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Call for Directors

Chinatown Today is currently seeking volunteers from the community to serve on our Board of Directors starting in September 2024. Apply by August 25th!

As members of a working board, new Directors are expected to commit 5-10 hours a month to Chinatown Today and attend biweekly board meetings. Continuing and departing Directors will provide guidance and help transition new Directors into their roles with Chinatown Today. Specific responsibilities will vary by position on the Board; open positions include but are not limited to:

• Secretary:

• • • The Secretary will fulfil administrative duties to ensure that Chinatown Today runs smoothly. They will be responsible for scheduling and taking minutes for board meetings, overseeing the main Chinatown Today email account, and ensuring that Chinatown Today meets requirements such as filing annual reports and renewing our business licence.

• Volunteer Coordinator:

• • • The Volunteer Coordinator will be the main point of contact for volunteers helping Chinatown Today with events, publications, and projects throughout the year. They will be responsible for recruiting volunteers, supervising volunteers during events, and supporting volunteers in order to create a caring and community-first environment at Chinatown Today.

• Funding and Development Lead:

• • The Funding and Development Lead will work closely with our Treasurer to identify and develop fundraising strategies and goals. They will be responsible for identifying and applying for sources of funding, organising fundraiser events, and building and growing relationships with our supporters.

More detailed role descriptions can be found below.

Requirements for Application:

To apply for the Chinatown Today Board, please fill out this application form by Sunday August 25th 11:59 PM PDT. We may follow up with further questions, and will send an email notification to successful applicants by September 3rd.

Successful applicants will be required to attend Chinatown Today’s online Annual General Meeting (AGM) on September 18, 2024 at 6:30 PM PST.

Here at Chinatown Today, we recognise the diversity of Chinatown stories and the importance of making space for new voices and perspectives on sharing them. As our current board approaches two years with Chinatown Today, we have the opportunity to bring in the next generation of Chinatown storytellers and share space with new leadership. We welcome those with connections to and a demonstrated commitment and sensitivity to, or lived experience of, the discrimination that the global majority faces, including those who are Indigenous, Black, Asian, people of colour, 2SLGBTQIA+, and disabled. Additional qualifications or assets for aspiring Directors include a deep connection with and commitment to Chinatown, Chinese language proficiency, and previous board or volunteer experience in Chinatown or with a non-profit organisation.

Application Form

About Chinatown Today

Chinatown Today is a youth-led non-profit based in Vancouver’s Chinatown, on the unceded territories of the xwməθkwəyəm, Skxwú7mesh, and səlilwətaʔɬ nations. Through its signature publication, Chinatown Stories, as well as its website and events, Chinatown Today highlights community needs, educates the public, and shares Chinatown’s stories – past, present, and future. Over the past couple of years, we have balanced our physical and digital presence in the community by providing a platform for community voices against gentrification and 105 Keefer, launching Spirit of the Square, our new annual summer event, and collaborating with hua foundation and UBC’s ACAM program to support experiential learning in community-based research. In 2023, we published the fifth volume of our signature publication, Chinatown Stories, tackling connections created, lost, and shared through the theme of The Bridges Between Us. As we move into our next chapter as an organisation, we hope to continue publishing Chinatown Stories, hold events and place-making in the physical spaces that make up our Chinatown.

Detailed Role Descriptions

Secretary

Chinatown Today is looking for a detail-oriented Secretary to join our Board of Directors! 

A successful Secretary should be meticulous about keeping records and passionate about governance and administration. They might find joy in creating clear systems and procedures or in organisational tools like colour-coded binders.  They should uphold the values of Chinatown Today and help ensure the organisation’s compliance with statutory requirements as well as its own policies.  The Secretary is a key player on the Board who keeps meeting discussions focused and works with the rest of the Board to help us build, sustain, and grow our community.

Responsibilities

The Secretary will be responsible for:

• Attending, actively participating, and recording minutes for biweekly Board meetings;
• Participating in strategic planning to determine the overall direction of Chinatown Today;
• Maintaining accurate records, including any key governance and operational decisions made by the Board; 
• Monitoring the main Chinatown Today email account and responding or redirecting emails as delegated by the Board; Maintaining Chinatown Today’s electronic file storage system; 
• Ensuring Chinatown Today’s compliance with statutory requirements, including filing annual reports and renewing our business licence;
• Scheduling Board meetings and maintaining a virtual calendar for the Board; 
• Overseeing Chinatown Today’s member list and ensuring that the collection of and access to personal information adheres to our privacy policy; and
• Other administrative and management duties based on the Board’s needs and the candidate’s interests and skills

Suggested Skills & Experience 

A successful candidate might possess the following skills, experience, and values. Note that this list serves as a suggestion of some assets that a successful candidate might possess; it is not a list of requirements, nor is it an exhaustive description of what might make a successful Secretary. 

