Chairperson:
Ultimately accepts responsibility for all activities undertaken by Leeds Sexpression. The position, therefore, involves oversight of tasks delegated to other committee members. It is the responsibility of the chairperson to set the agenda for and chair all meetings (unless delegated to the vice-chair). The role also requires liaison with outside agencies e.g. Leeds University Community Initiative (which provides our funding), Stop Aids Society, etc. The chairperson should work closely with the vice-chairperson. Good organisation, time management and communication skills are essential. Ideally the person should have a vision for the role of Leeds Sexpression in the future. Experience and understanding of the workings of the organisation are vital and therefore the chairperson should be someone who has been a committee member in the previous year.
Vice-Chairperson:
Works closely with the chairperson and should be aware of all activities undertaken by Leeds Sexpression. The role includes chairing meetings if the chairperson is unavoidably absent and being prepared to take on the role of chairperson temporarily in the event of long-term illness etc. Experience and understanding of the workings of the organisation are vital and therefore the chairperson should be someone who has been a committee member in the previous year.
Secretary:
A crucial role! This includes taking minutes at every meeting, typing and forwarding them promptly to all committee members. The secretary should also send a reminder e-mail to committee members just prior to meetings and accept apologies from absentees. The secretary works closely with the chairperson.
Treasurer:
This role involves managing our finances, keeping an account of all expenditure, submitting regular up-dates of our financial situation to Leeds University Community Initiative and making expense claims on behalf of committee members. In addition, the treasurer is responsible for applying for funding each year.
Resources Manager:
Each lesson requires resources. It is this person’s responsibility to ensure that all lesson resource packs are complete at the start of the series of lessons at each school. They must replace items as required during the teaching programmes, purchase appropriate materials and submit receipts to the treasurer. Resources should also be provided for training new volunteers including the training booklets.
Training Co-ordinator:
The holder of this post produces the timetable for the training sessions and notifies the student body of the aims and objectives of Leeds Sexpression and the training schedule The training co-ordinator should book a room and confirm the availability of committee members for each session. This person is also responsible for obtaining contact details from all new volunteers and adding these to the data base.
John Smeaton Community High School Co-ordinator:
This role involves liasing with the school contact in the summer term prior to the start of the next academic year to organise a lesson timetable. Peer-educators must then be recruited to teach the lessons and relevant information passed to them.
Priesthorpe High School Co-ordinator:
This role involves liasing with the school contact in the summer term prior to the start of the next academic year to organise a lesson timetable. Peer-educators must then be recruited to teach the lessons and relevant information passed to them.
Pre-Christmas SSC Co-ordinator:
Liases with the SSC Office to ensure that the “Peer-led Sex and Relationship Education (SRE) Skills for Undergraduate Medical Students” is included in the Pre-Christmas SSC Options Booklet with an appropriate description of the module. The co-ordinator contacts potential speakers and appropriate committee members and confirms their availability prior to organising the timetable for the Pre-Christmas SSC. Funding for the external speakers should be arranged with the SSC Office. It is desirable that this person has previously taken the Pre-Christmas SSC.
Publicity Officer:
Designs posters, flyers etc. as required and arranges for their printing. Artistic flair an advantage!! In the future this role could be expanded to include seeking sponsorship.
Website Design & Maintenance:
A new venture. Is there anybody who could see themselves doing this?
Honorary Members:
Past committee members are be invited to stay on the committee as honorary members. Their role will be to mentor and assist new members.
Potential new committee members should not be daunted by these descriptions. Routines, paperwork, resources etc. are already in place and there will be some current committee members remaining on the committee to guide you.
When deciding which committee position you would like to stand for please bear in mind the other demands on your time, since I suspect that the coming year will be even more hectic for us.
