FAQs on joining the Board of Directors
What is the role and responsibility of a board and its members?
What qualifies a board member?
Are there additional professional development opportunities for board members?
Is public speaking part of the role?
I am afraid that serving on the board could be stressful. Can you comment?
Is there a way to try this out?
How many board positions will be available next term?
What are the sub-committees of the board and how often do they meet?
Why join the Board?
Current board members describe three key benefits:
- The unique opportunity to advocate for fulfilling, sustainable family practice in Victoria. The role offers the potential to be a catalyst for improving the lives of local physicians and patients by utilizing grassroots efforts and actively engaging at the tables where decisions are made.
- The professional networking opportunities that being part of a group of passionate, supportive and inspiring physician leaders opens up.
- The leadership development opportunity a board director role presents. Particularly for doctors early in their career, serving on the board is a valuable way to grow and learn from experienced colleagues while building leadership and advocacy skills to effect positive health change within our community.
Go back to the top of the page ^
What is the role and responsibility of a board and its members?
- The board is the Division’s governing body. It ensures that the Division is transparent, represents the interests of its membership and advances the vision in alignment with Division values and mission. Board directors set the strategic direction, provide leadership and stewardship of the activities, and assume fiduciary responsibility.
- The board also reviews committee/program requests or advocacy issues that are brought forward and determines actions or policies.
- Directors aren't expected to be experts in running a non-profit, which is the executive director's role. The board also has great staff support for finance, legal, etc. and all the FPSC/Doctors of BC expertise to draw on. View the Role of the Board of Directors Policy here.
Go back to the top of the page ^
What is the time commitment?
- Directors are asked to attend as many board meetings as possible and to come to the meeting prepared for input and discussion, i.e. to read the meeting materials prior.
- The board meets as often as needed - but no more than once a month - for 2.5 hours (virtual) or 3 hours (in-person as COVID allows). The average required prep time is one hour. Board meetings usually occur on the second Thursday of a month.
- Board members are also encouraged to attend the AGM. The Board Meetings Policy can be viewed here.
Go back to the top of the page ^
What is the remuneration?
- Board directors are paid the current Doctors of BC sessional rate for meeting and prep time and for any other activities they choose to participate in due to their director role.
Go back to the top of the page ^
How long is a usual term?
- An Elected Director term is two years. An Appointed Director term is one year.
- If a director is not quite sure yet if they can make the commitment, the Victoria Division offers the opportunity to serve a one-year term and decide on next steps after.
- Directors can be re-elected twice. Chairs can be re-elected twice and may, at the request of the board, be asked to extend their term for continuity and succession. The Board Membership Policy can be viewed here.
Go back to the top of the page ^
What qualifies a board member?
- The most important prerequisite is passion to make a difference as a leader. All board directors are passionate about health promotion and about advocacy for their colleagues and family medicine. You’ll be taught all else as needed. Use the board role as an excellent leadership development opportunity!
Go back to the top of the page ^
Are there additional professional development opportunities for board members?
- Yes, the Division is committed to support board members in any way we can. Specifically, all board directors are encouraged to take the physician leadership development program through SFU. This is an excellent program that most board members have completed.
- We encourage physicians to pursue Indigenous Cultural Safety training. The San’yas course is available at no cost if a physician has privileges through Island Health, otherwise VDFP can support.
- In addition, there are board development group sessions.
- Courses that individual directors are interested in can be covered as well. In this case, the board member would submit a simple application form to the board for approval.
Go back to the top of the page ^
Is public speaking part of the role?
- There is no need for public speaking as part of a regular board director role.
- The Dine & Learns (Zoom & Learns) have a brief board announcement at the beginning of the event and board members are encouraged to participate.
- The board chair role does involve public speaking (e.g. chairing meetings, presenting at AGM). If a board director chooses to take on a lead role for a particular project, then presenting, chairing, or other public speaking may result from that additional, board-independent commitment.
- The board director role is also different from the role of a media spokesperson. This role, too, is independent from board membership, and media spokespeople receive specific media training.
Go back to the top of the page ^
I am afraid that serving on the board could be stressful/too much of a time commitment. Can you comment?
- The basic time commitment for the board is 3.5 hours/month if the board meets every month and a member is able to attend every meeting.
- There is no expectation of a board member to take on additional leadership roles (e.g. lead a committee or project), although some of our board members do choose to wear several hats. The satisfaction associated with having a tangible impact often stirs interest in providing additional leadership. This is an excellent opportunity for personal development.
- Serving on the board can and should absolutely align with your work-life-balance priorities.
Go back to the top of the page ^
Is there a way to try this out?
- Interested members are welcome to join a board meeting for a first-hand impression. Board directors may also commit for an initial one-year term instead of the regular two years and then decide if they wish to continue. Lastly, while the board appreciates some necessary continuity, life happens and nothing is written in stone. It is a non-issue to step off the board earlier than anticipated if desired.
Go back to the top of the page ^
Who can generally apply and how?
- Conversations with potential candidates happen continuously throughout the year. Interested members are welcome to contact a board director for more information anytime by emailing victoria@victoriadivision.ca
- There is an annual call for Elected Director nominations and Expressions of Interest for appointments to the board. All nominees for the board, regardless of how they are identified, will be selected by the nominations committee.
- There is a separate process for residents. The Elected Directors Nomination Process and Election Procedures can be viewed here.
- All directors will be announced at the Annual General Meeting in November.
Go back to the top of the page ^
How many board positions will be available next term?
- There are six elected director positions and in 2023-24 there are five openings. Four incumbents will be standing for election that have no predetermined priority to their current position.
- We are looking for additional representation to bring new perspectives to the board and distribute the work equitably.
- Once all board members have been confirmed by the membership at the AGM, the board will determine who will be the new chair, treasurer, and secretary.
Go back to the top of the page ^
What are the sub-committees of the board and how often do they meet?
- There are four sub-committees of the board that meet at various times throughout the year. All members of these committees are compensated at the current sessional rate plus any meeting preparation time.
- The Executive Committee supports the work of the board. They review the strategic and operational plans and policies to ensure they reflect current practices. Typically, the Executive meets quarterly for 1.5 to 2 hours or as needed.
- The Finance and Audit Committee oversees, reviews and develops recommendations to the board regarding the financial performance and risk to the VDFP. This committee meets quarterly for 2 hours.
- The Human Resources Committee supports the successful recruitment, performance, development of the executive director. Membership is appointed by the board and the chair is determined by the committee. The HR Committee meets at the request of the chair, about twice per year.
- The Communications Committee develops and maintains the communication strategy for the Division. Committee members are appointed by the board. Typically, this committee meets about every six to eight weeks or at the request of the chair.
Go back to the top of the page ^
Updated: July 2023
Do you have additional questions or would like to speak with a board member? Please contact victoria@victoriadivision.ca