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| Gerry Lydon |
I thought it might be interesting for our new Brothers to explain a little about Provincial Council and the position of Provincial Councillor in our own Circle.
The Provincial Councillor is the third highest officer of the Circle, behind the President and Vice President. He has to be nominated by a fellow Brother and seconded and then voted into Office by Brothers; he then represents Circle at Provincial Council. The nominee is often a past President of the Circle. In the event of both President and Vice President being absent at a Circle Meeting the Provincial Councillor will act as President. He will always be on Circle Council for it is at this forum that he will report to other Circle Officers what is discussed at Province and also what he intends to put forward at Provincial Council, so that this is agreed by his Circle Council.
Provincial Council is made up of the twelve Provincial Councillors, one from each Circle in Province, headed by a Provincial President and Vice President. There are also Provincial Officers as Secretary, Treasurer, Membership, Chamberlain, Press, Vocations, Employment, Past President (serves for three years following his Presidency). All these are guided by the Director of Province, who serves on Grand Council of our Association. Grand Council is made up of Directors from all Provinces of our Association. The only persons on Provincial Council allowed to vote on any motion being put before Council are Provincial Councillors plus President and Vice President. Officers are not allowed a vote, neither is the Director. Council meets six times a year and Circle Presidents are invited by their Provincial President to attend as observers once during their year to see how Province works.
The period of Office for a Provincial Councillor is three years, which is renewable. My predecessor Andrew Brzezina served for nine years prior to him being elected Provincial President, which was when I was elected to take over as Provincial Councillor. Andrew will remain on Provincial Council for three years after his term of President. We are also privileged in our Circle to have George Powell as Provincial Membership Officer. Did you know that Philip Gidman our very own Past Grand President is Provincial Chamberlain? However he would still have an ex-Officio place on Council as all ex Grand Presidents do for their own Provincial Councils.
The Provincial Councillor's main duty is to advise his Circle of what is happening nationally and provincially in our Association, and to encourage Brothers to attend the various events that are put on. He will also encourage Brothers to visit other Circles because that is when you get most out of our Brotherhood.
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