Recruitment Help! Sheet: Electing Office Bearers

Recruitment Help! Sheet: Electing Office Bearers

Officers of the Management Committee are normally drawn from the existing committee membership and can be recruited using the same range of methods as those used for Management Committee members. However, given the additional responsibilities, groups may wish to consider the benefits of a more formal approach which allows them to objectively assess whether an individual has the skills and qualities necessary for the role.

Click here for more information on the appointment of Committee members.

New Officers can be appointed in a number of ways, most commonly:

• At the first Committee meeting following the AGM, when the new Committee Members are elected (Officers are elected by the Management Committee members)
• At the Annual General Meeting (AGM) (Officers are elected by the organisation’s members).

Check your governing document for your own specific requirements!

Electing a Chairperson

You may find from your governing document that there are specific rules regarding the appointment of a Chairperson, for example:

• a fixed term of office (e.g. 1-3 years);
• a maximum period of continuous service in office (e.g. 1-5 years);
• a fixed period before a retired Chairperson can be re-elected (e.g. 1-5 years).

These rules help prevent difficult situations such as:

• an organisation becoming too reliant on its Chairperson;
• the Chairperson dominating or refusing to stand down;
• the Chairperson being incompetent but well-liked, and no-one wants to hurt her/his feelings.

It is very important to have a skilled and competent Chairperson.

More on the role of Chairperson
More on the role of Secretary
More on the role of Treasurer