Call For Nominations
This is the first call for nominations for directors of The Autscape Organisation (members of the board of directors that organises and runs Autscape).
Nominations must be received by Autscape by midnight on Wednesday 10th August 2011.
Directors will be appointed by the members at the AGM on the last day of Autscape (Thursday 25th August 2011).
In order to be nominated you must be: at least 18 years old; a member of Autscape; willing to undergo an enhanced CRB check (please consult Autscape's policy statement on ex-offenders available at http://www.autscape.org/policy/ ); able to make the declaration available at http://www.autscape.org/organisation/director_trustee_declaration.pdf.
Nominations should contain:
- Name of the nominee
- Name of proposer (who must be an Autscape member other than the nominee)
- A statement of no more than 200 words about the nominee's skills and the experience that they would contribute as a director of The Autscape Organisation; also their beliefs and/or position (if any) on any issues relating to the governance or future of Autscape.
The person nominated must also send a separate email or letter confirming that they agree to being nominated.
A seconder is no longer required.
Please email your nominations to chair@autscape.org or post to the registered address (5 Haig Avenue, Lancaster. LA1 5PB. UK)
Notes
(Please read before sending a nomination)
- Before nominating someone or agreeing to be nominated, please read the job description available at http://www.autscape.org/organisation/director.
- Please note that, if elected, a nominated person will become both a company director and a charity trustee because The Autscape Organisation is now a charitable company. This is not as daunting as it may initially sound. It does not involve board members making any financial commitments and doesn't affect benefits. If you need advice about the legal responsibilities involved or whether you meet the requirements listed above please contact secretary@autscape.org
- From next year, directors will be elected for a period of 3 years. This year, all directors are being elected for a period of up to 3 years (some will be asked by the board to stand down earlier to create a pattern where one-third of the directors retire each year).
- The maximum number of directors is 9. Please don't assume that once 9 people have been nominated that no-one else can stand. More nominations give the membership greater choice, and this is a good thing.
- New directors are welcome and no experience is required. Some initial
training is available. However, please read the job description to ensure
that you understand what is involved. Because Autscape is a small
organisation with no paid employees, directors do not just make decisions
about Autscape but are also the volunteers who actually carry out virtually
all the necessary work involved. So, being a director means making a
significant commitment of time to putting in some work throughout the year,
although new directors are expected to need some time to develop into their
role. If you are unable to make that degree of commitment, please consider
becoming involved in other ways (see 6 below). For most directors, the
workload is most intense in May and June, but some time is required every
month to read documents and keep up with email lists.
Autistic skill and productivity variations are understood. Think hard about what you may have to offer. Some abilities which are quite mundane in the NT world, such as being able to post things or make phone calls, are highly prized by the Autscape board. The only universally essential skills are to be able to read and respond to e-mail and attend a meeting in a chat room once a month, because that's how the board communicates. - You do not have to run for election as a director to be involved and help with running Autscape. If you would like to help, but can't commit to being a director, you can join any of our subcommittees or working groups at any time. Details are at: http://www.autscape.org/organisation/becominginvolved.
- Please be sure you have the potential nominee's consent before you nominate them.
- If you need help with your written statement, please email chair@autscape.org
- If you are not currently a member of Autscape, you can become a member by emailing secretary@autscape.org. If you want to run, but don't have anyone to nominate you, feel free to ask on the chat list if you subscribe to it. If not, send your statement anyway and we'll see if anyone is happy to nominate you (very likely).
The address for nominations is chair@autscape.org. Alternatively you may post a nomination to the registered address (5 Haig Avenue, Lancaster. LA1 5PB. UK)
(This information was posted by Yo, Company Secretary, on 21st July 2011.)