Would you consider standing for election to Council and contributing to the work of the Society, as a member of both Council and one or more of its committees?
Membership of Council enables you to influence the role of the Society in acting as a respected voice and serving science, the geoscience profession and society.
You will play an active role in the delivery of the Society's strategy, and help to facilitate the communication of science through engagement with policy makers, the media and the public, and the certification of best practice in the profession.
Each of the 23 members of Council is a trustee of the Society, accountable to the Fellows and to other stakeholders and regulators, such as the Charity Commission. The prime responsibility of the trustees is to oversee the affairs of the Society and to act prudently in the management of its financial resources.
Council meets five times a year, usually on a Wednesday. Four of those meetings take place in the afternoon beginning at 14.00 and finishing at 17.00. In addition, there is a two-day residential meeting, usually in late September, to discuss major strategic issues.
All members of Council also serve on one of the standing committees (External Relations, Finance & Planning, Professional, Publications & Information and Science). Standing committees usually meet three or four times a year, mostly in person but sometimes virtually. Council members are sometimes also asked to join other committees or short-term working groups. The typical time commitment is eight to ten days annually for ordinary members of Council.
Nominations from candidates with trustee experience are very welcome. Knowledge and experience of scholarly publishing and of fund-raising are also useful. Additionally, Graham Goffey, Treasurer, will stand down in June 2021 and candidates with suitable experience are particularly welcomed. The time commitment for this role will be greater.
As part of our commitment to ensuring a more diverse and inclusive Council, the Society particularly welcomes nominations from under-represented groups, allowing Council to better reflect the community it serves.
Details of the process are on the nomination forms, which can be downloaded from the Governance section of the website (https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/about/governance/council-elections). Here you can also see the names of those members of Council due to retire at the AGM in June 2020. You can also request a copy of the form from Stephanie Jones, Geological Society of London, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BG; email: [email protected]; Tel: 020 7432 0990.
Nominations must arrive no later than noon on Friday, 3 January 2020.