AGM 2024

Would you like to help shape the strategic vision for the record keeping sector in the UK and Ireland?

Would you like to help develop the ARA’s role and policy direction?

Are you a records manager, conservator, archive educator, archivist or affiliate member looking to use your skills and experience in a wider context and gain wider knowledge of our sector at a strategic level? Keen to develop your general and budget management skills? How about influencing the management and direction of your professional body? Or, frankly speaking, do you think the ARA can and should be doing things better? If your answer to the above is ‘yes’, then why not stand for election to the ARA Board?

We’re committed to promoting equality and diversity opportunities. We would particularly welcome applications from people with disabilities and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates who are currently under-represented on the Board.

Our annual elections to the ARA Board take place at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). This year’s AGM is on 14 June 2024 and will be held online.

Although we have existing Board members standing for election you are still entitled to stand for election. See below for information on how to stand.

What are the benefits for me?

• Widening your professional knowledge and sector network

• Improving your awareness of key issues

• Gaining valuable experience in management and governance

• Dedicated training on how to become and remain an effective Board member and charity trustee

What does the Board do?

The Board oversees all aspects of the Association’s work. Individually, Board members are responsible for setting the ARA’s direction and overseeing the various activities, groups, sections, nations and regions that make up the ARA. Together the Board, officers and members are working on more projects, with more partners and are making more impact than ever before. The ARA is an increasingly powerful advocate for our sector and the Board oversight and direction of our programmes and policies ensures we have our priorities right and that our members’ voice is heard.

If you would like to gain more experience of setting strategy and policy and bring to the ARA your own professional work skills and background – this is your opportunity; and we need you, too. While we don’t reserve specific places on the Board for individual parts or ‘professions’ in our sector or groups of members we do want the Board to reflect as far as possible the current make up of our Association and how it will develop in the coming years.

How long to Board members serve?

Members of the Board (except the Chair) serve three years before either standing down or seeking re-election. So you will need to be able to manage at least a three-year commitment. The Board usually meets eight times a year. Currently all meetings are via MS Teams. In normal circumstances four of these meetings are face to face and are held across the UK and Ireland.

What do we need?

We’re looking for successful leaders who together would bring us a mix of experience, to complement that of our current board. We are looking for a range of skills and experience, and have identified the following areas as ones in which we would like to develop:

• Marketing.

• Business development.

• Public affairs.

• Financial, audit, risk and regulatory experience.

We would be delighted to hear from you if you have skills and experience to help us. However it is not a requirement that you have these skills in order to stand for election.

Alongside your specialist skillset and background, you’ll share our passion for and commitment to record keeping. You’ll possess the ability to apply sound judgement and make credible commercial decisions. You’ll have strong strategic vision and be willing to accept the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship.

So I would like to stand. What next?

Here is what you need to know if you feel you have a contribution to make.

The places on the Board open for election are:

Hon. Secretary, Hon. Treasurer, two Trustee Board members

For the above roles you must be an individual member of the association.

Trustee Board members (2) a role description can be found here

All members (individual, student or affiliate) can stand for the vacancies as ordinary elected Board members.

To stand for election you will need to let John Chambers, Company Secretary, know which position you are standing for and the names of your proposer and seconder. You can notify us of your nomination by letter or by e-mail.

By mail: please send a nomination letter which must be signed by a proposer and seconder, who must be members of the ARA, and by you signifying your willingness to stand. This must reach us not later than 16 April 2024 at the following address: The Keep, Creech Castle, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 2DX

By E-mail: you, your proposer and seconder must each send an original e-mail to John Chambers. These must also reach us not later than 16 April 2024. Emails should be sent to: john.chambers@archives.org.uk

For more information please contact either:

Andrew Nicoll andrew.nicoll@archives.org.uk

or

John Chambers: john.chambers@archives.org.uk

phone: +44 (0)1202 722000.