IWTG AGM Friday April 12th – Galway

Feb 28
When:
April 12, 2019 @ 7:30 pm
2019-04-12T19:30:00+01:00
2019-04-12T19:45:00+01:00
IWTG AGM Friday April 12th - Galway

SAVE THE DATE – JOIN OUR COMMITTEE

The Galway Branch of the Irish Wildlife Trust invites you to attend our public Annual General Meeting on Friday April 12th at The Menlo Park Hotel in Galway from 7:30pm to 9:30pm.

See updated Facebook event page here

The Irish Wildlife Trust is a charity nature conservation organisation. We rely on the support of our members and the public to work to conserve Ireland’s wildlife and habitats. We do this through Citizen Science, Education and Awareness Raising, Advocacy and Campaigning, Communication, and Reserves.

2019 sees The Irish Wildlife Trust celebrating 40 years of conserving our wildlife and the habitats they depend on throughout Ireland, while encouraging a greater understanding and appreciation of the natural world and the need to protect it. We want to ensure that future generations benefit from the wonderful services that biodiversity delivers, enjoy its wonders, and that Ireland has a sustainable future.

One of the ways in which you can help us celebrate Ireland’s amazing natural heritage and highlight its importance in our daily lives and the economy is to support your local county branches.

Here in Galway, as well as increasing the frequency and variety of our regular Nature Walks and Talks, we have spent the last year actively working in the background on some new and exciting biodiversity campaigns and wildlife conservation initiatives that we plan to launch through Galway County over the next coming months – both as a IWT branch and in local co-operation with other Galway-based Environmental NGOs.

To deliver on our campaigns, a strong and committed local IWT Committee is essential, and to that end we cordially invite you to attend the AGM to learn more about our current and future wildlife campaigns in Galway and for the opportunity to join our growing branch committee from mid-April onwards.

Due to the scope of some of our upcoming projects, this year we have created two new crucial roles on the committee – those of Biodiversity Officer and Campaign Co-ordinator – alongside the traditional (but still essential) administration roles. Details on these new posts, and all other roles in which you could potential help support our branch committee are as follows:

IWTG Officer Committee Positions available in April 2019

Chairperson – responsibilities include:

• Chairing all Public and Committee meetings of the IWTG
• Setting time and venue of all meetings
• Team building
• Delegation and people management skills
• Being impartial and objective
• Drawing up and circulating Agenda (via Secretary) in advance of all meetings
• Providing branch ‘operational over-sight’ (i.e. ensure all Officer Committee Members are performing their allocated roles efficiently; taking responsibility and/or reallocating important tasks if any Officer Committee Members cannot perform them for any reason, and/or they are unavailable due to unforeseen circumstances at the time a decision needs to be made)
• Co-signing with Treasurer on Bank Account (as a Card holder)
• Acting as a spokesperson for IWTG alongside the Public Relations Officer, Campaign Co-ordinator, and Biodiversity Officer, as appropriate
• Inter-branch and HQ communication/liaison alongside the Secretary, Public Relations Officer, Campaign Co-ordinator, and Biodiversity Officer, as appropriate

Would suit: Someone with previous experience of chairing an environmental NGO committee. Committed and pro-active when it comes to helping achieve Galway branch and National IWT goals. Excellent interpersonal and time-management skills. Strong public speaking abilities, with the capability to network efficiently with members of the public and with partnered ENGOs.

Secretary – responsibilities include:

• Correspondence
• Membership Contacts Database
• Internal IWTG communication – i.e. formulating and circulating Agenda alongside Chairperson in advance of all committee meetings; taking minutes – typing up as a Word document and circulating to all Committee Members within one working week of meeting (or sooner, if necessary); announcing Committee Members’ apologies at meetings if they are unable to attend; maintaining calendar and G-drive; administrator for WhatsApp group
• Word and Microsoft Office proficiency
• Inter-branch and HQ communication/liaison alongside the Chairperson, Public Relations Officer, Campaign Co-ordinator, Treasurer, and Biodiversity Officer, as appropriate

Would suit: Someone with strong IT and Literacy skills. Committed and pro-active when it comes to helping achieve branch goals and maintaining communications both in-branch and between other IWT branches and Head Office, respectively. Highly organised and with excellent interpersonal and time-management skills.

