I hope you have returned to work, rested, relaxed, and recharged. Spring break heralds many things: it’s the gateway to the final quarter of our school year, a time when the days lengthen and the buds start to burst, and the kick-off to our Board of Directors election cycle at the BCPVPA.
The BCPVPA exists to support members in their work, and even though school leadership can be deep and challenging, it is heartening that so many members are eager to give back in support of their colleagues. Your participation makes our Association stronger and better.
The ultimate way to get involved, and to have a direct role in shaping the priorities and direction of the BCPVPA, is to be elected to the Board of Directors. Nominations are open until April 15 for Directors who will serve on our Board from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2026. While it is not a role that can be taken on lightly, once elected by your peers, you will experience some of the most interesting, challenging, and unique professional learning opportunities. Directors are exposed to the provincial perspective on issues within the educational sector, and have an opportunity to give feedback and provide valuable input on the development of educational policy or new Ministry initiatives.
Many of you will read this column and not see yourselves in this picture, but running for the Board of your Association is an opportunity that is open to every active member. The Board is comprised of the President; the Past-President or the President-Elect, depending upon the year; and ten Directors. Some of the members of our current Board have many years of experience, and some are first-year Directors. Each year, half of our Board seats are up for election and this gives our Board both stability and continuity – new Board members are warmly welcomed, and can learn the ropes very quickly!
The full timeline for this year’s Board of Director election is outlined in this edition of eNews, and I hope you consider letting your name stand for a nomination before April 15, or that you encourage a colleague to be nominated. To find out more about what it’s like to be a BCPVPA Director of the Board, please feel free to reach out to any of our current Board members for a chat.
The strength of any successful organization lies in its members. The BCPVPA has an amazing pool of skills, capacity, and impressive leadership abilities within our membership. When members can bring those talents to supporting the Association, and can further develop their own knowledge and experience through this work, it is a winning formula.
To paraphrase the words of President John F. Kennedy, “ask not what your Association can do for you—ask what you can do for your Association.”