• Jess Findlay
Jess Findlay

Apply to My Sea to Sky's Board of Directors

My Sea to Sky is a people-powered environmental organization that was founded in 2014 to defend, protect, and restore Átl’ḵa7tsem / Howe Sound.

We are recruiting new board members ready to guide one of British Columbia’s most innovative, values-driven, advocacy organizations.

Named out of our commitment to Átl’ḵa7tsem / Howe Sound, My Sea to Sky is a community driven by a shared love of place. We bring local citizens together to work on the urgent challenges facing our home.

We organize educational events; coordinate research; build partnerships; lift up First Nations voices and culture; and facilitate public engagement with our municipal, provincial, and federal governments. We aim to inspire our community to become stewards of Átl’ḵa7tsem / Howe Sound, and empower people to take action at critical moments. Please see our five-year strategic plan for more details.

The My Sea to Sky Board follows a Policy Governance model. In addition to the quarterly board meetings, there is an expectation that Board members will contribute to committees according to their individual skills, and will particularly support fundraising.

My Sea to Sky is currently seeking expressions of interest for the Board of Directors for the 2024–2026 term who:

  • Are excited to be a part of an environmentally-focused group whose focus is to defend, protect, and restore Átl’ḵa7tsem / Howe Sound;
  • Are committed to the important administrative work of policy board governance;
  • Have key skills to contribute capacity to our small team, in particular legal, accounting, public relations, policy governance, and fundraising;
  • Can attend at least four meetings a year, plus special meetings as applicable, and participate in annual strategic planning, either in person or over online conference;
  • Are willing to support the Executive Director if asked (e.g., to join a committee or give advice in a particular area of expertise).

Board members’ major responsibilities include:

  • Governing in accordance with the Carver Policy Governance model to ensure accountability;
  • Reviewing all materials before meetings for organizational and financial oversight;
  • Ensuring the society is satisfying its legal obligations;
  • Ensuring the proper fiscal management of the organization;
  • Ensuring the society is meeting its strategic priorities;
  • Serve as a representative of MS2S and positively advocate for the organization in the community, including attending events and demonstrations where appropriate;
  • Participate in fundraising for the organization, including connecting MS2S with your network, and participating in donor phone calls and meetings;
  • Volunteer for and willingly accept assignments as appropriate and complete them thoroughly and on time;
  • Stay informed about organizational matters through reading email updates, being thoroughly prepared for meetings (all reports read in advance), and review and comment on minutes and reports;
  • Build a good working relationship with all board members that contribute to consensus;
  • Supporting the Executive Director including conducting annual performance reviews.

Location:

Board directors ideally live in the Átl’ḵa7tsem / Howe Sound watershed, including Whistler, Squamish, Britannia Beach, Furry Creek, Bowen Island, Lions Bay, West Vancouver, Area F West Howe Sound, and Gibsons. We are also open to Expressions of Interest from people in Vancouver, Vancouver Island and Gulf islands, or people with connections to the watershed.

Time commitment:

  • Quarterly: 3 hour board meeting + 2–3 hrs of preparation. These are mostly virtual meetings, with an occasional in-person meeting in one of the communities located in the Átl’ḵa7tsem / Howe Sound watershed.
  • Monthly: 3–4 hours of committee meetings, emails, and supporting fundraising.
  • Annually: participate in a full-day of strategic planning.

Term:

  • June 2024 to June 2026
  • Minimum two-year commitment

Application process:

  • Complete the Expression of Interest form and attach your CV by 5pm PDT, May 12, 2024.
  • Interviews of short-listed candidates with the Board Chair and Executive Director May 15–27, 2024.
  • Selected candidates appointed at the AGM June 11, 2024.

Questions:

If you have questions, please email the Board Chair kiki@myseatosky.org