Join our Coordinating Collective

Join our Coordinating Collective

The Nelson & District Women’s Centre supports and empowers hundreds of people in our community each year. We believe everyone has the right to control their social, economic and physical circumstances and we promote equitable treatment of women and gender diverse individuals. Together, we celebrate diversity by honoring women of every race, class, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, age, size, spiritual or political belief.

Board of Directors

Members of our Board of Directors are elected by the membership at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). Between AGMs, the Board can appoint Directors to fill vacancies. The Directors, together with appointed staff members, form the Coordinating Collective. The CC is the governing body for the West Kootenay Women’s Association (WKWA) which operates the Nelson Women’s Centre.

The CC is a group of committed volunteers (plus staff) who make decisions and implement them through action in areas such as: human resources, finances, membership, strategic planning, media and community outreach, fundraising, taking care of the house, etc. We use a consensus model in all our interactions.

Being part of the CC offers many opportunities for learning:  communications, leadership, facilitation, consensus building, organizing, media relations, accounting and budgeting, conflict resolution, strategic planning, policy making, event planning, building maintenance, practicing feminist politics and more. If you have skills in these areas or would like to develop such skills, and you want to contribute to the feminist movement and the women of our community, this is the place for you.

We are inviting applications for our next AGM in September from women and gender diverse individuals who have some of the following skills:

  • Keen interest in women, feminism and improving our community
  • Ability to respect others’ opinions, offer feedback and promote WKWA’s values
  • Skills and expertise in these (and other) areas:
    • Accounting or knowledge of financial institutions
    • Non-profit organizations
    • Fund development
    • Event planning and coordination
    • Writing and editing
    • Maintaining and expanding membership base
    • General legal knowledge and experience

Members commit to a two-year term. Participation on the CC involves a meeting currently held on the fourth Tuesday of each month from 6:00-7:30pm. In addition, CC members take action on responsibilities set out in the monthly meetings, as well as participating in committee work and ad hoc meetings. An average of seven hours per month is needed.

Committees

If you’re not ready to jump into the CC, we also have several committees that generally meet monthly and welcome community members to apply:

Governance Committee: ensures the guiding documents of WKWA (the Constitution, Bylaws, and Policy & Procedure Manual) are up-to-date, reflect the mandate of WKWA, and comply with government requirements. Also responsible to seek ongoing opportunities for board training and development.

Fundraising Committee: raises funds for Women’s Centre operations and for special projects through raffles, donor appeals, events (for example, International Women’s Day, a summer festival Womaginarium, RIFT: Renewing Intersectional Feminism Together) and other initiatives.

Finance Committee: ensures the financial stability of WKWA through preparation and monitoring of the annual budget; assistance with financial reporting to government regulators and the membership at the AGM; and ensuring adequate liability protection for Board members, volunteers and staff.

Facilities Committee: ensures the maintenance and upkeep of the Women’s Centre building and property, including a capital plan for house improvements, regular cleaning of the Centre, and coordinated planning of the property for identified uses (e.g., garden, back porch, shed).

Community Relations Committee: coordinates a range of communications (media releases, radio interviews, on-line newsletter, Facebook page, website) to WKWA members and supporters and the broader community, thereby increasing visibility of the Centre and building support for it.

Diversity, Inclusion and Reconciliation committee: This committee focuses on diversity and inclusion within organization. WKWA operates with an intersectional lens and is dedicated to exploring the ways in which patriarchy, capitalism, and colonization continue to impact our community and our services. Our goal is to make necessary changes to meet the needs of our diverse community.

Whether you’re a volunteer on the CC or on a committee, you have the chance to really be involved and learn more about the organization, while serving and supporting women.

If you are interested in joining or have questions send us an directors@nelsonwomenscentre.com.

“The Women’s Centre is my home away from home. It’s a place where you can be yourself!”

Comments are closed.