Club Officers

Club President

Responsibilities

• Preside at Club and Board Meetings
  • prepare agenda with assistance of Club Secretary
  • conduct each meeting according to suggested Serra procedures
  • develop democratic and effective Club Committee structures
  • confer with Committee Chairs on appointment of Sub-Committee Chairs and Members
  • attend Committee Meetings as often as possible
  • co-ordinate the work of Committees
  • help Committee Chairs to identify and understand their responsibilities and duties
  • ensure good record-keeping of Officers and Chairs
• With the Secretary, ensure that Club history is up-to-date prior to expiration of term of Office
• Induct new Officers at the first regular meeting following the start of their term of Office unless the function is performed by the District Governor or member of Serra International Board
• Represent Club –
  • at all Inter-Club Meetings, activities and District Meetings
  • at International Convention when designated as delegate
  • in community
  • in its contacts with the local Ordinary
• Serve as a Member of the District Board of Trustees
• Maintain close contact with the District Governor
• For a new Club:
  • visit the local Ordinary with the Committee of the Board of Trustees to ask for the appointment of a Club Chaplain
  • invite the Ordinary to the Charter Night and to visit the new Club periodically
• Perform such other duties as the Board of Trustees may assign, or as may be required by Serra’s By-Laws

Club President-Elect

Responsibilities

• Serve on the Club Board of Trustees
• Attend all Club and Board of Trustees meetings
• At the request of the President, serve on specific Committees
• In partnership with the President, ensure the timely implementation of National Council and Serra International Board actions
• Attend Regional and District Conferences as requested by the President
• Provide advice to the President when requested
• Participate in budget preparation for the next financial year
• Develop working relationship with Diocesan Vocation Organisations
• Identify potential Officers, Chairs and Committee Members
• Perform such other duties as may be assigned by the President and Board of Trustees

Vice-President for Vocations

Responsibilities

• Serve on the Club Board of Trustees
• Chair the Club Vocations Committee
• Attend all Club and Board of Trustees meetings
• Maintain the success of all Club vocation efforts
• Encourage the formation of a Diocesan and/or Parish or Deanery Vocations Committee
• Invite the following to participate in Club vocations efforts:
  • Serrans
  • Club Chaplain
  • Vocation Directors from the Archdiocese, Diocese and Religious Orders
  • Priests, Religious and Laity interested in Church vocations
  • Representatives of Priests’ Senates, Sisters’ Councils, Seminarians and Novices
• Identify and collaborate with other organisations that are actively involved in supporting vocations (for example, Knights of the Southern Cross).

Goals

• To study particular needs and problems at the Diocesan level
• To consider possible activities and carry out those that offer the greatest promise
• To initiate and maintain successful vocations programmes that meet the needs of the local Diocese

Vice-President for Membership

Responsibilities

• Serve on the Club Board of Trustees
• Chair the Club Membership Committee
• Attend all meetings of the Club and Board of Trustees
• Take over the functions of the Vice-President for Programme in the absence of that Vice-President
• Maintain the success of all Club membership efforts
• Invite other Club Members to serve on this Committee and as Chairs of the following Sub-Committees:
  • Search
  • Orientation
  • Induction
  • Reception
  • Attendance
  • Health
  • Extension
• Recommend assignments for each Club Member to the Club President

Vice-President for Programme

Responsibilities

• Serve on the Club Board of Trustees
• Chair the Club Programme Committee
• Attend all meetings of the Club and Board of Trustees
• Preside and take over duties in the absence of the President
• Plan, conduct and evaluate one year of bi-monthly, educational Serran programmes
• Ensure that the meeting venue is properly set up and supervise the distribution of literature and other material.
• Plan and communicate schedule of programmes
• Determine financial requirements of Club programmes
• Co-ordinate programmes with the Club President and the Club Board of Trustees
• Ensure that the Club programmes clearly relate to the objectives of Serra International
• Educate and inform Club Members on Catholic issues and subjects through lectures, discussions, debates, videos or films and case studies
• Delegate responsibilities to Committee Members to involve each of them
• Develop a follow-up method
• Recommend Serrans for membership on the Club Programme Committee
• Develop and distribute the agenda for each Programme Committee Meeting

