EOI: Meeting Chairperson Training Program

Background

The Co-operative Housing Federation of BC (CHF BC) is a membership association representing more than 250 housing co-operatives in British Columbia.

CHF BC is incorporated under the Cooperative Association Act and is an umbrella organization for a group of related non-profit societies (subsidiaries) including COHO Management Services Society, COHO Property Management Inc. (CPM) and the three non-profit societies making up the Community Land Trust.

Members support their federation through annual membership dues and fees for a wide range of programs and services. CHF BC is proudly independent – none of its annual revenue comes from government. CHF BC’s mission is to unite, represent and serve their members in a thriving co-operative housing movement.

Project

As a core fee-for-service, CHF BC provides support to its member co-ops by providing the services of a professional chair whose responsibility is to ensure that meetings run in an orderly manner and facilitate the decision-making process in compliance with the applicable legislation. One of these services is providing a meeting chairperson to co-ops.

We are looking to develop our Meeting Chairperson Training program. As part of meeting the deliverables outlined below, preference will be given to persons with knowledge of working with not-for-profit boards and an understanding of the Cooperative Association Act and experience either working for or a member of a consumer co-operative.

We need a subject matter expert who can create and organize the following:

• Brief review of current chairing program
  o Guidelines and expectations of being a Chair
  o Roles and responsibilities of Chair, CHF BC staff, Co-op
• Engagement framework
  o General chairing style/things to remember (Examples of general chairing practices; Research and recommend generic chairing skill training)
  o Preparing for a meeting – timeline and key steps in prepping, delivering, and following-up on meetings including role-play scenarios
  o Education on the Rules and the BC Coop Act
  o Create 1-pager, user-friendly checklists for Chairs, co-ops, and CHF BC staff
  o Outline or visual representation of how the program interacts with other Meeting Services
  o Compile resources: notes on where to find resources
  o Lessons learned – interview Chairs and CHF BC staff
• Administration
  o Invoicing, agreements and cancellations
• Evaluations and Training
  o Dealing with member complaints
  o Dealing with difficult members
  o Mentoring and evaluating trainees – what is involved in their roles
  o Giving feedback – best practices

Please submit responses and the amount you estimate it will cost to deliver by email to Katy Bigsby, Education Director at kbigsby@chf.bc.ca. If you have any questions, please contact Katy directly via email.