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Touching Base Inc logo showing a line drawing of two hands almost touching, and the byline "sex workers and people with disa ility coming together"  at the fingertips

Annual nominations for Touching Base Committee of Management now open

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This notice is for individual members of Touching Base who would like to consider nominating for a position on our Committee of Management for the coming year.

Below you'll find a general overview of structure of the Touching Base Committee of Management; a brief description of the roles and responsibilities of the Office Bearers & Ordinary Members, and a link to the nomination form.

The Committee structure, purpose and role – and call for nominations

STRUCTURE
The Touching Base Committee of Management (The Committee) consists of four Office Bearers - President/Vice-President/Treasurer/Secretary, and up to five Ordinary Members.
 
Our Constitution requires that The Committee consists of a majority of people with disability, and sex workers. Also the roles of President and Vice President may only be held by a person with disability and/or a sex worker. That means that out of a maximum total of nine positions on The Committee, up to four are open to individual members who do not identity as a person with disability or as a sex worker.
 
PURPOSE
Members of The Committee oversee and guide the affairs of Touching Base, providing strategic direction, general governance and financial oversight for the organisation.

MEETINGS
The Committee generally meets in person every month. Committee meetings are held alternately in Cammeray, Sydney (generously hosted by one of our Committee members at their home), and in Ashfield, Sydney (at Family Planning NSW).
Committee members are expected to read papers prior to attending meetings.

In-between meetings Committee members are also sometimes required to make decisions via email. In August we hold full afternoon of Strategic Planning on a Saturday, which Committee members are expected to attend.

ACTIVITIES
As we are a small unfunded organisation, many members of The Committee also handle many aspects of the day-to-day running of the organisation - along with the development of resources and delivery of training workshops, etc. Some of this work is supported by other Touching Base members who volunteer their help in various capacities.
 
New members of The Committee are supported in their roles by other Committee members. From time to time The Committee also forms subcommittees for specific purposes. This is another way members can contribute or gain experience without seeking nomination as a Committee member at the AGM.

NOMINATIONS OPEN
If you want to nominate yourself or someone else for a position of the Touching Base Committee of Management, please return a completed nomination form to: The Secretary, Touching Base Inc, PO Box 523, Newtown or emailed to info@touchingbase.org, by 5pm on Friday 1st December 2017. A link to the nomination form is available at the end of this notice.

The Committee –
Roles and Responsibilities

The President

  • Is committed to and upholds the objectives and goals of Touching Base;
  • Makes sure proper notice of meetings is provided and that Committee meetings, the AGM and other general meetings, are run in accordance with the Touching Base Constitution;
  • Makes sure there is an agenda for meetings;
  • Attends and chairs all meetings of The Committee, ensuring that decisions are reached and that decisions are properly understood and recorded;
  • In the event of an equality of votes on any question, the President (or other person presiding) may exercise a second or casting vote;
  • Makes sure all legal responsibilities are met;
  • Is the spokesperson for The Committee and the organisation as required;
  • Takes part in working groups or subcommittees.

The Vice-President

  • Is committed to and upholds the objectives and goals of Touching Base;
  • Attends all meetings of The Committee as required;
  • In the president’s absence, the vice-president is to preside over meetings.
  • Takes on roles and activities as delegated by The Committee;
  • Supports the President in their role;
  • Takes part in working groups or subcommittees.

The Secretary

  • The Secretary of the association must, as soon as practicable after being appointed as Secretary, lodge notice with the association of his or her address.
  • Is committed to and upholds the objectives and goals of Touching Base;
  • Attends all meetings of The Committee as required;
  • Assists the President with agenda preparation;
  • It is the duty of the Secretary to take minutes (which are to be typed up, distributed and filed appropriately) of:
    (a) all appointments of office-bearers and members of The Committee (b) the names of members at a meeting, and
    (c) notes of all proceedings at committee meetings and general meetings;
  • Makes sure that all incoming postal mail is processed;
  • Maintains the membership register, including advising members when their membership is due for renewal;
  • Takes part in working groups or subcommittees.
The Treasurer
  • Is committed to and upholds the objectives and goals of Touching Base;
  • Attends all meetings of The Committee as required;
  • Makes sure that adequate financial management systems are in place;
  • It is the duty of the treasurer of the association to ensure:
    (a) that all money due to the association is collected and received and that all payments authorised by the association are made, and
    (b) that correct books and accounts are kept showing the financial affairs of the association including full details of all receipts and expenditure connected with the activities of the association;
  • Makes sure that regular financial reports are prepared and presented to The Committee;
  • Makes sure financial records are audited at the end of each financial year and that the financial reports are produced as required by the Constitution;
  • Takes part in working groups or subcommittees.
For more information about the governance obligations of The Committee the Australian Charities and Not-for-profit Commission (ACNC) has produced a fact sheet called Governance for good - the ACNC's guide for charity board members to help both new and existing Committee Members in their role - which you can access via the following link: https://www.acnc.gov.au/ACNC/Edu/Tools/GFG/GFG_Intro.aspx

 Ordinary members of The Committee

  • The ordinary members of The Committee have full speaking and voting rights at any meeting or other decision making process of The Committee;
  • Are committed to and uphold the objectives and goals of Touching Base;
  • Attend all meetings of The Committee as required;
  • Take part in working groups or subcommittees;
  • Carry out other duties as delegated by The Committee.
  • Stay aware of the Touching Base Constitution and the general roles and responsibilities of The Committee.

Instructions for nominating for the Committee of Management

Please follow this link to the download the nomination form online: http://bit.ly/2jyEXYI

The form must be returned by: 5.00pm Friday 1st December 2017

Send to: The Returning Officer, Touching Base Inc, PO Box 523, Newtown, NSW 2024, or scan/email to info@touchingbase.org
 
Please note that the Nominee, Proposer and Seconder must all be paid-up financial members by 5.00pm, Friday 1st December 2017

 
If you would like to talk with someone about nominating for the Committee please contact our President Saul Isbister
info@touchingbase.org
Phone: 0424 591 409
    


Website: www.touchingbase.org
ABN: 182 1399 7639
Copyright © 2017 Touching Base Inc., All rights reserved.


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