Notice of Board Nominations

We are excited to share about the upcoming opportunity to welcome new members to AVIVA's board of directors at our Annual General Meeting on Feb 21st at 11:15am at Pacific Gardens Co-Housing.

• Are you passionate about supporting the 2SLGBTQIA+ community?
• Do you want to be part of a dynamic and fun organisation?
• Do you have experience and skills to contribute?
• Or do you know someone that could help AVIVA Chorus enhance its organisation and impact?

If you answer yes to at least one of these points, please read on. . .

For the last several years, AVIVA's board of directors has been working hard to revitalize AVIVA Society with the support of a Vancouver Foundation Grant. We have new bylaws, policies, organisational structure, strategic plan and more. The impact of all this work can be seen in the growth of our choir as well as in our burgeoning volunteer program, and most particularly in the stories of impact we hear from singers, volunteers and audience alike. As we head into 2026, we will be turning our focus to promotions, fundraising, and our music programming, as well as celebrating our 20th year of queer music and community. Now is a great time to join the board and lend your voice and ideas to our continued development and growth!

Board Recruitment

Prior to the AGM, we invite nominations for candidates to fill upcoming vacant positions on our Board of Directors. The deadline to nominate or be nominated is January 22, 2025.

We are asking for your help to find new board members. A full complement of directors will increase our ability to make an impact without burning anyone out so please help us to spread the word. Directors do not need to be singers. Anyone interested in our mission can become a member of the society by signing member agreements and paying society fees ($20/year).

What are we looking for?

While we are especially excited to welcome board members with relevant experience, we do have space to include a couple enthusiastic new board members without previous experience. We provide basic training in board roles and responsibilities.

We are particularly looking for volunteers with the following experience & skills:

• non-profit governance / organisational leadership & development
• fundraising and donor relations
• event management
• volunteer management
• promotions & marketing
• bookkeeping and/or accounting
• experience on boards or as staff of other choirs
• experience managing non-profits

Who is allowed to be a board member?

As per BC's Society Act and our Bylaws, all board members must:

• be 18 years or older
• be paid up members of AVIVA Society by the AGM
• not be an undischarged bankrupt or incapable of managing their own affairs
• not have been convicted of fraud or related offenses
• not have completed serving a sentence or probation less than 5 years ago

More details are available in B.C. Society Act Section 44 Persons Qualified to be Directors.

If you are interested in volunteering but either not eligible or not able to make the time commitment to be a board member, please talk to us about other volunteer opportunities including other leadership roles.

What kind of work and time commitment is required?

Board members must:

• uphold AVIVA mission, vision, values, policies, and board decisions
• be willing to commit to a two year term
• attend monthly board meetings, including preparing by reading all board meeting packages
• prepare a report for each board meeting (usually related to a committee)
• attend our annual two day board retreat
• take on an officer position and/or another key volunteer position (e.g. volunteer
• coordinator) and/or chair one of our standing committees
• attend meetings related to the committee and/or position taken
• actively work on annual and strategic planning and budgeting with other committee and board members
• participate in board training sessions
• attend important events and fundraisers
• represent AVIVA in a professional manner befitting of a board member

A detailed job description is posted on our member portal and is available upon request.

Board members can expect to spend 10-25 hours per month depending on your role on the board.

What are the benefits of joining the board?

The primary benefit is in the satisfaction of making a positive impact for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in mid-Vancouver Island.

You will develop new skills and experiences via your volunteer work and the training provided.

You will get to have your say in how AVIVA is operated and in how we grow and change.

You will also join a fantastic group of hardworking and fun board members, and make or deepen relationships with others who are making the world better.

What is the nomination process?

You may put your name forward yourself or someone else can nominate you.

The nominee should first read the Board Director job description. If they have questions, they should ideally plan to attend our information meeting on January 17 2026 at 12:15 where we will give a short orientation to AVIVA and its board, and answer questions.

All nominees must agree to be nominated. They must also have two AVIVA society members endorse their nomination in writing; nominators must have been in good standing for at least 30 days prior to signing the nomination form.

The nomination form must be submitted in person or by email to [email protected] by January 22nd at 5pm.

The Nomination Committee will review all nominations to ensure that they meet the eligibility and procedural requirements. All eligible nominees will be presented to the membership for voting.

The nomination committee may also assess nominees using our pre-set evaluation matrix to create a recommended slate. The goal is to provide the membership with our opinion about the best combination of people to meet AVIVA's needs at this time. (Note that all nominees will still be voted in individually via a secret ballot process.)

Once all nominees are confirmed, the board will send notice to all members with nominee bios at least two weeks prior to the AGM. All society members in good standing are entitled to vote at the AGM.

To apply please follow these:

Job Description

Nomination form

CONTACT

• AVIVA Chorus
• Pacific Gardens Cohousing, 347 Seventh Street, Nanaimo, BC
• Email: [email protected]