Canadian Authors Association (CAA) is seeking expressions of interest to fill vacant positions on our volunteer board of directors and/or committees.
Founded in 1921, Canadian Authors is Canada’s first and longest-running writers’ association. A federally registered national arts service organization (NASO) with charitable status, CAA’s mission includes the following:
- Provide professional development services and support to its Canadian members including aspiring authors, emerging authors, independently published authors, and professional authors in every genre and across all writing-related professions.
- Advocate for the protection of writers’ rights by influencing public policy in the domain of literature, writers’ interests, and literary work.
- Extend CAA’s legacy of contributing to the advancement of Canada’s heritage in the literary arts by exposing published works of members to the reading public.
About the Board of Directors
The Canadian Authors’ board operates as a team of committed volunteers who contribute their time and energy to help determine policy as well as the association’s strategic direction, make high-level decisions, and provide guidance to the executive director, who is responsible for day-to-day operations.
Board members are elected at the association’s annual general meeting (AGM) for a two-year period, and they are appointed to their specific roles and/or committees at the board meeting immediately following the AGM. (This year’s AGM is scheduled for mid-May.) Board members assume the role on a volunteer basis, with an average time commitment of 5 to 8 hours per month, including committee work — with fluctuation depending on the season. There is no renumeration for volunteer service on the board or committees.
As a board member, you will be expected to attend quarterly board meetings and the association’s annual general meeting (AGM) — usually with remote attendance — and to participate in one of the board committees or operational committees.
About CAA Committees
There are three board committees:
- Executive — i.e., Chair(s), Vice Chair, Past Chair, Treasurer, Secretary
- Finance & Corporate Strategy
- Governance & Nominating
NOTE: Participation on the Executive Committee and on the Finance & Corporate Strategy Committees is limited to elected board directors. The Governance & Nominating Committee is also limited to board members with the exception of one representative from our member community.
There are currently five operational committees:
- Advocacy
- Branch Support & Development
- Membership
- Fundraising & Sponsorship (a subcommittee of the Finance committee)
- Marketing & Communications (MarComm)
NOTE: These committees are open to CAA members in good standing as well as board members who have an interest in the work of the committee.
Find out more about the mandates of the various committees here.
Ideal Candidates
We’re looking for individuals with many of the following characteristics:
- Team player / collaborative / collegial
- Willingness to ask questions, challenge, and probe as needed
- Tendency towards common sense and sound judgment
- Belief in the value and benefits of diversity, equity, and inclusion within all communities
- Willingness and ability to devote time and energy to the role
Canadian Authors strives to be an inclusive and safe space for all and to accurately reflect the diversity of our members and the writers we serve across Canada. We are committed to equitable recruitment practices and strongly encourage expressions of interest from CAA members who self-identify as Indigenous, persons of colour; persons with diverse gender and sexual identities (including LGBTQ2S+); people living with dis/ability, etc.
For more information about the nomination process, please contact Margaret Anne Hume, Chair, Governance & Nominating Committee, at mahume@telus.net.
Interested in Exploring This Opportunity a Little Further?
Please fill out the form below and upload your cover letter and resume (file upload). We look forward to learning more about you through this process.