ALL MASA, PLEASE READ - EOI - Part-time MASA Administrator

[Onsan]

Hi to All,

If you are not already aware, MASA is in a very dire position at present, one that could lead to closure of this site and a loss of a great resource.
We are having difficulty in filling the committee positions that are required for us to maintain our incorporation status, the roles of President, VP, Secretary and Treasurer must be filed and their duties performed for our current structure to continue.
Having been on the committee for the best part of 6 years I have been able to both experience and observe the impact that some of duties required has on our volunteers, and understandably it can be both time consuming and daunting to take on these roles.

To help resolve this I am proposing that MASA take on a paid contractor to perform certain duties as set out and directed by the committee, primarily administrative duties such as managing and processing of advertising and business forum enquiries, invoicing and reconciliation of accounts and other administrative tasks that may come up from time to time.
We anticipate that there would be an initial period where a greater amount of weekly time may be needed to bring things into order, but once order is returned to the system, we expect the position would require approximately 5 hours per week. The hours will be on flexi time but it is expected that short periods (1hr or so) on most week days would be a fair assumption to manage the workload.
The person we would like to see in this position would ideally have skills in the areas of general administration and basic finance management with a moderate familiarity or aptitude for software applications.
Remuneration at this point is open for discussion and will be commensurate on both the skills, duties and hours of the individual and affordability for MASA.

At this point it is an Expression of Interest only, no formal offer is being made, this is a platform for discussion of the proposed concept for the committee to review and if deemed a viable means restructuring MASA for its continuation.

By that, we invite interested parties to contact the committee on this thread or via PM to myself (to be forwarded to the committee) to further the discuss the proposal.

Additionally, we open the floor to the general MASA community to discuss this proposal (or alternatives) further here.

Thanks,
Paul.

[wayne2.0]

One site member , but not a MASA member NiCd?? offered to help out before

He was told no, as not MASA, but I think that was wrong, he volunteered to help. it could be worth asking him again(or her? i dunno know)

[Onsan]

Our incorporation requires that the committee positions be held by a Full MASA Member, there are 6 Full MASA Members (each of the MASx societies) who are able to nominate 2 representatives to act on their behalf.
If MASQ wants to put forward a representative that is not a member of their society to represent them and to act on their behalf...put them forward and we'll take it to the other societies.

As far as the contractor position, it would be down to the committee, but in so far as legality goes it shouldn't be an issue, the position holds no authority and will be bound by a service contract.

[Aydee]

I'll discuss it with my wife.
She's a treasurer for the local(ish) CWA. She might be interested.

---update--
Just spoke to wife. She thinks it sounds up her alley. She's financially literate (The CWA treasurer is a good example). She's computer literate (She used to teach computing!). Before she became 'stay at home mum' she worked in admin assistant roles.

If you decide to go ahead, let me know. She's happy to join up to MASA if it makes process easier.

Dave

[Onsan]

Thanks Dave, will PM you.

[alcapone26]

What are the reason(s) all state based societies don't form under one administrative banner? Worked for Voltron..

[Onsan]

to be honest, that's probably not a bad idea...although it would consolidate a lot of the workload and simplify many things, it would require a massive effort to restructure and implement.
Some of the revenue (membership fees, ads, business forums, etc) can be used to cover the costs of someone managing it and get away from being entirely dependent on volunteers to get the chores done.
But it would mean the masx's give up their autonomy and fall under one umbrella.

Don't know, it's an interesting idea with a lot of road blocks that would have to addressed, the first being someone to champion the cause...