Governance
According to Canada's Institute on Governance, there are three different roles that are necessary for an organization to fulfill its mission. They are: governance, management and work.
- Governance is about the strategic decision-making that shapes the organization and its work. It's also about being ultimately accountable for the work and actions of the organization. In this new model, the Volunteer-led Board of Directors will fill this role.
- Management is the link between governance and work. It involves the organization of tasks, people, relationships and technology needed to get the job done. The Executive Director, in partnership with his or her management team, will fill this role; overseeing the planning and evaluation of the work.
- Work is about performing the daily tasks that move us towards fulfilling our Mission. Front-line and administration staff will work together to carry out these basic functions.
Volunteer Led
The Board of Directors: focuses on the "big picture".
Board Directors are members of Owl with a significant interest in the organization's mission. The Board speaks with one voice. As a whole entity, the Board has authority and responsibility that individual directors do not.
The Board is accountable to the members and shall fulfill the governance role. Only the Board can establish governing policy to provide direction for the organization. To do this, it takes into account the mission, values, beliefs and guiding principles and the objects under which Owl was incorporated.
The Board will also focus on strategic planning and consider how it can best achieve organization goals while using resources wisely. It will monitor the performance of the organization as a whole, but will not be involved in management (the day-to-day operations). Instead, it will focus on the "bigger picture" of organizational achievement.
The board will consist of the following officers: President, President-elect, Treasurer, Secretary, Executive Director (ED). The officers shall have the authority as set out in Owl's By-laws and governance policies.
Board Committees: contribute expertise and advise the Board.
The Board will also use standing and other committees (each chaired by a Board director) to monitor and audit their own performance as well as that of the ED and the organization as a whole. The nominating, finance & audit and governance committees are standing committees of the Board.
Executive Director: acts as the link between the Board and the management team.
The ED, the senior staff person, will have full entitlement to attend and participate in all meetings and discussions and will act as a full partner with the Board in setting direction and policy-making. The ED is responsible for ensuring that direction given by the Board is communicated to the management team.
Staff Managed
Management Team: direct the work to achieve the direction provided by the Board.
The management team - consisting of senior management and the centre supervisors, will fill the management role and will oversee the development, implementation and evaluation of work to achieve the priorities and goals set out by the Board. Management team members are accountable to the ED who is responsible for day-to-day operations and management. The ED, in turn, is accountable to the Board of Directors.
Members and other interested individuals may be requested by the ED to act as advisers to the management team, helping them to ensure that the culture, values and interests of Owl members, as well as legislated requirements, are clearly understood and addressed.
Front-line and Administration Staff: work together to carry out day-to-day tasks.
Under the direction of their supervisors, staff implement Owl's programs/curriculum and carry out the day-to-day tasks that will move us, step by step, towards achieving the goals established by the Board.