BVNA Council Elections 2013
NOMINATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED!
Nominees will be announced and postal voting opens on 1st June 2013
The Election Process
The following postal voting process is implemented each year by BVNA in order to ask BVNA full members to appoint new BVNA Council members.
- In April of each year, all full BVNA members are contacted and asked to nominate any full BVNA members they would like to stand for nomination onto the BVNA Council. The deadline to return the nomination forms to the BVNA Office is by 30th April.
- In May, all nominees are checked to ensure they are full members and during May/June, all nominees are informed that they have been nominated and asked if they could confirm whether they are willing to stand.
- All nominees who are willing to stand have to provide a photograph, details of their CV, and a manifesto. These details are then printed in the Veterinary Nursing Journal, and published on the BVNA website.
- In August, all BVNA full members are contacted and sent a postal voting form.
- In September all candidates standing for election are informed of the results. The successful candidates are invited to attend the Annual BVNA Congress on the Sunday in order to attend the Annual General Meeting at which their election is ratified (proposed and seconded).
- In November, the full new Council attend an induction meeting and their first Council meeting.
Have you ever thought of standing for BVNA Council?
I remember feeling incredibly nervous before my first meeting; I was worried that I might say the wrong thing and be totally out of my depth! I need not have worried; the BVNA office staff and existing council members made me feel like part of the team immediately.
These meetings are our opportunity to discuss, decide and plan all current and future projects and issues concerning our representation of veterinary nursing. There is often much to talk about and meetings only adjourn when we are all satisfied that we have discussed every item that requires our attention. This includes any queries or issues that you as members have raised.
We keep in contact via e-mail almost daily, although as a new council member, I am only required to check my emails 3-4 times per week. These emails are either just for information or may require each council member to voice their opinion before the appropriate decision or action is taken. Providing my opinon on nursing matters comes naturally to me, as I'm sure is true for many of you reading this!
All council members have an area of responsiblity and during my first council meeting I was assigned Internet observation. Other roles include RCO Team Leader, membership of the Education Committee, publications observer, national VN week co-ordinator and website editor. More experienced council members are appointed as Officers and hold the roles of VNJ Executive Editor, Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer, Senior and Junior Vice Presidents and, of course, the President. In addition to these roles, council members also hold seats on various working parties, committees and council so the BVNA's, and by inference its members', views are heard throughout the veterinary world.
In relation to other council members, my workload is fairly small, I know I am being eased in gently and look forward to taking over the role of RCO Team Leader next year from our incoming President.
I spend around 2-3 hours per week on Internet sites to check that information is current and correct. I frequently ask council's view on issues raised on VN Internet forums before posting replies on behalf of the BVNA - so rest assured, we are always listening to you.
I have no regrets about my decision to stand for BVNA council and am settling into my role and slowly finding my feet. I am excited about the challenges that lie ahead and am extremely proud to represent the BVNA. If any of you readers are sitting out there thinking ' I want to be part of that' then what is stopping you? If I can do it, so can you!
Kirstie Shield DipAVN(Surg) RVN MBVNA BVNA Vice President