BWC Board Candidate Expression of Interest and Self-Assessment

Thank you for your interest in serving on the BWC Board, and for supporting the mission and vision of Boundary Women's Coalition.

Technical difficulties? Please contact executivedirector@bwcbc.ca for assistance or print and complete the form by hand, and mail to: Boundary Women's Coalition, Box 181, Grand Forks, BC V0H 1H0.

Boundary Women's Coalition is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing a safe healing space and support programs for women who are experiencing violence, or who are at risk of violence.

Please click our website above for more information.

Board Meetings:

• 2nd Wed of the month (no meetings July or December)
• 5:00 PM to 6-6:30 PM at BWC Resource Centre
  
  • Dinner provided free - ie. take-out sushi, etc. 
  • Reimbursement for mileage to/from BWC meetings
  • Reimbursement of childcare, if required. Reimbursement only - childcare not provided
• You may attend board meetings either in-person, or remotely, via video-conference (ie. Zoom or Microsoft Teams)

If attending remotely, you must have your own computer, tablet, or smartphone and be capable of downloading and operating MS Teams/Zoom. Meeting link is sent out with the agenda prior to the meeting to those members who are attending remotely. 

Terms of Reference:

• Board members commit to a minimum of one year, but preferably to a term of two or three years
• Board members may serve a maximum of two consecutive three-year terms at a time
• Previous BWC board members may re-apply as a board candidate after one year 
  
  

Time Committment:

• 10 monthly board meetings, 5 PM - 6-6:30 PM
• additional 1-3 hours per month for emails, meeting prep, etc.
• participate in annual strategic planning and monitoring - 3 hrs
• ongoing board development (recruitment and succession-planning), networking
• support, planning, or attendance at BWC special events 

Membership:

• All board members are required to become a member of BWC and membership is free
• Optionally, members may choose to be a financially sustaining member with a pre-authorized monthly donation in the amount of their choice cancelable at any time
• Membership Form will be emailed in a separate attachment

Confidentiality:

• Confidentiality in all BWC-related matters is paramount
• Board members are required to sign a confidentiality agreement

Conduct:

• Board members are expected to:
  • be on time, having reviewed the meeting agenda, ED Report, and minutes prior to the start of the meeting
  • actively participate in discussion and engage in solution-based, collaborative discussion and consensus decision-making
  • commit to respectful, collaborative discussion - over-talk, or side discussions while another person is speaking is not permitted (in consideration of all members, especially those with hearing/visual impairment, etc.)
• Board members may not be a paid employee or contractor, or receive any remuneration, except for:
  • mileage/childcare to attend meetings
  • paid dinner provided when attending in-person at board meetings
  • reimbursement for expenses pre-approved by the Executive Director only

Absence:

• Unexpected absence due to illness - inform Chair or Executive Director ahead of, or immediately following a meeting
• Planned absence due to vacation - communicate ahead to the Board Chair or Executive Director - preferrably limit to one, maximum two concurrent meetings (does not apply if joining the meeting remotely)

Board Roles and Duties:

Chair - Leads monthly board meetings; main contact for Executive Director; official board representative. 

Vice-Chair - Assists Chair as back-up and leads the meeting when Chair is scheduled to be absent.

Past-Chair - Assists the in-coming Chair in their new role. Provides experienced advice, history, background/context, and information as needed.

Secretary - Prepares agenda in advance of the monthly board meeting with input from the Chair and Executive Director as needed. Takes meeting minutes and sends the draft minutes to the board for review and comment following the meeting.

Treasurer - Attends quarterly Finance meeting with Executive Director and Finance Rep; reports back to the board. 

Events Representative - works with the Events Committee and/or ED and staff on events as needed; reports back to the board.

Member-at-Large - general duties as needed; these are new board members still learning about BWC and gaining board experience. 

Next Steps:

After your board candidate application has been reviewed you will:

• meet briefly with the Board Chair or another board member in order for us to better get to know you and for you to learn more about BWC - Please have a list of work and/or volunteer references available upon request
• If approved as a board candidate, you will attend one or two board meetings as an observer to learn about the board, its processes, requirements, and more about BWC 
  • following this, the board will vote to approve/not approve you as a BWC board member

Thank you for your interest in Boundary Women's Coalition.

I certify, by my signature, that the information contained within this application and all supporting documents (i.e., references, recommendation letters, etc.) is true, accurate, and complete to the best of my knowledge. An electronic signature is accepted.