Join the Board of Directors

by | Oct 16, 2024

Interested in joining the NSMBA Board of Directors? Keep reading for an overview of the Board, how to apply, and what’s involved in being a Director.

The Directors of the NSMBA are community members who advocate for the goals of the Association and its members as outlined in the constitution and bylaws. They are all volunteers and help plan for the future of the organization. Each director has a duty to act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the society.

The NSMBA has up to 12 Board Directors who are elected by the members at the Annual General Meeting in November of each year. Each director is elected for a term of 2 years. For continuity purposes, the term of office of the directors is staggered such that at each AGM one-half of the positions on the Board shall be filled by way of election.

Click here to see the current Board of Directors.

Diversity and Inclusion

It is top of mind for us to ensure our Board is diverse. We are committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive organization for all and diversity among our members, volunteers, staff, and board of directors allows us to better understand, connect to, and respond to the needs of our members, the land and communities.

How to Apply

  • All candidates must be a current member of the NSMBA
  • The deadline to apply is November 21st at 11:59pm PST
  • Each candidate is required to fill out the 2025 Board of Directors Candidate Form
  • In the form, all candidates will be asked to upload a photo of themselves as well as a *short video introduction
    • *Candidate Video Guidelines – Videos allow us to see who you are and allow you to introduce yourself/ talk about why you would like to join the NSMBA Board of Directors and what skills you would bring to the board.
    • Videos should be no longer than 60 seconds in length in mp4 format.

Your form responses, photo, and video will be available to the public and published on our Candidates page to help our members get to know you during the voting process.

Skills & Experience Sought for the 2025 Board

For 2025, we are particularly looking for people with skills and experiences in the following areas:

  • public relations
  • legal/contract knowledge
  • diversity, equity and inclusion
  • previous board experience
  • fundraising/grants
  • human resources
  • strategic decision-making skills
  • technology skills
  • cycling advocacy

Please note that the above points are not a requirement and we greatly encourage all interested candidates to apply to join the Board. 

Time Commitment

Board Directors are expected to spend 8-15 hours per month on NSMBA work, including:

  • preparation for and attending Board meetings (typically held on the first Tuesday of each month from 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm in a hybrid model, where some participate virtually and others meet in person)
  • participate in at least one committee (Committees include Trails for All, Event & Volunteers, Revenue or Trails)
  • attending a minimum of 2 trail days per year
  • volunteering at NSMBA events throughout the year (ie: BC Bike Show, Fivers, AGM, Community Pop-Ups)
  • supporting staff with occasional operational needs
  • the roles of President, Vice President, and Treasurer have additional responsibilities and time commitments.

Roles and Responsibilities of the Board

The NSMBA Board steers the organization towards a sustainable future by adopting sound, ethical, and legal governance and financial management policies, as well as by making sure the organization has adequate resources to advance its mission. The activities of the board can be roughly broken into ten roles:

  • Determine the organization’s mission and purpose;
  • Support the Executive Director and assess their performance;
  • Provide proper financial oversight;
  • Ensure the organization has adequate resources;
  • Ensure legal and ethical integrity and maintain accountability;
  • Ensure effective organizational planning;
  • Recruit and orient new board members;
  • Assess board performance;
  • Enhance the organization’s public standing; and
  • Monitor the organization’s programs and services.

The Roles and Responsibilities of a Director

The directors of the NSMBA are responsible for planning for the future of the organization. To fulfill their role, directors are expected to have excellent communication skills allowing them to effectively liaise, negotiate, and communicate with NSMBA members, NSMBA staff, corporate supporters, the media, and the general public. Directors are expected to set aside a reasonable amount of time to complete their duties, be committed to the organization and serve an entire term.

General Expectations

  • The time commitment fluctuates with the seasons and the organizations various projects, but of the organization. As a minimum, directors can be expected to devote between 8 and 15 hours per month to NSMBA-related work
  • Directors must be a member in good standing with the NSMBA.
  • Directors are elected for a term of two years. If directors wish to continue on for a longer term, they may seek re-election at the AGM.
  • Directors are required to stay current with the major issues of the association and attend at least 75% of regularly scheduled Board meetings (9 of 12 meetings).
  • Directors are expected to be responsive to communications, and answer emails or messages within 72 hours.
  • Directors are expected to attend a minimum of 2 trail days per year.
  • Directors are expected to attend a minimum of 2 community events each year (ie. Pop-Up membership events, Lynn Valley Days)
  • Directors have a responsibility to act in the best interests of the association in line with our mission, vision, and charitable status.
  • Board members have special fiduciary responsibilities and are responsible for understanding them. (Industry Canada has a good overview at: http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cilp-pdci.nsf/eng/cl00689.htmll
  • Directors not meeting the requirements of their positions may be relieved of their duties at the President’s request, following a majority vote by the Directors.

Board of Directors’ Liability

Board members are legally responsible for the activities of the Board. NSMBA maintains a comprehensive insurance policy with a $5 million limit for commercial general liability (including directors) and a $2 million limit for other director liability.