At each Annual General Meeting (AGM) the IHBC elects, re-elects or appoints trustees and officers who are nominated and voted in by Full Members, with nominations to the next AGM closing on 20 April 2018, while the only officer reaching the end of a term this year is Vice Chair Kathy Davies and, whilst content to stand for one more year if required, Kathy is also happy to discuss the role with anyone who might like to take it on.
James Caird describes the process in our regular Membership Eletter:
As we all know, the strength of the IHBC lies in the willingness of its members to contribute to its activities. The Institute is always pleased to hear from members willing to contribute their skills, time and experience, either at local or national level.
It is easy to become informed about the IHBC and involved in its processes through our NewsBlogs, Membership Eletter and our in-house publications, Context and our Yearbook all of which offer opportunities for comment and feedback.
A starting point for active involvement for IHBC members of all classes of membership may be at national and regional Branch levels, where we offer programmes of meetings and CPD that many will wish to attend, participate in and contribute to. There are opportunities, too, to contribute to the governance of our Branches. Details may be obtained from Branch contacts and secretaries listed at http://www.ihbc.org.uk/branches/index.html.
Our Annual School gives members the opportunity to meet members from other regions as well as the Institute’s national officers, who use this event to help keep in contact with the wider membership.
Those with particular expertise or interest in aspects of conservation or development of policy might like to consider joining one of the national panels or committees. Participation in a committee or panel can lead to further responsibility in that area or in the general governance of the Institute.
The IHBC has recently reviewed its corporate structure and introduced a mechanism for developing interest in the governance of the Institute through an expanded half-yearly meeting called ‘Council+’ which gives access to a wider regional representation to policy development (this needs better wording). Participation in Council+ is one way of tasting the responsibilities of the Institute’s Body of Trustees, our constitutional Council. This is a part of the process that any self-perpetuating body must go through to ensure its long-term future. In line with our current Corporate Plan we will embed in any revised constitution the lessons learned from this and other aspects of this ‘experimental evolution’ of our governance, as our Past President Trefor Thorpe titled the process.
The IHBC is a charitable trust company whose Board of Trustees, called the Council, is responsible for its management. It comprises the nationally elected officers, including officer that chair our national committees, and the members nominated by the Branches. Any full member wishing to become a trustee needs to be well acquainted with the Institute’s policies and ways of working. This can be achieved by any, or all, of the ways already mentioned, and by reference to our Yearbook and our website links from www.ihbc.org.uk.
Details of the legal duties and obligations of trustees and the various roles of the Institute’s officers also may be obtained from the current chair of the IHBC Secretary, Jo Evans, email: ihbcsecretary@ihbc.org.uk.
For IHBC trustees’ job descriptions and specifications see the tab on the Corporate Papers webpage
To contact Kathy email: vicechair@ihbc.org.uk
For all nomination forms please contact Lydia at admin@ihbc.org.uk
