• About the National Council
• 2007/2008 Office-bearers and National Council members
• Responsibilities and obligations of serving National Council members
• Description of National Council positions

About the National Council

The S.S.P.A. is administered by a body called the National Council elected at every National Annual General Meeting held at the National Convention each year. Its structure includes an executive consisting of a National President, National Chairperson, National  Secretary and National Treasurer, and a committee of ordinary Council members.

The elected National Council meets on a quarterly basis i.e. approximately every three months. Its first meeting is always held directly after each Annual General Meeting in October, and thereafter meets in December, and then March and June of the following year. While the meetings require the attendance of National Council members, it also allows for members to attend in the capacity of observers. The meetings are held at a member's home and are generally followed by a social get-together.

The main duty of the National Council is to disseminate all such information to SSPA members as the Council considers is in the interests of the members and consistent with the objectives of the SSPA. This is by means of meetings, published minutes, circulars, SSPA Journal or otherwise, as the Council sees fit.
 

2007/2008 Office-bearers and National Council members

At the 40th Annual General Meeting held at Port Macquarie, N.S.W. in October, 2007, elections for the 2007/2008 National Council were held and the results were as follows:

* Denotes short-statured person          

OFFICE BEARERS

NATIONAL COUNCIL MEMBERS

Responsibilities and obligations of serving National Council members      

• The National Council meets four times per year. Generally, two of these meetings are face-to-face and two are phone link-ups. In accordance with the Constitution of the SSPA, a Councillor is expected to attend at least two out of the four National Council meetings;

• In the event of non-attendance at a National Council meeting, Council members should send their apologies;

• Councillors are expected to carry out their duties promptly when given specific tasks or appointed on sub-committees;

• Councillors should familiarise themselves with the Constitution of the SSPA as well as the Mission Statement;

• These responsibilities and obligations apply to all National Council members, both ‘office-bearers' and 'ordinary’  .

Description of National Council positions

The National Council office-bearers, along with the National Council members are responsible for making Association decisions. They may be required to form sub-committees from time to time.

The following positions are those of the office bearers:

President – the President is the figurehead of the Association and must be a person of short stature who is a positive role model to other members. They should be able, if called upon, to speak or give interviews etc., to publicise the SSPA. The President shall be the Chairperson of all meetings of the National Council and therefore must be confident and capable of running a meeting and adhering to the agenda. Each member of the National Council has one vote. In the case of an equality of votes, the President shall have a second or casting vote. The President is required to present a written report to the AGM. The President has the normal responsibilities and obligations of a Council member i.e. making Association decisions and participating on subcommittees when required. Please refer to the above, “Responsibilities and Obligations of Serving Council Members”, for details on attendance at Council meetings.

Vice-President – the Vice-President is the understudy to the President. He/She is a person of short stature and must be a positive role model to other members of the SSPA. The Vice-President is required to give a report to the AGM. The Vice-President has the normal responsibilities and obligations of a Council member (see above). The Vice President is expected to take on the duties of the President if he/she is unavailable.

Secretary – the role of Secretary is a time consuming position. The Secretary records all National Council meeting minutes, prepares them and forwards them, along with agendas of the meetings, to Council members. The same procedure is followed for the AGM. Also, the Secretary handles correspondence, both in and out. The Secretary gives a “Correspondence” report at each National Council meeting and prepares a Secretary’s report for the AGM. As well as this, the Secretary has the usual responsibilities and obligations of a serving Council member (see above).

Treasurer – the role of Treasurer is also a time consuming position. The Treasurer is responsible for the receiving of all Association monies (i.e. memberships, donations etc.). He/She is responsible for the banking of monies and the balance of the Association’s books. They prepare financial statements for each Council meeting as well as the yearly financial report for the AGM. The Treasurer also prepares the books for audit each year and has the normal responsibilities of a serving Council member (see above).

Journal Editor – the Journal Editor is responsible for the publication, collating and dispatch of the SSPA Journal every second month. As well as being a time-consuming position, this is a very responsible role, as the Journal is the means by which members keep in touch and aware of what their Association is providing for them. The Journal Editor must own a computer with the following requirements:

·     Windows 98 or later

·     Microsoft Word

·     Microsoft Publisher

·     CD Burner

·     Scanner

·     Internet connection

The Journal Editor prepares a report for each National Council meeting as well as the AGM. The Journal Editor also has to fulfil the obligations and responsibilities of a serving Council member (see above).

Overseas Liaison Officer – the Overseas Liaison Officer handles all overseas correspondence, relates any matters of interest to council and publishes the same in the journal. They are responsible for liaising and maintaining contacts with short-statured groups around the world. The Overseas Liaison Officer prepares a report for each National Council meeting as well as the AGM. They are also required to fulfil the obligations of a serving Council member (see above).

Membership Secretary: the role of Membership Secretary is to maintain up-to-date records of the current status of the members of the SSPA and to make those records available to other Council members and State Secretaries. To do this, the Membership Secretary must liaise with the Treasurer who receives the money for membership fees. The Membership Secretary is required to submit a brief report to each National Council meeting citing the current numbers of members and any statistics or information worth noting. They must also report to the AGM of the SSPA. They are also required to fulfil the obligations of a serving Council member (see above).

The following positions are not elected, they are Council-appointed, and do not become vacant every year according to the discretion of the National Council:

Librarian: the Librarian takes charge of all the publications that have made up the SSPA Library over the last 30 years. They are responsible for collecting new and interesting publications and material that relates to people with disabilities in general and short stature in particular. The Librarian establishes a system for lending the SSPA’s publications to members, and is also responsible for informing members (through the Journal) of the Library’s contents as well as any new additions or acquisitions. The Librarian is required to submit a brief report to each National Council meeting, giving an update on the status of the SSPA library. The Librarian must report to the AGM of the SSPA. Like the Website Administrator, the Librarian is not an elected position, but is Council-appointed. The Librarian is not required to attend Council meetings but is welcome to do so in the capacity of an observer.

Website Administrator: the Website Administrator is responsible for coordinating and maintaining the SSPA National Website. The Website Administrator must own a computer with up to date website editing software and an internet connection. The Website Administrator is required to submit a brief report to each National Council meeting, giving an update on the status of the SSPA website. The Website Administrator must report to the AGM of the SSPA. Like the Librarian, the Website Administrator is not an elected position, but is Council-appointed. The Website Administrator is not required to attend Council meetings but is welcome to do so in the capacity of an observer

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Copyright: ©2000 Short Statured People of Australia Inc. All rights reserved.
Last updated: 21 November, 2007