Committees
Committees in FCLIR are groups of people who agree to do the work that the organization needs and wants to be done. Although they often have a bad reputation, I am a big fan. It is through committees that seminars are solicited and produced; that our Treasurer who manages our finances through FCI is trained, creates our annual budget, and both guards and recommends uses for our financial resources; that programs and social events are planned; that members are recruited; that news is shared.
Presently the Committees who do all that work do not have a vote in Council, the governing body of FCLIR. The Committee Chairs are asked to supply a monthly report to Council and are invited to Council meetings, but there is no provision for communication among the committees or for committees to actually vote for their plans, their funding requests, or the programs they work so hard to offer.
FCLIR committees have been undergoing a transition since President, Nancy Denig (2020-2021), inaugurated a much needed overhaul of the system that had generated a dozen committees with overlapping and confusing mandates in addition to the four committees mandated by the bylaws. The Nominating Committee mandated by the present bylaws is currently non functional and has no members. The Executive Committee currently has four members with no clear avenue for perpetuating it beyond June 30, 2025. The Curriculum Committee and the Finance Committee are operating as mandated in the present by-laws and will continue those functions under the new governance plan as well as have voting representatives in Council. The Communications Committee and the Program Coordination Committee were established several years ago to streamline and combine the roles of the many committees established over the years. These two umbrella committees will also have representative voting members on Council.
Under the new governance plan, those four standing committees (Finance Curriculum, Communications, and Program Coordination) will determine their own membership, leadership, and representatives to Council where they collaborate with elected members of Council to coordinate and carry out all their functions.
The Finance Committee designates and trains the Treasurer who works with FCI which receives and distributes all FCLIR funds. It prepares an annual budget and advises on all financial matters.
The Curriculum Committee is responsible for soliciting, supporting, and preparing seminars and the moderators to lead them, and for making that information available to members and the general public.
The Communications Committee is responsible for both keeping the members informed of all FCLIR business and activities and attracting new members through outreach and publicity. That means this committee is the home of the website overseers, face book, publications, and public appearances.
The Program Coordinating Committee is the Creator and Keeper of the annual calendar. It is also the umbrella for social events, special events, Encore!, Interest Groups, and Winter and Summer programs.
Committee membership is voluntary and is NOT an either/or deal. You can offer to bring cookies to an event, offer an idea for a seminar or program, or introduce a friend to FCLIR without committing yourself to time or energy you may not have. Any level of participation, however, increases your opportunities to make new friends and learn new things. If you are curious about learning more about any of these committees, please reach out to the office via the web, email, or phone. The Office Manager will put you in touch with the appropriate person(s) to answer your all questions.
Francie Borden, President
