Branch Secretary

Role description

A branch secretary reports to and helps the branch president to administer the branch so it can fulfil its role.

Branch Secretary is an elected role or one filled through a casual vacancy. Branch committee members can hold their position for no more than two terms or six years continuously (excluding time spent filling a mid-term/casual vacancy).

New Zealand Red Cross branches are members who meet regularly and work to support our mission in their local communities. Branches have a hands-on local-community focus, and are run by volunteers and supported by their area council. Branches have a variety of roles, including promoting our Fundamental Principles, delivering services, maintaining a Red Cross presence in communities, fundraising, and recruiting new members. There is a formal structure to branches and each has an elected president, secretary and treasurer. Branches typically meet monthly.

Tasks

• Help to create an effective relationship between the branch committee and other branch members, Area Council and the Area Support Team
• Ensure branch meetings run smoothly and constructively by ensuring timely notice of branch meetings, accurate recording of branch meetings and good meeting conduct
• Support the branch president with ensuring good governance principles are practiced and embedded in the overall management of the branch and its members and volunteers
• Support the branch president with cultivating a welcoming environment that enables members and volunteers to feel well-placed and supported to deliver good in their community
• Support the branch president with the planning, monitoring, and reporting of branch-related activities and collaborating with other New Zealand Red Cross people and stakeholders
• Support the branch president with liaising with group coordinators leading activities overseen by the branch
• Support the branch president with keeping their members informed through effective communication 
• Support the branch president with engaging with internal and external stakeholders to raise awareness of the organisation’s profile in the local community or encourage engagement with our humanitarian mission

Location

In one of nearly 40 branches of New Zealand Red Cross around the country.  

Volunteer requirements and training

We will provide training on how to undertake your role. You'll be supported by a team of Red Cross people.

Health, safety, and wellbeing

We all have a responsibility for our own and others’ Health, Safety and Wellbeing (HSW) when undertaking activities on behalf of Red Cross. Therefore, it is important you:

• Take reasonable care of your own health and safety, do not adversely affect the HSW of others
• Complete health, safety and wellbeing induction, training, programmes and activities – as directed.
• Follow all reasonable instructions given to you relating to HSW.
• Cooperate and comply with New Zealand Red Cross policies, standards and procedures related to health, safety, and wellbeing.
• Use personal protective equipment (PPE) if required, to undertake any work activity
• If you identify a hazard and/or you are involved in an incident or near miss, report this straight away to your people leader
• Know what to do in an emergency – for example, how to escape during a fire or what to do if an earthquake occurs
• You must tell someone in charge if you have any health and safety concerns or worried about someone else’s health and safety