Leadership-role reference for CCSNA members considering service.
This page summarizes the elected officer and trustee roles members may want to understand when considering service in CCSNA leadership. The CCSNA Bylaws remain the controlling governance authority; this page is a practical member-facing reference and does not amend the Bylaws.
Roles Included
| Officers | President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer |
|---|---|
| Trustees | Elected members of the Executive Council serving staggered three-year terms |
| Current application cycle | Vice President, Secretary, and four Trustee positions |
President
| Classification | Officer; elected member of the Executive Council; Chairman of the Executive Council. |
|---|---|
| Term status | Elected three-year term, subject to CCSNA eligibility and succession rules. |
| Useful experience | Working knowledge of CCSNA Bylaws and Robert's Rules of Order; comfort leading meetings, delegating work, and coordinating volunteers across distance and generations. |
Primary Responsibilities
- Serve as Chief Executive Officer of the Society and remain responsible for all Society functions.
- Preside at General, Business, and Executive Council meetings and help maintain orderly, productive governance.
- Act on behalf of the Society in consultation with the Executive Council and in accordance with the Bylaws.
- Appoint the Nominating Committee and designate its chair as required by the Bylaws.
- Appoint committee chairs, committee members, and appointed positions where authorized.
- Coordinate with the Executive Council on the AGM, major priorities, leadership succession, and continuity of institutional knowledge.
- Represent CCSNA publicly when appropriate and maintain constructive relationships across Campbell, Scottish, genealogical, and heritage communities.
Vice President
| Classification | Officer; elected member of the Executive Council; Chair of the Board of Regional Commissioners. |
|---|---|
| Term status | Elected three-year term, subject to CCSNA eligibility and succession rules. |
| Useful experience | Familiarity with commissioner operations, Highland Games or event representation, regional membership support, digital communication tools, Society policy, and meeting procedure. |
Primary Responsibilities
- Perform duties assigned by the President and carry out the President's duties when the President is absent.
- Serve as Chairman and Presiding Officer of the Board of Regional Commissioners.
- Help maintain communication so regional needs and member concerns reach the Executive Council.
- Help develop consistent programs, event support, training, reports, and communication practices across regions.
- Assist with identifying and developing qualified Commissioner, committee, and future Executive Council leaders.
- Support special initiatives, cross-committee coordination, succession readiness, and public representation of the Society when appropriate.
Secretary
| Classification | Officer; elected member of the Executive Council. |
|---|---|
| Term status | Elected three-year term, subject to CCSNA eligibility rules. |
| Useful experience | Strong organization, written communication, document control, meeting-record skills, election-process awareness, and familiarity with notice requirements and parliamentary procedure. |
Primary Responsibilities
- Keep an accurate record of Business and Executive Council proceedings and maintain official minutes.
- Send notices required by the Bylaws and support scheduling for in-person, telephone, or electronic meetings.
- Maintain Society governance records, including minutes, resolutions, election records, notices, reports, and official correspondence.
- Ensure reports, statements, and other documents required by law or the Bylaws are properly maintained and filed.
- Support nomination and election administration where the Bylaws assign notice, ballot, or record duties to the Secretary.
- Preserve institutional memory by organizing prior records so future leaders can understand past decisions and current obligations.
Treasurer
| Classification | Officer; elected member of the Executive Council. |
|---|---|
| Term status | Elected three-year term, subject to CCSNA eligibility rules. |
| Useful experience | Accounting, finance, spreadsheet, online banking, budgeting, financial controls, and reporting experience, plus the ability to translate financial detail into understandable leadership reports. |
Primary Responsibilities
- Collect, account for, safeguard, and report on Society funds, receipts, expenditures, books, accounts, and vouchers.
- Provide the annual financial report to the membership and timely financial information to the Executive Council.
- Maintain or cause to be maintained accounting records for assets, liabilities, receipts, disbursements, and supporting documentation.
- Support budgets and financial planning, including committee spending, reimbursements, special projects, and member-related funds.
- Maintain appropriate banking procedures, payment controls, record retention, and inspection readiness under Executive Council supervision.
- