Job Descriptions
for the Officers and Staff of the NZ Section of the Theosophical Society Inc.
16
August 2005
These descriptions indicate areas
of responsibility for the various officers and staff however the work itself
is shared amongst the various officers as ability and time are available. The
goal is to be able to work creatively but to ensure that the required jobs are
fulfilled adequately.
National President
(1) The duties of the National President
are:
(a)
To be responsible for continually monitoring
(i)
the needs and functions of the Lodges (Branches) in relation to
the purposes for which they were chartered,
(ii)
the needs of Groups and Headquarters Members, and
(iii)
the adequacy of services provided by National Headquarters, and,
where necessary, to take appropriate action.
(b)
To be the driving force within the National Society for the
promulgation of Theosophy and to act as the main face of Theosophy to
the public and other organizations.
(c)
To receive and deal with representations from individual Members.
(d)
To make regular visits to the Lodges (Branches) and generally see
to their welfare.
(e)
As part of the main thrust of Theosophy in New Zealand, to
supervise the maintenance of a National Lectureship Programme
including the co-ordination of visits by both overseas and local
lecturers and speakers to the various Lodges (Branches) and, where
possible, Groups, and to ensure that all Lodges (Branches) are
adequately served in this respect over a suitable time scale.
(f)
To comply with the Rules and Regulations of The Theosophical
Society and the Rules of the National Society for the time being in
force.
(g)
To take direction from, and to carry out the relevant directions
of the Convention, and the National Council.
(h)
To submit an Annual Report of the National Society to the
International President and to the National Convention, after
approval of the Report by the National Council and to publish a
summary of this report in the National Magazine. The Annual Report
shall be sent to the International President not later than the first
day of November each year and shall include statistics of Lodges
(Branches) and membership and a copy of the audited financial
statement of accounts.
(i)
To submit a written report to members of the National Council
covering the period of activity since the previous National Council
meeting and any reports and requests on policy direction at least two
weeks before such meeting.
(j)
To obtain legal advice and to confer with the legal advisors as
may be necessary.
2) For the purposes of The Theosophical
Society and for all matters concerning the application of the Rules and Regulations
of The Theosophical Society and of the Memorandum and Articles of Association
of The Theosophical Properties Trust Board, the National President shall be
regarded as the General Secretary of the National Society.
National Vice President:
Objective:
The National Vice President will assist in the administration of the Theosophical Society in New Zealand. He/she will liase with the Theosophical Society National President, the Management Team and with regions and branches to assist in promoting the aims and activities of the society.
The term of office is for three years.
Responsibility:
The National Vice President will report to the National President and be responsible to the National Council and Convention.
When the National President is no available the National Vice President is delegated with the overall administration of the Society.
The National Vice President will:
1.Be in the office at times agreed by the Management Team (normally at least two days a week).
2.Attend Management meetings. (6 to 10 a year)
3.Attend National Council meetings.
4.Attend the National Convention.
5.Be responsible for the Societies and Branch Constitutions.
6.Agree to take on further NZ Section duties as discussed with the National President and Management Team to ensure the smooth running of the NZ Section.
Expenses:
Reasonable travel and toll expenses will be paid by the Society if and when appropriate
National Secretary
The duties of the Secretary are:
(a)
In close co-operation with the National President, to take charge
of the administrative functions of the National Headquarters
including the functions defined in the succeeding paragraphs of this
Clause.
(b)
To comply with the Rules and Regulations of The Theosophical
Society and the Rules of the National Society for the time being in
force.
(c)
To take direction from, and to carry out the relevant directions
of the Convention, and the National Council.
(d)
To supervise the membership records.
(e)
To prepare agendas in consultation with each respective Chair and
to attend Meetings and take minutes of the Meetings of National
Council and the Management Team.
(f)
To attend to routine correspondence and to be responsible for all
statutory obligations including the filing of returns.
(g)
To arrange regular Staff Meetings so that all have a general idea
of the overall work and any current programmes.
(h)
To arrange for the provision of secretarial assistance for the
National President from the Headquarters Staff.
(i)
To support administration and organisation of the National
Speakers/Facilitators Program.
National
Treasurer
The duties of the National Treasurer
shall be as follows:
(a)
To be responsible for direction of all matters delineated by the
Inland Revenue
(b)
To furnish all financial accounts, budgets, information and
balance sheets as may be required by the National Council, or
Convention, and to be responsible for the supervision of the keeping
of all proper books, records of the financial transactions of the
National Society and of its assets and liabilities.
(c)
To prepare an annual Account of Income and Expenditure and
Balance Sheet of the financial transactions and affairs of the
National Society, together with a report of the year’s financial
working and the Budget for the following year.
(d)
To oversee all investments and report to the National President.
(e)
To oversee rental collection.
Education Coordinator.
Full Job Discription and Procedures
1. The duties of the Educational
Coordinator are:
(a) To be responsible for ensuring appropriate study and training
courses are made available and offered to Lodges (Branches), Regions
and Headquarters members. The responsibility shall include
development, procurement, assessment, updating, production,
marketing, and supply of such courses.
(b) To be responsible for the co-ordination of the national speaker
and/or education outreach programmes facilitated by the NZ Section,
including the School of Theosophy at Tauhara.
(c) To act as Convenor of the Education and Training Working Group.
(d) To carry out such other duties as may be determined by the
National Council or Administration Committee.
(e) Is responsible to the National President reporting to the Management team
and National Council.
2.
Principles of Action:
To ensure the essential values, Vision and Mission of the Theosophical Society
are maintained through the National Section programmes, establishing ongoing
objectives with the National President and National Council from year to year.
To provide resources and training to help the growth and to support the activities
of Branches and Study Groups in the New Zealand Section.
3. Work with the
Education Working Group to:
(a) Annual review Learning Styles Manual with current information
(b) Annual review of Administration Manual
(c) Source new study material for branches – ongoing
(d) Source new training material for branches – ongoing
(e) Develop new initiatives to help the NZ section
(f) Annual review of
National Standards and Induction/Orientation Guidelines, as necessary, for
the perusal and acceptance by the National Council
4. Branch Training Sessions
To provide, annual, on-going support for branch training to help the branch
in the areas of theosophy and/or committee work and/or speaker training as per
the Principle of Action above.
5.
Regional Training Sessions
To provide, annual, on-going support for regional training to help
the regions in the areas of theosophy and/or committee work and/or
speaker training as per the Principle of Action above.
National
News Media Coordinator
Role and responsibilities for a national news media
coordinator for the Theosophical Society in New Zealand
Objective:
To improve the flow of information to the
public from and about the Theosophical Society in New Zealand.
The national news media coordinator will assist in the process of
increasing public awareness of the Theosophical Society in New
Zealand, through news media outlets. He/she will liase with the
Theosophical Society headquarters and with regions and branches to
assist in publicizing the aims and activities of the society.
Responsibility:
The
news media coordinator will report to the National President
and be responsible to the National Council through the National
President.
News
media releases:
The news media coordinator will:
Liase and advise regions and branches on formatting
news media releases and on promoting branch activities and services,
and supply a kit to each branch of guidelines for preparing news
releases
Coordinate national news media releases for prominent
international Theosophical Society speakers and visitors.
Initiate and prepare articles for publication in
newspapers and magazines profiling the Society and its work and/or
subjects that increase public awareness of Divine Wisdom teachings.
Work with TS groups producing literature on or about
the Society
Coordination:
The news media coordinator will work in coordination
with the National President, Education Coordinator and the Society
Secretary.
Expenses:
Reasonable
travel and toll expenses will be paid by the Society if and when
appropriate
