Governing Council Nomination Guidance

SRHE Governing Council – Nomination for Membership of SRHE Governing Council: Notes for Guidance.

The role of council members is a very important one. These individuals are the trustees of the Society and the role comes with a number of responsibilities and commitments which nominated candidates must be prepared to take on.

The business of the Society, which includes the management of the Society's affairs and all its activities, is undertaken by a small team of employed professionals, led by a highly experienced Director/CEO.

The members of Council are responsible for delivering the mission of the Society as well as overseeing the Society's affairs, especially financial. Nominated candidates need to demonstrate a range of skills and areas of expertise which will help the Society achieve its goals, deliver the charitable activities defined and meet the requirements of the business plans formulated. Candidates must be prepared to take on the time commitment necessary to perform these duties effectively.

Elections to SRHE Governing Council-Information for candidates and nominees

• Members of Council are expected to attend 3 formal meetings of Council each year.
• Each member of Council also serves on one of the Society's Standing committees. This also involves a minimum commitment of three additional meetings a year. The Chairs of each standing committee are also members of council.
• • The Society runs a major annual conference, a series of Networks and other events and seminars throughout the year. Council members are expected to support and attend some of these events.
• Nominations are invited for vacant positions arising on SRHE Council for the period of Office from 1 March 2012 to 31 March 2015.
• Elected Council members serve for an initial term of 3 years renewable, up to a maximum of 3 consecutive terms.
• Nomination forms must be completed by a proposer and seconder and the nominated candidate, their proposer and seconder must all be current members of the Society.

Closing date for nominations is : 06 February 2012

For further information and guidance on the Nominations process for election to SRHE Governing Council please contact the Director, Helen Perkins.

Further Information
	SRHE Governing Council – Nomination for membership form
	SRHE Governing Council – Nomination for Membership of SRHE Governing Council: Notes for Guidance.

The role and responsibilities of the SRHE Governing Council are set out in the Society's constitution.

Terms of reference for Governing Council

1.1 The Governing Council shall

1.1.1 determine the general character of the Society's activities;
1.1.2 approve the topics of annual and other conferences organised by or in conjunction with the Society;
1.1.3 approve both the academic and the financial relationship between the Society and the publishers of its book imprints and journals;
1.1.4 approve the conferment of all and any awards made by the Society which will include all forms of Fellowships and all Prizes as the Society may offer;
1.1.5 review and approve on an annual basis the services and benefits to be provided to members and the level of subscriptions to be charged;
1.1.6 establish financial procedures to safeguard the assets of the Society, to ensure its viability and the achievement of its aims;
1.1.7 approve the Annual Accounts for presentation to the Annual General Meeting and recommend on the appointment of Auditors;
1.1.8 appoint, by consensus or majority vote, the President of the Society, Officers of the Society, and the Chairs and members of committees and groups, as prescribed below;
1.1.9 at its discretion undertake such other tasks, consonant with the Society's aims and the Council's legal and financial responsibilities, as may from time to time be requested by the Annual General Meeting.

1.2 Governing Council: Composition
The membership of the Governing Council shall be up to 5 Officers of the Society; up to 16 elected members and up to 5 co- opted members, comprising a total of 22 members. This membership will be achieved as follows:

• Officers of the Society
• The Chair of the Society
• Up to Two Vice Chairs
• The Treasurer
• The "Past Chair", i.e. the immediately preceding Chair of the Society
• Director of the Society

Up to 16 further members elected by and from the members of the Society. The number of elected members not holding a specific office, as defined above, on the Governing Council must not be less than 8 or more than 16.
Up to five further co-opted members who shall be members of the Society.

1.3 Governing Council: Elected and co-opted members

The elected members of Governing Council shall hold office for three years, beginning on January 1st.

Retiring members may stand for re-election. Unless otherwise determined by Governing Council, elected members may serve for a maximum of three consecutive terms and will become eligible to stand for Council again two complete years after last being a member a of Council.. Wherever possible, one third of the elected members should retire each year: in the event of early retirement, the terms of office of one or more vacancies may be shortened accordingly. Mid-year vacancies may be filled, at Governing Council's discretion, by co-option until the next Annual General Meeting. Other co-opted members may serve for up to three years, standing down at the end of year of office. Co-options are renewable up to a maximum of nine consecutive years in total.

Election to Governing Council shall be by ballot using the Single Transferable Vote. Candidates shall be nominated by two ordinary members of the Society and must indicate their willingness to stand for election. A minimum of fourteen days shall be allowed for nominations and a minimum of ten days for voting. The result of the election shall be announced to the Annual General Meeting.

2. Officers of the Society

2.1 The Chair of the Society shall be elected by Governing Council from the membership of the Governing Council. The election shall take place before the Annual General Meeting, and the period of office shall be two years, beginning on January 1st. The appointment is renewable for up to a maximum of two further years at the invitation of Governing Council. Self nominations and cross nominations are not permitted and in the interests of good governance the position is to be held by one individual.

2.2. Up to two Vice Chairs, and the Treasurer shall be elected by and from the newly-elected Governing Council, as soon as possible after the Annual General Meeting. The period of office shall be two years, beginning at the first meeting of Governing Council after the Annual General Meeting. These appointments are renewable. The appointments of the Treasurer shall normally run one year after the appointments of the Chair and Vice Chair.

2.3 Elections for the Officers shall be by ballot. Candidates shall be nominated by a member of the Governing Council and must indicate their willingness to stand for election. A minimum of fourteen days shall be allowed for nominations and a minimum of ten days for voting.