Taken from the Executive Handbook of the Catholic Women’s League of Canada; if you have any questions about leadership opportunities within the Catholic Women’s League, please contact us! We are enthusiastic about mentoring and stewardship and would love the chance to share this journey with you.
As an officer, you are a member of the executive and expected to attend all meetings and report regularly. If you will be absent, inform the president and arrange to send your report, if you have one, in advance of the meeting.
President
Informs membership of the League’s position on current issues;
Fosters open communication;
Presides at all council meetings and conventions;
Is a signing officer for all official documents;
Provides active leadership;
In consultation with the officers, initiates policy;
Keeps fully informed on the operations of the League and reports annually to the membership;
Be an ex-officio member of all committees except nominations and elections committee;
Be the official spokesperson for the council;
Appoint committees;
Read and be familiar with the National Manual of Policy and Procedure;
With the executive, be responsible for reporting activities to the next level;
Perform other such duties as may be incumbent upon the office.
Vice-Presidents
Become aware of organizational requirements and current activities of council in order to be prepared to fill in if both the president and president-elect are absent;
Perform duties delegated by the president;
Chair a standing committee, which shall be considered one office.
Secretary
Assists the president in preparing the agenda for meetings;
Lists all correspondence to be brought to meetings;
Notify members of time and place of meetings;
Distributes copies of the minutes of the previous meeting prior to the meeting;
Records minutes of the meetings;
Retains minutes as a permanent record;
Brings the minute book containing past minutes to meetings;
Is a signing officer for official documents;
Is responsible for receiving written reports from the executive;
Provides the president with a copy of the executive members annual reports to assist in preparing the president’s annual report;
Is responsible for all council papers and records.
Treasurer
Maintains the financial records of the council;
Receives all League monies;
Pays all accounts as authorized;
Is a signing officer for official documents;
Presents a report of revenues and expenditures at meetings;
Prepares and monitors annual budget (January 1st to December 31st fiscal year);
Has financial records audited or examined annually;
Maintains an account book, receipt book, cheque book and deposit book;
Keeps books updated, listing and itemizing each transaction;
Retains cancelled cheques and receipts;
Balances the account book to the bank statement monthly;
Keeps cheques/statements of receipt and disbursement books on file for five years;
Ensures per capita fees are remitted to national office by May 31st of each year;
Collect and remits to diocesan council or national all donations made to the national voluntary funds;
Ensures members approve all fund raising activities.
Past President
Serves the council and president in a consultative capacity;
Is responsible for the archives and history of the council;
Facilitates and encourages the study and implementation of the Constitution & Bylaws;
Files with the recording secretary a copy of monthly and annual reports;
Advises the president when called upon;
Responds to questions related to the interpretation of the Constitution and Bylaws;
Prepares an archival index of all materials;
Arranges for the safe storage of archival materials;
Preserves the council history through scrapbooks, photo albums and minutes.
Standing Committees
Spiritual Development: spiritual growth of all members; study of Catholic teachings; role of women in the church; evangelization and mission assistance; lay ministries; ecumenism, interfaith endeavours.
Organization: recruit members and maintain membership roster; leadership development; League resource materials; annual reports; life membership.
Christian Family Life: marriage and family; sanctity of life; ministry to youth, disabled, seniors, widowed, separated, divorced; vocations.
Community Life: dignity and rights of persons; social and economic justice; refugees, immigration and citizenship; Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace (CCODP); developing countries.
Education and Health: Catholic education – Catholic schools and catechesis – Rites of Christian Initiation; literacy and continuing education; scholarships and bursaries; wellness and sickness/disease; environment; genetics.
Communications: The Canadian League magazine; media – for evangelization – to promote the League – evaluation and promotion of good content – newsletters and bulletins; media relations; pornography.
Resolutions: research and preparation of resolutions and briefs; study and implementation of resolutions passed by other levels; at provincial and national levels, presentation of resolutions to government.
Legislation: monitor and study legislation at all levels of government; preparation of briefs and position papers on proposed legislation.
For All Standing Committees:
Summarize memos or directives from other levels and include the summary in your report.
Prepare a report of committee activities since the last regular meeting and incorporate recommendations and plans for the future.
Have two copies of the report, one for your file and one for secretary.