General Criteria/Information for New Board Members
- Based or working in Rotorua.
- Able to attend most board meetings (this applies to all board roles except one – see below) – one per month over 11-12 months.
- Ability to work on allocated projects outside of board meetings – say a couple of hours per week.
- Must be committed to women’s issues and making a difference in the community.
- Willing to be a member of the Rotorua YWCA (currently $20 per year)
- Willingness to have their CV on file.
- Willingness to be profiled in the local news as necessary in support of local YWCA activity.
- We are also hoping to provide governance training in due course (once funding allows).
- Generally, YWCA Rotorua planning day meetings are held on the weekends.
- We encourage local board members to get involved with YWCA Aotearoa (National Association) business/affairs – this is optional.
Skill set 1: Strong Networks
We are looking for people with strong community connections who can utilise these connections for the promotion of the YWCA.
The person fulfilling this role will not be required to attend all board meetings. Rather, they will receive information from the Rotorua Y (board minutes etc) and will be fully appraised of what we are doing, so that when we need to connect into the local community to access people for certain projects/issues, this person already has a lead to them to shorten the networking process.
Skill set 2: Financial/Accounting Skills
It is important to have these skills on the Board as this person will act as treasurer for the Rotorua YWCA. This includes:
- Approving all invoices each month as prepared by the ED. This includes visiting the office approx once per week initially.
- Reviewing the monthly accounts as prepared by the ED.
- Managing the year-end accounting and auditing process.
- Presenting a Treasurer’s Report each month to the Board – this is generally a one page summary of activity, supported by monthly accounts/payment schedules etc.
- Preparing a yearly Treasurer’s report to members.
A specific project that the Treasurer will take a lead in is the improvement of the Rotorua YWCA systems and processes, especially in relation to financial management. The ED will update the policies and procedures manuals for sign-off by the board, but the board will rely on the treasurer being comfortable with all financial management policies and procedures, particularly in relation to segregation of duties.
Skill set 3: Fundraising/Marketing
As a fundraiser you will be responsible for fundraising activities conducted on behalf of the Rotorua YWCA. Ideally will you be able to identify and research potential funding opportunities. Develop proposals for projects that could attract new funding and assist management in developing a fundraising strategy
Skill set 4: Legal training/experience
It is always really helpful to have a lawyer or someone with legal training on a board. The Rotorua YWCA is no different. Over the next year or two, we expect to be embarking on new projects which will have contracts associated. Other than that, there is no specific role the lawyer will hold, other than being fully involved in general Rotorua YWCA board activity.
Skill set 5: Community Programme Development
Programme Development is an important aspect of the YWCA at local level. We are interested in people who have experience in this area to assist management.
Skill set 6: General business
In this skill set we are looking for someone who has experience to draw on as we continue to identify and implement new opportunities in the Rotorua YWCA. Such opportunities could range from upgrading the current hostel, to building a new wing on it, to developing and implementing new community programmes.
General Comments
Members of the board will meet with potential board members prior to the April 07 AGM.
After, to being appointed, we will provide an induction pack to each board member to assist in their orientation to the YWCA movement generally, and specifically to the Rotorua YWCA.
Once appointed, and assuming the board members enjoy the experience, we would be delighted if any/all board members aspired to President/Vice President roles as we need to continually consider succession planning.
We will ask each new member to sign a confidentiality agreement as we are currently requiring all board members (new and existing) to sign these agreements.
We are also putting a board indemnity in place to protect all board members while serving the Rotorua YWCA.
Meetings are typically held in the evening at 6.00 – 8.00pm once per month.
For more information, please contact Geraldine Harvey: gez@xtra.co.nz