Goal

• To carry out the third principle of Serra, namely, to assist its members to recognize and respond in their own lives to God’s call to holiness in Jesus Christ and through the Holy Spirit

Vice-President for Communications

Responsibilities

• Serve on the Club Board of Trustees
• Chair the Club Communications Committee
• Attend all meetings of the Club and Board of Trustees
• Maintain the success of all Club communications efforts
• In conjunction with Club Committees and Secretary, compile Monthly Club News Bulletin/Newsletter and issue to all members
• Develop a long-range plan for public relations with specific goals for the current year
• Establish contacts with (for example) –
  • Catholic newspaper editors
  • religious feature editors of secular newspapers
  • broadcast personnel to keep the local media informed of Serra events maintain contact with the Communications Committee of Serra International and keep the District informed of Club events
• Maintain contact with the Communications Committee of Serra International and keep the District informed of Club events
• Serve on the Club Board of Trustees and remind members about ways in which their projects can become public relations projects
• Develop a cadre of Club spokespersons who are available to talk with the media as the need arises
• Implement communications projects developed by the Serra International and /or National Communications committees

Treasurer

Responsibilities

• Serve on the Club Board of Trustees
• Chair the Club Finance Committee
• Attend all meetings of the Club and Board of Trustees
• Set and collect Club and Serra International dues
• Maintain a record of Club finances and pay accounts as authorised by the Board of Trustees
• Have custody of all funds of the Club
• Deposit all funds of the Club in an account of the Club in a  financial institution approved by the Board of Trustees
• Prepare periodic reports of the Club as directed by the Club President including:
  • financial status of Club at each Trustee Meeting
  • status of delinquent payment of dues by Club Members
• Pay all accounts and obligations
• Arrange, through a resolution of the Trustees, for new signatures for all financial accounts
• Along with the Club Secretary and Vice-President for Membership, maintain an up-to-date register of Members
• Perform such further duties as ordinarily pertain to the Office of Treasurer

Secretary

Responsibilities

• Serve on the Club Board of Trustees
• Attend all meetings of the Club and Board of Trustees
• Notify Members of all meetings
• Notify Members of appointments to Club Committees and of special assignments in writing
• Arrange for reporting visiting Serrans
• Publish and maintain Club Committee Lists
• Work with the Club Committees on the Club Bulletin/Newsletter
• Assist the President in preparing the agenda for each Club Meeting
• Prepare and maintain, in conjunction with Vice-President Membership, an up-to-date register of Members
• Take minutes of each Meeting for the permanent file
• Keep accurate and permanent attendance records at all Club Meetings
• Maintain the Club history
• Authenticate, by signature, all records and documents
• Have a copy of the Serra International Constitution and By-Laws at each Meeting
• Read all papers as requested by Club
• Arrange for payment of Speaker’s Fee and expenses
• Write letters of appreciation to Speakers
• Have stationery printed as required
• Prepare periodic reports as required

Chaplain

Responsibilities

• To be familiar with the duties of each of the Club Officers
• To attend (where possible):
  • every regular Club Meeting
  • meetings of the Board of Trustees
  • District Meetings
  • Serra International Conventions
• To preside at the Liturgy of the Eucharist
• To oversee the spiritual development of the Club Members
• To work regularly with the Club Committees in the following ways:

  Programmes

  • • • organize a resource group of Priests, Religious and Serrans to plan the year’s program
      • assist in the planning of a broad-based programme
      • suggest specific topics and speakers
      • suggest books and pamphlets for study

  Vocations

  • • • contact the Archbishop or Bishop, the Diocesan Vocations Director and other priests
      • aid the Committee in finding specific, material ways to create an atmosphere in which vocations can flourish

  Membership

  • • share his knowledge of the Parish and Diocesan structures
    • suggest new Parishes from which new members could be invited
    • introduce the membership chair to the Pastors of Parishes where Serra is not represented