1. Purpose

This is a standing committee, accountable to the Board, whose purposes are to:

• Reinforce the importance of community newspapers to government at both the federal and provincial levels

• Liaise with all levels of government departments and other important publics of AWNA

• Enhance the profile of the AWNA and community newspapers among levels of government and other important publics

 

2. Key Duties and Responsibilities

Committee Responsibilities

The committee:

• Prepares government briefs, as needed

 

Committee Responsibilities with the Support of AWNA staff

• Suggests speakers from the political spectrum for the spring and fall conventions

• Monitors relevant legislation

• Prioritizes issues that may need to be addressed, and submits the list to the Board for approval.  Recommends which issues require an issues management plan.

• For approved issues that require an issues management plan, the committee:

− Identifies key contacts

− Develops critical success factors, outcomes, and strategies

− Ensures the implementation of the strategies by the appropriate person or persons

− Monitors the outcomes

− Evaluates the effectiveness of each issues management plan

− Makes recommendations to the Board in order to improve future issue management efforts

• Recommends appropriate partnerships to the Board

 

AWNA Staff Responsibilities with the Support of the Committee

AWNA staff, with the support of the committee:

• Contacts speakers from the political spectrum for the spring and fall conventions

• Arranges meetings, as needed, between AWNA and appropriate political figures on issues of specific interest to AWNA

 

3. Membership

This committee consists of a minimum of three (3) members, including one AWNA Board member.

 

Committee members should be familiar with the workings of government and community newspaper publishing.

 

The Executive Director, or his or her designate, is a non-voting member of the committee.

 

4. Term of Appointment The President, with the Board’s approval, appoints the Committee Chair for one year.  The Committee Chair appoints members for one year.

 

5. Meetings

The committee at the call of the Chair.  Committee business may be conducted face-to-face, by teleconference, or other electronic means.

 

A quorum consists of at least one-half of the committee members.  Committee meetings may proceed in the absence of a quorum.  However, a quorum is required in order to forward any recommendations or other committee business to the Board.  After a committee meeting where a quorum was not present, committee members who were absent may approve, by electronic means, recommendations and business that need to be submitted to the Board.

 

6. Resources

The committee has a Board-approved budget that covers the costs provided for in point 9 of Board Committee Principles: BP-9.  The committee also has project-related expenses as approved by the Board.

 

7. Annual Goals, Objectives and Work Plan

The committee meets as soon as possible after the Annual General Meeting to update the goals and objectives, and to develop an annual work plan.  The committee submits the updated goals, objectives, and work plan to the Board for approval.

 

8. Reports

The committee prepares:

• A progress report to Board meetings

• A written annual work plan for Board approval

• A written annual report for the year that assesses the outcomes of the annual work plan and makes recommendations for the next year.  The Chair submits the annual report to the President at least one month prior to the Annual General Meeting.

• Recommended changes to the committee terms of reference for Board approval