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 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:

• Ensuring the Association complies with its mandate and the legislation
• Setting the Association’s strategy and priorities
• Monitoring and measuring performance and holding the Executive Director and the Association’s committees responsible
• Ensuring that the Association has the financial resources needed to meet its mandate and the legislation
• Ensuring that the Association has the appropriate policies, procedures and other tools in place to meet its mandate and the requirements of the legislation

The duties and responsibilities of the Council member include:

• Considering the best interests of the public when making decisions.
• Being familiar with and conversant in the Association’s operating documents including the Land Surveyors Act (and regulations), the bylaws, the governance manual and any related governance documents.
• Being familiar with the Association’s mandate as a professional regulatory organization and trends in professional regulatory governance.
• Being familiar with the Association’s strategic plan and priorities.
• Knowing and understanding the roles and responsibilities of the Council, committees, working groups and administrative staff.
• Being prepared for, attending and actively participating in the Council meetings.
• Listening to the concerns and ideas of the members of the Association.
• Supporting the collective decisions of the Council even if the Council member spoke against the decision in the Council meeting.
• Representing the Alberta Land Surveyors’ Association at ALSA meetings and external events when appropriate.

 
COUNCIL MEETINGS
The Council will have six face-to-face and online meetings per year.

The Council members will receive a meeting agenda electronically approximately 72 hours prior to 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 year, shortly after the AGM, Council will meet to identify the Association’s strategic priorities in keeping with the ALSA’s mandate as a professional regulatory organization.

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.

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 (Michael Louie, John Byrne, Kevin Swabey), any current or past member of Council or the ALSA staff.

AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU AND YOUR PROFESSION