Historical Succession Process

• Pressure a person to accept the President possession.
  • Person may lack leadership skills
    • Hurts conference as members leave and new members are not attracted
    • Meetings may become disorganized and not exciting, people find reasons not to attend
    • Start to cut processes on service, may no longer do home visits
    • Discourage rejuvenation
    • Does not have relationship with parish priest or councils
  • A person who accepts the position reluctantly may
    • Become disgruntled with the Society and service to the poor
    • They find ways to cut corners just to get through their term
• The last person recruited given the task as President
• They have no experience or knowledge of the Society
• Orientation and Training for new President does not exist
  • Resources are absent
  • Orientation/Mentoring is only as good as the Past President
• Everyone expects you to be an instant Expert on ALL matters of Business and the Society
  • You are on your own, Sink or Swim
• Everyone is happy if someone takes the role of President
  • No Longer have to worry OR contribute to the Council/Conference for 3 years
    • It is NOT my problem, it is the New Presidents problem!!

Vision:

• Past Succession process has failed or at best limited success
• Need to Identify and Invite people with Leadership Skills
  • Can no longer accept just a warm body
• Need to identify Leadership Team, not just a President
• Every Vincentian has the Responsibility to contribute their skills to the benefit of the Council/Conference
• Orientation/Training/Resources/Mentoring MUST be provided to New President AND the Executive Team

Meeting Facilitator to Meet with PC/CC Council Presidents (same principal can apply to Conference President)
Step 1 - Roundtable Discussion about PC/CC President role

• What do they view as the role of President?
• What challenges do they perceive associated with this position?
• What rewards do they perceive associated with this position?
• What role within the Society is available for a Past President?
  • Is their association with SSVP finished?
• What skills do they perceive are necessary to be a President?

Step 2 - Who within this group has the skills necessary to be President?

• Nomination Form
  • Who would you nominate for President?
  • What skills does this person have?
• My role within the New PC/CC Council Form
  • What would YOU do to support a newly elected President?
  • (Need to identify certain tasks that are very specific to prevent generic non committal responses)

Post Roundtable Meeting discussion - Meet with Nominee’s (President, Spiritual Adviser, ONRC Rep – Optional)
Step 1 - Review Nomination Forms with each Nominee individually after the Discussion meeting

• Review details provided why peers feel nominee is best choice

Step 2 - Review My Role within New PC documents with Nominee

• Discuss potential candidates for new President Executive

Step 3 - Ask Nominee to reflect and pray upon Nominee recommendations and My Role candidates

• Do not want to pressure Nominee for decision, want Nominee to be comfortable with decision

Step 4 - If Nominee accepts nomination;

• Hold election at next PC/CC meeting
• Election results, new President position to be effective 90, 120, 180 days from election
  • Allow time for orientation, mentoring and training
    • PC President/ONRC(optional) will mentor new President by reviewing;
      • How to select executive and assign responsibilities
      • Spiritual Advisor responsibilities
      • How to conduct effective meetings
      • President’s responsibilities within ONRC communications
    • ONRC to provide Orientation Checklist detailing areas requiring training
  • New Executive to be appointed based on Questionnaire on what Support each person stated they would provide to a new President.
    • Identify what training/mentoring is required for new Executive
      • Treasurer record systems
      • Secretary record systems
      • Spiritual Advisor, ensure faith is center to meetings
      • Vice President/s
  • Identify additional Support for Council/Conference
    • Regional Training (using National Training modules)
    • ONRC/Members Site/Resources/Best Practices
      • Review resources available
    • If Council has other Outreach initiatives, offer review and support for
      • Store operations, Food Banks, Summer Camps
  • Orientation Checklists Provided by ONRC
    • New Council/Conference President Orientation Checklist
    • Servant Leader Guiding Principals
    • Annual Checklist for Council/Conference Presidents

Executive Duties: (Basic Duties, additional duties may be provided by the President) Vice President: presides at council meeting and acts in lieu of the president for council activities in the absence of the president

• Assists in the visitation of conferences
• Caries out various assigned duties such as taking charge of committees, planning activities for recruitment, youth membership, training and formation

Treasurer: responsible for keeping accurate and appropriate records of funds and securities of the council and all receipts and disbursements

• Funds are deposited in the name of the council, invoices obtained before any disbursements
• Inform the members of the council’s financial position by submitting a written statement at every meeting
• Prepare and submit annual budget to council for approval
• Prepare and presents annual financial reports
• Is one of the signatories of the cheques
• Ensures annual financial review of the council according to recognized accounting rules

Secretary: Sends out agenda for all meetings

• Prepares, presents and sign the minutes of all meetings
• Keep record and archives including all records related to the election of the President
• Collates annual and other reports from conferences and transmits these reports to higher councils
• Draft correspondence and other documents at the request of the President
• Maintain up to date list of members of the council
• Custodian of the council Corporate Seal
• Ensures the confidentiality and safety of data about members and about those being served
• Sign all By-Laws and keep record of all amendments/additions (applicable to Incorporated Councils)

Spiritual Advisor: Promotes the Spirit of the rule in its entirety as the basis for any program of Spiritual development

• Strengthens the bond between the Spiritual and Apostolic activities of the council and those of the church
• Has no voting rights

Youth Coordinator: Promotes the recruitment and development of Youth with the Society

• Liaison with local Catholic school boards to and churches

Store Committee (SC): The SC ensures these Mission and Values of the Society are maintained.

• SC ensures the properties are well maintained and provide safety to staff, volunteers and persons in need.
• The SC will seek and support the development of store volunteers and staff.
• The SC will ensure all legal requirements in the operation of the store are maintained.
• The SC develops an annual operating budget and provides the necessary tools for the Store Manager to achieve the desired results.
• Stores act as intermediaries between people wishing to make donations in kind and those in need. Stores make donations available for free or at a low cost which is in keeping with the budget of those the Society serves. The SC ensures these principals are maintained.