Nominations to become a new IACD Board member close on 8th May. Following this the Board shall consider all nominations and vacancies and agree persons to be appointed initially as a co-optee for one year, to see if being a Board member works for them and for the organisations. These co-optees shall be approved at the June AGM in Ireland.
IACD is a global association working across eight regions, each with up to two Board members designated as IACD Regional Directors. (You can find brief biographies of each Board member on the ABOUT page of the website, Dropdown Board Members).
Being an IACD Board member or committee member involves a time commitment.
We should not underestimate that joining the Board of IACD requires quite a time commitment. As well as being a Board member, you are likely to be a Regional Director responsible for promoting membership across your region. You will also be required to join two of the Committees above. All Board members are volunteers and there is no payment for this work. If funds allow we may be able to assist Board members to attend one of the IACD international conferences. That all said, IACD has a stimulating Board, with all highly committed to building the association and representing the field at an international level.
If you are interested in serving on the IACD Board or to be considered for co-option to one of its committees, you must be a fully paid up member of the association. Nomination forms must be submitted at least six weeks before an AGM and we shall post a notice about this date on the website and Facebook Page indicating whether there is a vacancy. The existing Board will consider all nominations in accordance with our equal opportunities and diversity policy.
IACD holds an Annual General Meeting usually coinciding with an international conference.
Our June 2018 AGM will be announced soon. At this, we consider Nominations to the Board, present an annual report together with the financial statements of the organisation that are reviewed by an independent auditor, and the Board agrees the work programme for the year ahead.
Benefits of being a board member
“Becoming a board member can be immensely rewarding but it is not something you should go into with your eyes closed. If you are habouring a romantic image about breezing into Board meetings every now and then, making a few swift and effective decisions and in the process attaining that warm inner glow you get from helping to change the world, itʼs time for a reality check. Being on a not-for-profit board can, at times, be a hard and thankless task” (www.ourcommunity.com.au)
Becoming part of IACDʼs Board is an exciting and rewarding experience.
Some of the benefits include:
– Making a difference – helping to promote and advocate for the important role
of community development processes and methodologies internationally;
– Growing your networks – meeting and exchanging with other community
development practitioners and leaders from around the world;
– Expanding your knowledge – exposure to community development around the
world, and the potential to see how community development links to diverse
areas and fields of knowledge (such as finance, rural development, gender,
enterprise and culture);
– Developing your skills – being in a leadership position in an international
organisation offers all sort of possibilities for expanding your skills;
– Reflecting on your work and your context – meeting practitioners from other
places and contexts gives us an opportunity to reflect on our own practice and
the contexts in which we work, and this can add a richness and depth to our
practice.
IACD Board membership is voluntary and involves no remuneration – however, the rewards of being part of growing this organisation range from personal satisfaction to professional development. We are part of growing and nurturing a unique international organisation – and that is an exciting prospect!
Board Member Responsibilities
Being a Board member of IACD is a privilege and a member should not take on this position lightly.
Board members are expected to be active representatives of IACD both in their own countries, their global regions and internationally.
Being a Board member entails taking on a number of legal and moral responsibilities. These are set out below.
IACD Board members provide leadership through:
o Ensuring that the organisation complies with its governing documents, Scottish
charity law, UK company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations.
o Ensuring that the organisation pursues its objects as defined in its governing
documents.
o Ensuring the organisation uses its resources exclusively in pursuance of its
objects: the charity must not spend money on activities which are not included
in its own objects, no matter how worthwhile or charitable those activities are.
o Contributing actively to giving firm strategic direction to the organisation, setting
overall policy, defining goals and setting targets and evaluating performance
against agreed targets.
o Promoting the values, mission, and work/activities of IACD.
o Ensuring the effective and efficient administration of the organisation.
o Ensuring the financial stability of the organisation.
o Protecting and managing the property of the charity and ensuring the proper
investment of the charity’s funds.
o Applying a duty of care to paid staff and volunteers, contributing to the
appointment of staff and monitoring their performance.
o Communicating actively with staff and other board members.
o Leading fund-raising activities for IACD at a regional level.
o Actively participating in at least one taskforce group, and supporting projects of
IACD at the regional or global level.
o Actively participating in Board initiatives and actions between Board meetings.
o Actively pursuing connections and resources to contribute to IACD from her/his
region.
o Linking into networks and supports to access resources for participating in
Board meetings.
o Actively expanding community development networking between their region
and IACD.
o Coordinating IACD co-sponsored community development activities.
o Supporting other Directors in their region in pursuit of the objectives in the
organisation.
o Providing regional updates at all Board meetings.
o Working with other Directors in their region to submit updates and articles for
IACD website, publications, e-bulletins, and other social media activities.
o Attending Board meetings.
In addition to the above statutory duties, each Board member should use any specific skills, knowledge or experience they have to help the Board of Directors reach sound decisions.
This may involve:
o Scrutinizing Board papers
o Leading discussions
o Focusing on key issues
o Providing guidance on new initiatives
o Leading fund-raising activities
o Other issues in which the trustee has special expertise.
Board Member Person Specification
o Experience and interest in community development
o Commitment to helping IACD understand the community development context in
her/his country and global region
o Commitment to the organisation
o Willingness to devote the necessary time and effort
o Strategic vision
o Good, independent judgement
o Ability to think creatively
o Willingness to speak their mind
o Understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of
the position as trustee of a Scottish charity and UK company director
o Ability to work effectively as a member of a team and share learning
o Adherence to the seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity,
accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.
Operational Responsibilities
The sustainability of IACD relies on the active involvement of all Board members. It is absolutely essential that Board members play an active role in the organisation. While staff members are directly responsible for the day to day operations of the organisation, Board members play an important role in the life of the organisation.
With this in mind, each Board member is asked to commit to the following activities of the Board:
· Actively participate in at least two committees of the IACD Board of Directors.
· Respond promptly to requests and emails from the Board Executive Committee
or staff. If you are unable to respond to an email request due to your workload,
you must let the Executive Committee and staff know this in writing and also the
date when you will be available to respond.
· Network regionally on behalf of IACD. Evidence of this could be:
o Hold 1 regional or local event
o Membership development
· Commit to support IACDʼs fundraising strategies. Actively engage your national and regional networks and seek to open up funding possibilities for IACD.
· Work with other Board members in your region to coordinate your activities.
It is expected that you will communicate with the other Board members in
your global region at least twice per year;
· Report on your IACD activities to staff monthly, for inclusion in the IACD
Activity Report reviewed by the Executive
· Complete your regional annual report. This report must be forwarded in a
timely fashion so that they are available for the Annual Board Meeting.
These reports will be made available to all IACD members.
It is important for all Board members to note that IACD is not in a position to cover expenses incurred as a result of undertaking these duties. It is the responsibility of each Board member to find ways to cover the costs of
undertaking these duties
