wanting more.

James represented the voice of board members in the mediation.

“(The meeting) felt really quick,” James said.

He said he had hoped for some more discussion among members about the list of candidates.

But James said he felt good about the compromise between factions of the animal lovers, and allowing both groups to be heard will improve the humane society’s image.

Part of the compromise addressed plans for a new shelter, an issue that helped spark the controversy. A decision about the new shelter plans will be postponed until after the new board meets.

“(The election) was good for the humane society moving forward,” James said.

Platte said she hopes members who rotated off the board will continue to remain involved with NACHS as members and as volunteers.

Twenty-six new members signed up and paid dues at the meeting, which Platte said would be a helpful boost.

Many attendees purchased calendars featuring animals from the local humane society.

The calendars can be purchased at the NACHS shelter, Darby’s, Natchez Fine Framing, Wags and Bubbles and Bows Pet Salon.