New YorkState Reading Association
Regional Director Guidelines
- Responsibilities
- Attending all meetings of the Board of Directors as a voting member, and
- Becoming familiar with the bylaws of NYSRA;
- Networking with other Regional Directors;
- Preparing a written summary of regional activities to present at each Board meeting; and
- Assisting at the NYSRA conference as requested.
- Maintaining communication between the region and NYSRA by
- Encouraging participation at the Assembly of Delegates;
- Convening and presiding over no less than two regional meetings per year, including the semi-annual election for Regional Director;
- Communicating with council officers following Board of Directors meetings;
- Promoting and participating in NYSRA’s annual Leadership Workshop;
- Holding an annual election to select a person from the region to serve for one year on the NYSRA Nominating Committee;
- Developing, distributing to councils in the region, and posting on NYSRA’s website a regional calendar;
- Maintaining communication with the IRA State Coordinator by
- Referring interest in new council formation to the IRA State Coordinator and by
- Assisting councils who are having difficulties by making referrals to the IRA State Coordinator.
- Providing leadership to the councils in the region by
- Visiting each council at least once every two years;
- Providing guidance in long term planning;
- Assisting in developing and maintaining membership initiatives along with the NYSRA/IRA Membership Chairperson;
- Assisting in problem solving
- Exchanging information about speakers, programs, and projects;
- Encouraging councils to review and update their bylaws periodically;
- Providing guidance and assistance to councils in maintaining and preserving council records;
- Encouraging councils to make nominations and/or apply for NYSRA and IRA awards;
- Facilitating the selection of student ambassadors from the region to NYSRA’s annual conference when requested; and
- Including leadership development activities at all regional meetings.
- Facilitating the region’s Regional Director election by;
- Announcing the upcoming election in writing to each council president in the region by November 15th;
- Receiving nominations and vita for the position of Regional Director from councils by January 15th;
- Sending the nominees’ vitae to each council president at least two-weeks prior to the election;
- Calling a regional meeting before April 15th to hold elections, in accordance with NYSRA’s Bylaws, including the taking of nominations from the floor;
- Voting to break any ties;
- Reporting the name and sending the vita of the newly elected Regional Director to the incoming NYSRA president by April 15th;
- Preparing a packet of information pertinent to the office for the incoming Regional Director (such as the NYSRA Bylaws and various guidelines, directory, budget, goals and procedures, calendar, etc.).
- Regional Meetings
- Regional meetings shall
- Be held at least twice a year;
- Be open to officers, executive committees, and interested council members;
- Have at least one half of the member councils present for business to be conducted;
- Allow each council president or designee one vote;
- Be held if called by two or more council presidents, with notification in writing and with the Regional Director presiding;
- Have minutes kept and sent to member councils and NYSRA (President and/or NYSRA Headquarters); and
- Have as their purpose to
Discuss NYSRA business;
Elect a Regional Director for a two-year term;
Elect a member of the NYSRA Nominating Committee for a one-year term;
Share and exchange information about councils;
Discuss concerns pertinent to the region; and
Promote and support current and future council leaders through leadership development activities.
- Qualifications for the position of Regional Director
- Be a current member of a local council in the region;
- Be a past or current officer of a local council;
- Be a past or current attendee or delegate at NYSRA’s Assembly of Delegates;
- Demonstrate an awareness of the purposes and operation of NYSRA;
- Be a current member of the International Reading Association;
- Have participated in regional meetings; and
- Have experience and interest in professional development activities.
- Reimbursement of Expenses
- Personal expenses incurred by Regional Directors will be reimbursed in accordance with the policies currently in effect.
- Regional Directors will follow current procedures for submitting vouchers and receipts for reimbursable expenses.
Approved by NYSRA’s Board of Directors on 9/29/06