Introduction
Why would local entities come together to form a provincial organization? What could be the stated purpose? What is the real purpose of such an entity? What makes some people believe in such organizations while others think they are a real waste of time and effort?
Purpose
Some of the purposes are
- Address Financial Issues
- Complete Research
- Deal with Common Labour Relations Issues
- Expand Public Debate
- Focus On The Future
- Improve Provincial (State) Policies
- Improve Specific Relationships
- Improve Standards
- Lobby
- Provide a Forum for Common Issues
- Speak With One Voice
A provincial association can only work effectively when specific conditions exist. These are:
- Desire to work together
- Belief in the common good and willingness to refrain from subversive behaviour which would destroy common efforts
- Willingness to define the association’s mandate and common outcomes
- Ability of the provincial organization to outline how each member organization will benefit
- Ability of the member organizations to admit where they are now, what they are doing on their own to address the issues, and what they are doing to perpetuate the issues
- Willingness to set deadlines and expectations that the provincial organization can realistically meet
- Willingness to state the factors which would be deal breakers for the member organization
- Willingness to share all known information and participate in the collection of new information to support the provincial association’s efforts
- Identification of people or groups who need to be part of the process if the efforts are to succeed and refrain from intervening without the provincial association’s knowledge
- Make and work the plan
- Agree to hold on to the image of the goal as if it was already attained and refrain from interjecting new goals based on individual board’s needs
- Make a decision to support the plan and never withdraw that support until it is finished.
If the provincial association or any member association breaches these conditions, the provincial association ceases to be effective. It will move from issue to issue based on the topic that is important to a powerful few. The provincial association will become so political that it will not accomplish anything substantial and member organizations will lose faith in its benefit.
Member Obligations
The member organizations have obligations. The chief obligations include ensuring the provincial organization
- has the resources it needs to complete the established expectations.
- does not become a whipping post when things do not happen as fast as any individual board would like to see
- does not become a scapegoat for an individual board’s deficiencies
- is not expected to accomplish a goal which is unrealistic and unachievable.
Responsibilities of Provincial (State) Associations
The provincial organization also has responsibilities. It is essential that it does not
- try to direct the members
- speak with a voice which is different from that desired by the members
- play politics with the member boards
- wander aimlessly and accomplish nothing of meaning to the member boards
- focus on issues which are not a priority for the collective, especially if it means taking resources from other agreed-upon efforts
- act as if it is in a superior position to the member boards unless its constitution and bylaws establish that relationship.
- promote ‘groupthink’ and provides an forum for open discussion and divergent thinking
- cater to the more powerful or larger boards.
The role of a provincial association is difficult. It may be dependent on member organizations for all or part of its funding. This means the members may feel that they should see things go their way. If they do not, they have no real reason to continue to support the association’s efforts.
For more information about association governance call 709-753-9935 
