Board of Directors Announcements
2008 VULS Annual General Meeting
See the home page for date, location and registration requirements.
Four new Board members will be elected this year. None of the Directors whose term has expired is running for re-election. Returning directors in the middle of their 2-year terms are Iain Lancaster, Alan Baggish and Gina Hopper. Directors are elected 'at large' and officers (president, etc) are selected at the first meeting.
Current Candidates for 2008 Board Elections
• Ed Burnet
• Brian Gisel
• Jordan Menu
• Joe Remedios
• Steven Tannock
• Gordon Wong
View all candidate biographies.
Nomination or declaration of candidacy must be emailed to the Executive Director by Wed Oct 29. Include a brief bio and a picture, if possible. Prospective candidates may be invited to attend a Q+A session with existing board members prior to the AGM.
Board Member Responsibilities
1. The Board meets once a month, with a meeting taking 90 minutes or so. During these meetings, the ED and LC report on ongoing business, various committees present their reports, correspondence is reviewed, and motions are discussed and voted on, if necessary.
2. Board members are asked/encouraged to attend a few important events during the year. Some examples are Ultimate Day in April, the Big Clinic and BBQ in June, the Summer Party in Sept, and the AGM in Nov.
3. Board members may be asked to head up a committee, such as the HR Committee, Juniors, Touring Teams, Governance, and so on... (These committees are seasonal in terms of being busy, but there is important work for each at some point during the year.)
4. For 2008, Board members are expected to attend an orientation session (Nov 10 or 11) to get the lay of the land. The annual Board planning session will be held on the Nov 29th weekend. This is the session where all programs are identified and where budgets are set. It will set the direction for 2009.
Questions about Board duties can sent to the Board or the Executive Director.
That's all fine and dandy but what really matters?
What makes a good Board member? What should potential candidates consider before running? What should members consider before voting? Who better to answer these questions than current board members? Here's what some had to say:
"The most important thing for the board to function well is that board members come to their role ready to work. And what kind of work is it? Some of it is strategy: what specific goals can take the VUL in a positive direction? A lot of it is flexibility. The board needs to work together as a group, with the staff, and while keeping the best interests of an increasingly diverse membership in mind. Finally, an appreciation for administrative and management work helps too. It's not sexy stuff, but it is satisfying. Really." -Jenna Newman
"Being on the VUL Board is a great way to give back to the league and the sport in general. It makes one appreciate the amount of work that goes in to arranging and scheduling a league with 7 or 8 divisions over 4 nights a week...and then starting again as soon as that one's over. If you've ever had questions or ideas about how the league is/should be run, getting involved with the board is a great way to answer all those questions and perhaps get some of those flashes of brilliance implemented." -Iain Lancaster
"In my experience, those who run for the board either have something to offer, or something to gain. The latter often demonstrate a passion lacking in the former. Passion tends to win votes but doesn't always make a good board member. Candidates should consider their motives and members should keep in mind that what does make a good board member is plenty of time to commit, the willingness to commit it, and a consideration for all the members of the league you represent." -Rob Steves
The Board is more than just discussing topics like spirit awards, turf leagues and juniors. It's about seeing how you as an individual can contribute to the growth of one of the largest leagues in the world, and to a sport that you love so much. From being on the Board, I grew tremendously as a person, learned about how our League runs (and get to meet all the great members that come with it) and was ecstatic that I got to be a part of the growth over the last couple of years. On my travels, when I meet people who have heard of our League and who are amazed at the sheer size and the growth of it, I'm so psyched (and so proud!), that I get to say "ya, I was a part of that". -Mo Nguyen
VULS Board of Directors 2007/2008
President - Jenna Newman
Vice President - Anne-Marie Carey
Secretary - Alan Baggish
Treasurer - Gina Hopper
Member At Large - Iain Lancaster
Member At Large - Mo Nguyen
Member At Large - Rob Steves
Documents
Programs
• Grants Program for 2008
• Bursary Program for 2008
• Touring Team Policy
Governance
• VULS Bylaws
• Core Values and Vision Statements
• Executive Model (pdf)
• Sustainability (pdf)
• AGM Minutes 2006
• AGM Minutes 2005
• AGM Minutes 2004
• AGM Minutes 2003
• AGM Minutes 2002
If you have any questions or comments, you can email the Board.