Public Relations Officer – responsibilities include:

• External IWTG communication – emails and social media (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram), including photo editing
• Acting as a spokesperson for IWTG alongside the Chairperson, Campaign Co-ordinator, and Biodiversity Officer, as appropriate
• Point of Contact for linkage with other groups and sub-groups
• Liaison with community organisations and services, including Galway City PPN and Galway County PPN
• Liaison with Galway Environmental Network and its respective member ENGOs
• Event booking and co-ordination alongside Chairman, Campaign Co-ordinator, and/or Biodiversity Officer, as appropriate
• Writing articles and features for Wildlife Magazine (point of contact for HQ) and/or allocating articles to interested Committee Members
• Inter-branch and HQ communication/liaison alongside the Chairperson, Secretary, Campaign Co-ordinator, Treasurer, and Biodiversity Officer, as appropriate
• Merchandise and Membership forms
• Emailing official IWT campaign statements (in coordination with HQ and Campaign Co-ordinator)
• Media Relations and Networking
• Public Relations and ensuring Branch adheres to good governance

Would suit: Someone with previous experience in Public Relations, particularly with promoting Environmental Conservation and Biodiversity Awareness. Strong public speaking abilities, with the ability to network efficiently with members of the public and with partnered ENGOs. Committed and pro-active when it comes to helping achieve Galway branch and National IWT goals. Previous experience in writing for publication and a knowledge of photography would be an advantage.

Treasurer – responsibilities include:

• Responsible for all financial matters
• Official cardholder for Branch Bank Account (with Chairperson and one other Committee Member as Co-Signers)
• Grants and Fundraising
• Quarterly and Annual accounts
• Double-entry Bookkeeping
• Expenses and Petty-cash
• Cash handling
• Inter-branch and HQ communication/liaison alongside the Chairperson, Public Relations Officer, Campaign Co-ordinator, Secretary, and Biodiversity Officer, as appropriate
• IT Skills, Excel Spreadsheets, and good numeracy skills

Would suit: Someone with previous experience in accounting, spreadsheet management, double-entry bookkeeping, budget control and money handling. Excellent numeracy skills, attention to detail and strong record-keeping skills are essential. Committed and pro-active when it comes to helping achieve Galway branch and National IWT goals.

(NEW POST) Campaign Co-ordinator – responsibilities include:

• Liaise directly with HQ IWT Campaign Officer (Pádraic Fogarty (@whittledaway))
• Implement selected IWT campaign strategies applicable to Branch (local and nationally)
• Communicate current campaigns to committee via Chairman, Public Relations Officer, Secretary, Biodiversity Officer, Treasurer, as appropriate
• Public Events Management
• Media Relations
• Social Media Skills
• Inter-branch and HQ communication/liaison alongside the Chairperson, Public Relations Officer, Treasurer, Secretary, and Biodiversity Officer, as appropriate

Would suit: Someone with previous experience in environmental campaign management, particularly with promoting Habitat Conservation and Biodiversity Awareness. A strong knowledge of current national IWT campaigns would be a distinct advantage. Taking direction from IWT Campaign Officer, you will need to have excellent public speaking skills, with the confidence and ability to network efficiently with members of the public, our partnered ENGOs and local community action groups. Committed and pro-active when communicating both National IWT and IWTG campaigns to the general public. You must be passionate about raising local and national awareness of biodiversity loss, climate change, and environmental conservation in a positive and optimistic manner.

