The
Hillingdon Community Mediation
Management Committee

We have a thriving, productive and friendly Management Committee of 8 Members (November 2008).

An optimum number seems to be 8 or 9 so that we can guarantee a quorum at meetings and have enough attendees for a full and thorough discussion of agenda items.

Usually the Management Committee Members are people who have trained with us as Mediators but this does not need to be so.

We welcome anyone who shares our aims and vision to get involved.

Apart from the required roles of Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Treasurer or Company Secretary we encourage members to create their own officer role based on their own interests and the interests of the organisation.

So, for example, we also have a Training Officer, PQASSO (Quality Assurance) Officer and Events Officer.

This means that those who join are not just 'members' with no 'angle' from which to contribute to discussions.

We obviously welcome the traditional skills required on a Management Committee such as knowledge of finance/ accountancy, legal expertise etc. but we recognise the ability of all to contribute to a discussion whatever experiences they have had.

Sometimes the role is in name only, and does not require any additional work, only to be available as a sounding board for the views of that particular area.

Sometimes however, the person in the role may wish to take on additional activities, possibly in conjunction with staff, to develop a new area of activity for the organisation.

Do I have the time?.....

Our Management Committee meetings are held once every 2 months and last for up to 2½ hours, from 6.00pm - 8.30pm. However we rarely run much over 2 hours.

We also have an Annual General Meeting in July.

There will be papers and agendas to read prior to the monthly meetings and these are usually with Members at least one week before the meeting.

Between meetings there will be occasional emails or mail-outs to respond to, but these are usually only to give a 'yeay' or 'neigh' to an idea or action. Activities needing more discussion are always left until a Management Committee meeting.

So, on average, the time requirement will be a minimum of 2-3 hours per month, but could involve more if the role taken on has additional responsibilities and duties.

We usually ask that Members are able to attend a minimum of 4 out of 6 of the annual timetable of meetings.

Please contact Alan or Carole if you would like to become involved.