• Strong interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills;
• Strong organisational, time management and problem-solving skills;
• Strong leadership skills with ability, or interest, to motivate and encourage others;
• Comfort with relationship management and conflict resolution; 
• Ability to work independently, set priorities, be flexible, meet deadlines and allocate time and resources effectively;
• Previous experience in administrative work, preferably in a non-profit setting;
• Experience using virtual meeting platforms, cloud storage, and other electronic forms of communication and administration;
• Experience in maintaining and updating records and governing documents in the non-profit context; 
• A deep connection with and commitment to Chinatown; and
• A deep commitment to community building and engagement.

Volunteer Coordinator

Chinatown Today is looking for an enthusiastic Volunteer Coordinator to join our Board of Directors! 

A successful Volunteer Coordinator should enjoy working with people and be passionate about volunteer work. They might find joy in building relationships and open communication. The Volunteer Coordinator should uphold the values of Chinatown Today and help create a safe and caring environment for Chinatown Today’s volunteers. . The Volunteer Coordinator will be an important member of the Board as the main point of contact for volunteers in charge of both recruitment and retention, helping us build, sustain, and grow our community.

Responsibilities

The Volunteer Coordinator will be responsible for:

• Attending and actively participating in biweekly Board meetings; 
• Participating in strategic planning to determine the overall direction of Chinatown Today;
• Coordinating the recruitment of volunteers for Chinatown Today’s committees and events;
• Monitoring the Chinatown Today volunteer email account and responding to applications and inquiries in a timely manner; 
• Collecting volunteer contact information, availabilities, and skills and maintaining an up-to-date database of this information in order to assign volunteer roles;
• Assigning roles and supervising volunteers at Chinatown Today events, acting as the main point of contact for volunteers during events;
• Managing volunteer retention through measures such as volunteer appreciation socials; and 
• Other administrative and management duties based on the Board’s needs and the candidate’s interests and skills

Suggested Skills & Experience 

A successful candidate might possess the following skills, experience, and values. Note that this list serves as a suggestion of some assets that a successful candidate might possess; it is not a list of requirements, nor is it an exhaustive description of what might make a successful Volunteer Coordinator. 

• Strong interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills;
• Strong leadership skills with ability, or interest, to motivate and encourage others;
• Strong organisational, time management and problem-solving skills;
• Ability or interest to lead, mentor, and guide volunteers;
• Ability to work independently, set priorities, be flexible, meet deadlines, and allocate time and resources effectively;
• Previous experience as a consistent or continuing volunteer with an organisation or event series; 
• Experience in event planning and execution;
• A deep connection with and commitment to Chinatown; and
• A deep commitment to community building and engagement.

Funding and Development Lead

Chinatown Today is looking for a passionate Funding and Development Lead to join our Board of Directors! 

A successful Funding and Development Lead should have a keen eye for detail and be able to see how day-to-day operations are connected to Chinatown Today’s broader mission, vision, and values. They might find joy in storytelling and building relationships in community and beyond. They should uphold the values of Chinatown Today and help ensure that its projects and programs are funded.  The Funding and Development Lead is a key player on the Board supporting Chinatown Today’s financial sustainability and working with the rest of the Board to help us build, sustain, and grow our community.

Responsibilities

The Funding and Development Lead will be responsible for:

• Identifying and maintaining a database on potential sources of funding (e.g., grants and donations);
• Leading grant and other funding applications;
• Leading reporting for grant and other funders;
• Building and maintaining relationships with funders;
• Working with the Treasurer and other Directors to develop a fundraising strategy;
• Organising fundraising events and managing other fundraising activities; and
• Other administrative and management duties based on the Board’s needs and the candidate’s interests and skills.

Suggested Skills & Experience 

A successful candidate might possess the following skills, experience, and values. Note that this list serves as a suggestion of some assets that a successful candidate might possess; it is not a list of requirements, nor is it an exhaustive description of what might make a successful Funding and Development Lead. 

• Strong interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills;
• Strong leadership skills with ability, or interest, to motivate and encourage others;
• Strong organisational, time management and problem-solving skills;
• Ability to work independently, set priorities, be flexible, meet deadlines, and allocate time and resources effectively;
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships;
• Previous experience in fundraising, sales, or customer service;
• Experience in grant-writing and reporting;
• Experience with graphic design or social media;
• A deep connection with and commitment to Chinatown; and
• A deep commitment to community building and engagement.

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