(NEW POST) Biodiversity Officer – responsibilities include:

• Leading biodiversity and habitat surveys; both Galway Branch and ENGO Partnership Projects
• Leading/co-leading Nature Walks & Talks with Committee-approved guest speakers/guides
• Organising Citizen Science Initiatives in line with current outline supplied by Campaign Co-ordinator
• Point of Contact for any reported wildlife sightings, or biodiversity related queries from local and national IWT members or General Public via Facebook, Twitter and/or email
• Co-ordinating with HQ Conservation officer (Kieran Flood); arranging educational activities in schools and colleges; advising on local biodiversity concerns
• Organising and leading effective branch training of committee members – guided walks, survey techniques, and habitat mapping methods
• Inter-branch and HQ communication/liaison alongside the Chairperson, Public Relations Officer, Treasurer, Secretary, and Campaign Co-ordinator, as appropriate

Would suit: Someone with previous experience and qualifications in ecology. A proven track record in leading or co-managing biodiversity and habitat surveys is desirable. A wide understanding and knowledge of terrestrial and marine native, non-native, and invasive species would be a distinct advantage – mammals, insects, and birds especially, although botanical knowledge would also be a huge plus. You must be passionate about raising local and national awareness of biodiversity loss, climate change, and environmental conservation. You will need to have excellent public speaking skills, with the confidence to represent and communicate IWTG’s proficiency in ecology-related activities to members of the public, our partnered ENGOs and local community action groups.

Ordinary Committee Members – responsibilities include:
• Attending Committee meetings regularly and taking an active part in branch activities
• Supporting Officer Committee Members to make joint decisions and work towards current Branch and National goals
• Be part of the team but also independent in views and voting
• Actively support decisions of the committee as a whole

Would suit: Someone passionate about raising local and national awareness of biodiversity loss, climate change, and environmental conservation. Previous ecology and/or conservation experience are not essential, but a commitment to taking a proactive role in assisting Committee Officers on local initiatives and activities, and the desire to actively participate in the effective operation and delivery of both National IWT and IWTG campaigns is expected of all OCMs.

Non-Voting Members and Volunteers –

There is always important environmental conservation needed to be done in Galway and we would welcome any assistance you can offer. There are plenty of ways you can contribution towards biodiversity conservation by donating your skills and time to look after our native wildlife!

Would suit: Students and members of the public with an interest in wildlife willing and able to volunteer their spare time at weekends and at special promotional events to help IWTG raise local and national awareness of biodiversity loss, climate change, and environmental conservation. Previous ecology and/or conservation experience are not essential, but you will be representing IWTG to members of the public, so the ability to communicate and work professionally with people at all levels is required.

Opportunities include species surveying, plant identification, and supporting us at public events such as World Ocean Day, Heritage Week, and other Green Festivals locally.

Please speak with one of the Committee members at the AGM or contact us on iwtgalway@gmail.com and/or via our Facebook and Twitter pages.

All Officer Committee positions are open to active members of the Irish Wildlife Trust who have joined on or before 30th April 2019. If you wish to nominate someone who is not currently a member of the Irish Wildlife Trust, please ensure they join IWT before the cut-off date.

Membership can be attained via this link: https://iwt.ie/support-us/become-a-member/

Active IWT members who do not wish to be responsible for any Officer role, but still wish to be on the committee can automatically join as Ordinary Committee Members (OCMs). Non-members of IWT can also become OCMs. OCMs do not need to be voted in, so you will not need to prepare a short speech.

IWT Members and the General Public can also choose to become registered volunteers for IWTG, if they prefer. Volunteers can still attend committee events – but are not eligible to vote on any branch decisions, other than at the public AGM held in April each year.

If necessary or prudent, Officer Committee Member positions can be shared, for example Co-Chair or Second Treasurer. This situation may arise when either two people of equal merit for the role are available and willing to co-operatively carry out the role and/or no majority vote is reached during the AGM vote for a certain Officer position.

You can nominate someone (or yourself) for a position at the AGM or ideally in advance by emailing iwtgalway@gmail.com. All nominations must be seconded.

If you wish to run for an Officer position, please prepare approximately 200 words (to be read aloud) introducing yourself and outlining why you would be suited to the role.

All positions will be decided by a majority vote of all AGM attendees.

***Please note: For clarification, the cut off date of 30th April 2019 is to allow for people who are non-members at the time of the AGM (on 12th) to sign up for active membership within two weeks, should they successfully take on an Officer Role.