Draft Board Member Job Description and Election Process

PERC Board of Directors

Job Description, Qualifications and Nomination Process

Nature of the Organization

The Ottawa Peace and Environment Resource Centre (PERC) is an incorporated, registered charity with a Board of Directors to govern its operations.

PERC's mandate is to educate the public about peace, environment and social justice issues, empower people to get involved in these issues and support local groups who are involved.

Board Role

The role of the Board is primarily to act on behalf of PERC members to set strategy and evaluate operating policy. The Board also reviews PERC committee reports and finances on a regular basis.

Structure of the PERC Board

The PERC Board of Directors consists of 5 to 15 members. Its officers include a President (Chair), Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and Members-at-Large.

Subcommittees of the Board 

The Board has four sub-committees:

1. Board Policy: Reviews policies related to the Board and PERC as well as ensuring that the PERC's Bylaws are up to date. Makes recommendations for changes if necessary.

2. Funding: Liaises with PERC's Fundraising Committee to identify ways in which Board members can assist in raising funds. For example, Board members may be asked to make presentations to various church or charitable groups.

3. Staff Relations: Deals with any staff problems or concerns. Reviews staff contracts (for the PERC Coordinator and PEN Editor) when they come up for renewal and makes recommendations to the Board.

4. Board Development: Coordinates activities in this area, including identifying appropriate skills training for Board members, work on Board member orientation and recruitment of new Board members.

Board Responsibilities and expected Time Commitment

A Board Member's Term is for 2 years.

The on-going time commitment for PERC Board members is approximately 12 hours/month. Board members are expected to:


 * Complete the Board orientation process upon their appointment (approximately 3 hours)


 * Attend and participate in approximately 12 Board of Directors meetings per year (about 2.5 hours each).


 * Attend and participate in the Annual General Meeting.


 * Participate in PERC events and get to know the PERC volunteer community.

A Director may serve in one of the following roles as an Executive Officer:

President/Chairperson, Vice- President, Secretary, Treasurer or Member-at-Large.


 * The Board has 4 standing subcommittees, as noted above. Depending on the priorities set by the Board, Board Members may be asked to work in one of the following areas (the choice would depend on the interest and abilities of the Board member):

Board Member Qualifications

Prospective PERC Board Members should have to following qualifications:
 * Be a member in good standing of the organization and familiar with how the PERC is operated.


 * Be committed to the organization's mandate.


 * Be generally knowledgeable about peace, environment and social justice issues.


 * Have an understanding, or willingness to learn, about the function and processes of the PERC Board, including its mandate, by-laws and policies.


 * Have the ability to look at issues from both a long- and shorter-term perspective.


 * Be disciplined and able to self-evaluate.


 * Be a visionary as well as a conceptual thinker.


 * Have the ability to work within a consensus framework of decision-making.


 * Have a commitment to participate in relevant knowledge development and skills training activities.

Joining the PERC Board of Directors
There are 2 ways in which an individual can join the PERC Board of Directors:


 * S/he can be invited to join the Board by the Board Chair, in which case membership is on an interim basis until it can be put to a vote by PERC Members at the next General Meeting.


 * S/he can be nominated by a PERC Member during a Members' Meeting or a General Meeting and then confirmed by secret ballot.

In general, prospective Board members will be asked to attend at least one Board meeting and meet with the Chair and PERC Coordinator before being invited to join the Board.