Return to Jobs Index Printer and Edit Friendly Copy
ABA Job Description
DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE
BASIC FUNCTION
To represent District regarding local and national matters, to enhance membership within District, to communicate with President and Executive Board at national meetings, to accept various assignments from the Convention Standing Committee, and to assist with the ABA Convention when held in District.
DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE QUALIFICATIONS
1. Minimum two years membership in ABA and attendance at two ABA conventions.
2. Must be a member of a chapter within District and lived in District for one year.
3. Ability to accept special assignments by the Convention Standing Committee and/or Executive Board.
4. Ability to coordinate and communicate effectively and attend meetings in conjunction with annual ABA Convention.
5. Have background knowledge of the workings of ABA.
CURRENT BYLAWS AFFECTING DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES ACTIONS
Article IV - Officers and District Representatives
Article VI – Executive Committee
Article VIII – Nomination and Election Procedure
A. Slate of Officers and District Representatives
Article IX – Officers’ and District Representatives Qualifications, Term of Office and Vacancies
Article X – Duties pf Officers and District Representatives
Article XII – Duties of Appointees
Current Procedures
District Representative
1. District Representative responsibilities to the Convention Standing Committee
A. Serve as liaison between the Executive Board and the Convention Standing Committee to represent their District Chapters.
B. Assist the Convention Standing Committee with the annual ABA Convention in their district
(1). Work with the Convention Hotel Coordinator and Convention Standing Committee members to survey cities within the district which meet ABA Convention Guidelines as to location and facilities.
a. Assist Convention Standing Committee and/or local chapter in, or near, the locations to appoint a Convention Chairman or, as District Representative, assume the position of Convention Chairman.
b. Assist the Convention Standing Committee to encourage the local chapter to become the sponsoring chapter for the convention. Present to the chapter all help that will be available from the Convention Standing Committee and chapters and continue working with the Convention Chairman and chapter until convention.
(2). Correspond and provide information to chapters in district.
a. Contact Convention Chairman and determine what jobs need to be filled by other chapters.
b. Continue dialogue to determine what assistance the Convention Standing Committee would need to provide and advise the Convention Standing Committee.
c. Assist in obtaining help from other chapters for the invitation the year before convention.
d. Write each chapter in the district two years prior to the convention in your district.
1). Request they accept responsibility for one or more job for the convention according to the needs of the sponsoring chapter, under the direction of the Convention Chairman, (list of needs to be obtained from Convention Chairman)
2). Within three months, determine what job will be undertaken by each chapter and send the list to the Convention Standing Committee and Convention Chairman.
e. District Representatives will be the consultant to assist the sponsoring chapter and Convention Chairman during the years preceding the convention.
1). Contact all chapters in the district concerning their role in/at convention. Make all chapters aware of their responsibility upcoming each four years to assist/run a convention. Once the sponsoring chapter determines what areas need to be handled, all chapters are to be involved in the invitation to convention the year prior to the convention.
2). Contact all chapters at convention to keep current on the status of the jobs they were to do at convention.
3). Communicate with the Convention Chairman frequently, advising about requirements for the Executive Board approval for the numbers of convention bell to be produced, obtaining 'front money", contracts to be signed and by whom. Contact the Convention Standing Committee for any questions.
4). Local sponsoring chapter and Convention Chairman should handle the tour, entertainment, meal selection, facility coordinator, and any other items they wish to undertake.
5). Assistance available from the Convention Standing Committee
a). Programs
b). Treasurer
c). Audiovisual
d). Contract by Hotel Coordinator for hotel (copy to be provided to all members of the Convention Standing Committee and Convention Chairman)
e). Bell (design, obtaining manufacturer)
f). Contracts for bell, transportation, entertainment, etc.
2. District Representative responsibilities to the Executive Board
A. Be a coordinating source in the district for national and regional issues.
(1). Write letter(s) to all chapters in the district two months after the convention and every four months thereafter. Offer help, exchange ideas for promoting membership, give information and suggestions. Send a copy of each letter to the Chairman of the Convention Standing Committee and the ABA President.
a. Encourage participation in and share information about ABA projects and committees.
b. Provide ideas to chapters for increasing membership
c. Share information and ideas for interesting programs and activities for local meetings.
d. Attend meeting of four district representatives with the Convention Standing Committee representative at convention.
e. Have a meeting at convention with chairmen of chapters in your district to share ideas and become acquainted.
B Be the lead person to enhance the growth for new membership in your district. AS THE DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE, YOU ARE THE DRIVING FORCE TO INCREASE THE NUMBERS IN ABA MEMBERSHIP BY PRESENTING IDEAS THAT ENHANCE CHAPTER INTEREST. INCREASED MEMBERSHIP PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES TO EN JOY FELLOWSHIP WITH OTHER BELL ENTHUSIASTS.
C. Gather and provide information and communicate problems and ideas that are unique to the district, to the officers/Executive Board and the Convention Standing Committee.
D. Be a source for obtaining potential officers.
E. Prepare annual report of correspondence and all meeting records for the Executive Committee and the Convention Standing Committee. Include copies of letters sent to chapters, implementation of new membership recruitment ideas, problems of chapters, etc.
F. Keep files of all correspondence and meetings to pass onto the next District Representative at the end of your term.
3. District Representatives are members of the Executive Board and the Convention Standing Committee.