Officers are leaders you choose to run your group. Their job duties should be written in the rules of your group, which is also known as your bylaws.
Picking officers is one of the most important activities your group members will have to do. The people they choose will be responsible for moving the group forward in reaching the group’s goals.
The group should choose officers by a secret ballot. By voting for your leaders, everyone will have an equal chance to choose the right person for the job.
Officer roles you may know:
President: Responsible for leading the group. They make sure the group stays on track in reaching their goals. The President is also the public face of the group. They are the only ones allowed to give the official stand of the group at events or to the press.
Vice President: Responsible for leading the group if the president cannot lead the group. They take over the job of the president when the president is not available to run the group.
Secretary: Responsible for recording the group activities. The secretary handles all official documents of the group including meeting minutes, contracts, and financial documents.
Treasurer: Responsible for keeping track of the group’s money. The treasurer updates the group on how the group is doing with money. They may work with the president and the secretary to handle all the banking needs of the group.
Sergeant-at-Arms: Responsible for keeping order in meetings. That means asking people to be quiet if they’re talking during the meeting, etc.
Activity: Picking Your Officers
It is important to choose a way of voting that will be equal, fair, and secret to all members. Talk with your group about what kind of voting process you would like to have for your group. Ask yourself these questions:
How are we going to vote for our officers?
Is the process easy to understand?
Will it be fair to all the people who choose to run for office?
Is the voting process secret so nobody knows who voted for who?
Who will get to vote?