Call for Candidates: BPPA 2013-2014 Executive Committee Elections:
The BPPA is a volunteer association of postgraduate philosophy students in the UK and Republic of Ireland. Our association is born out of the conviction that left to their own devices, too many postgrad philosophers tend to read Kripke or Heidegger alone in the dark. As a result, most of our energies are directed towards helping young philosophers bridge the geographical boundaries between their different universities and departments and make contact with each other. If you are a postgrad philosophy student, we live in the hope that our activities will make you a happier person, a better philosopher, or both.
This June, the BPPA will introduce a new on-line voting system for electing members to the Executive Committee. The aim of the new system is to make voting more accessible and to make it easier for members of the BPPA to be involved in electing their Executive Committee. The BPPA webpage will post manifestos of candidates for members to view before casting their votes.
The BPPA is now seeking candidates for the Executive Committee. Each year, members of the BPPA must elect a President, Treasurer and Secretary. Other roles available include:
a. Vice-President
b. Events Coordinator
c. Fundraising Coordinator
d. Information Technology (IT) Coordinator.
We?d like to hear from you if you?re interested in putting yourself forward as a candidate. This is an excellent opportunity to gain experience working with fellow postgrads in a professional setting. Being on the Committee is a great way to develop philosophy-specific skills in administration, communication and leadership. This is also a fantastic opportunity to give back to the British postgraduate philosophy community. We seek motivated individuals with a desire to make the community an even better place to study philosophy and to pursue a career in philosophy or related areas. Being a member of the Committee also looks great on your CV.
Please find below a bit more about the administrative structure of the BPPA and some details about the specific roles of each committee member.
Please email expressions of interest to C.J.Boult[at]sms.ed.ac.uk by Monday, June 17, 2013. Let me know which position you are interested in and provide a brief manifesto stating why you?d be good for the job. Manifestos will then be uploaded onto the BPPA website for members to view before casting their votes. Manifestos might include the following:
a. Previous committee and organisational experience (academic or non-academic). For example: Have you organised a conference/workshop/other event? Have you written funding applications? Have you experience with administration?
b. Ideas for new BPPA initiatives.
c. A short biography.
If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to get in touch with Cameron Boult (C.J.Boult[at]sms.ed.ac.uk).
The Structure of the BPPA:
The main day-to-day running of the BPPA is handled by our Executive Committee. The Executive Committee is in turn advised by the BPPA Council, made up of past committee members, some honorary lifetime members, our venerable founders Ewan and Simon, and others who have shown themselves brave and true in the cause of the BPPA. Finally, we maintain close contact with a number of Britain?s leading professional philosophical associations, who sit on our Advisory Board and whom we occasionally approach for guidance on strategic matters. We also maintain a nationwide network of student reps, who are there to let us know of any critical needs or issues brought to their attention. And, of course, most importantly, we listen to our members, too. We believe this structure provides us with a deep and broad pool of experience and talent from which to best serve our members.
All members of the Executive Committee should be willing to participate in the general administration of the Association, as directed by the Executive Committee. Members of the Executive Committee each serve a term of office of up to one year (from the time of their election up till the next successful election in that office).
Primary roles of each committee member:
President:
The President is responsible for the day to day running of the Association. He or she has the right to preside at all meetings of the members of the Association and at all meetings of the Executive Committee.
Vice-President:
The Vice-President assists the President with the day to day running of the Association.
Secretary:
The following is a list of the main responsibilities of the Secretary:
- maintain a register of the members of the Association;
- respond to requests for membership of the Association;
- give notice to the members of meetings of the members;
- give notice to the Executive Committee of meetings of the Executive Committee;
- draw up the agenda for and minutes of meetings of the members and meetings of the Executive Committee and ensure that they are available for inspection by any member of the Association.
Treasurer:
The following is a list of the main responsibilities of the Treasurer:
- keep proper records of the Association's financial transactions in accordance with current accepted accounting rules and practices;
- ensure that bills are paid and income is banked;
- prepare an annual budget for the Association and regularly inform the Executive Committee of progress against that budget;
- ensure that all statutory returns are made including VAT, income tax and corporation tax if appropriate;
- seek advice as necessary on tax matters;
- develop and maintain a manual of written procedures for all aspects of the Treasurer's responsibility.
Events Coordinator:
The primary job of the Events Coordinator is to maintain good communications between the Executive Committee and Events Team, as directed by the Executive Committee.
Fundraising Coordinator:
The primary job of the Fundraising Coordinator is to seek to raise funds for the Association, as directed by the Executive Committee.
IT Coordinator:
The primary job of the IT Coordinator is to maintain a suitable Association web-page displaying (at a minimum) current Association contacts and the constitution, and displaying other such information as he or she may be directed by the Executive Committee.
