As per Section 28(1) of the ALSA Bylaws, the nominations for election to the 2024/2025 Council are now open.
 
There are three positions to be filled:

• Vice President (one-year term followed by one-year term as president and one-year term as past- president)
• Councillor (two vacancies for a three-year term)

 
A slate of nominees must be provided to the Registrar by January 16, 2024 so get your nomination into a member of the Nominating Committee as soon as possible.

WHAT IS INVOLVED IN BEING ON COUNCIL?
The Alberta Land Surveyors’ Association regulates land surveyors and the practice of land surveying for the protection of the public and administration of the profession.

As a self-governing professional regulatory organization, the ALSA is expected to act in the interest of the public and have processes open and accountable to the public and the profession.

The Council does not participate directly in the day-to-day management and administration of the Association's affairs. Instead, Council:

• Establishes the Association’s framework, governance and operational policies.
• Establishes the Association’s priorities.
• Secures the members’ support for the actions the Council takes.
• Governs the Association through policies and terms of reference assigned to statutory, standing, ad hoc committees and the Executive Director.

 
The duties and responsibilities of the Council member include:

• Being familiar with and conversant in the Association’s operating documents including the Land Surveyors Act (and regulations thereunder), the bylaws, and the Governance Manual.
• Being familiar with the Association’s mandate as a professional regulatory organization.
• Being familiar with the Association’s strategic plan and priorities.
• Knowing and understanding the roles and responsibilities of the Council, statutory committees, standing committees, ad hoc committees and administrative staff.
• Being prepared for, attending and actively participating in the Council meetings.
• Considering the best interests of the public when making decisions.
• Listening to the concerns and ideas of the members of the Association.
• Serving without affection, partiality, or prejudice to any member of the Association or to any member of the public.
• Treating all confidential information presented to them as a member of the Council as privileged.
• Maintaining the honour and dignity of the Council and the Association.
• Attending the Association’s annual general meeting.
• Attending other Association meetings and external events when appropriate.

 
COUNCIL MEETINGS
The Council will have five face-to-face meetings per year. Additional online meetings will be scheduled at two or three-week intervals throughout the term as required. The online meetings will be 60-90 minutes in length.

The Council members will receive a meeting agenda electronically approximately one week prior to the Council meeting. The Council members will receive an updated agenda electronically approximately 36 hours before the start of the Council meeting.

The Council members will be expected to have read and be familiar with the material in the Council agenda before the start of the meeting.

Each year, the newly-elected Council members will attend an orientation session conducted by Association staff prior to the first regular Council meeting of the year. The purpose of the orientation session is to familiarize the Council members with the Association’s governance structure and policies, their duties and responsibilities as a Council member and recent Council decisions.

Each May, the Council, along with one representative from each ALSA committee, will identify the Association’s priorities, in keeping with the Association’s mandate as a professional regulatory organization, for the upcoming fiscal year and for the next 3-5 years.

Each January, the Council will prepare a budget for the following fiscal year. The budget will be based on the anticipated priorities and action items for the following fiscal year.

Each March, the Council will conduct a formal assessment of the Association’s priorities and action items for that year.

WHAT YOU GET OUT OF COUNCIL
As a member of the Council, you will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of social activities and association events, including the annual general meeting. Expenses are reimbursed in accordance with Association policy.
You will also:

• Increase your leadership and problem-solving skills
• Improve your time management, critical thinking and teamwork skills
• Increase your personal and corporate profile
• Meet new members and students and others connected with the profession
• Increase your professional contacts within our Association and across the country

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Contact a member of the Nominating Committee (Kevin Swabey, John Byrne, Bruce Drake), any current or past member of Council or the ALSA staff.

Candidates for Council will be invited to attend the March 14, 2024 Council meeting in Edmonton to begin to see how Council works.

AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU AND YOUR PROFESSION