But what is it we are actually supposed to be doing?
What are the important committee roles?
1 A pure ‘governance’ role i.e. directing and controlling the organisation through collective decision making.
2 A pool of expertise and advice i.e. making advice and expertise available to staff and volunteers
3 A management role i.e. to manage one or more staff, volunteers or projects (for instance managing the Coordinator, or managing the production of the newsletter).
4 A work role i.e. actually doing work (staffing a helpline, answering correspondence, changing hearing aid batteries etc).
So which role is the important one?
What is the main thing we need to do as a committee?
1. the opportunity to make collective decisions (meetings).
2. a mechanism for the members (or stakeholders) to elect the committee (at the AGM)
3. mechanisms for the members to influence decision making
4. and in turn the committee needs to communicate decisions back to them.
5. a way to hold the committee to account
6. and for the committee to hold staff (or the ‘doers’ to account.)
There are many ways to do these things and great variety in how they are done. Consider carefully what is best for your own circumstances.
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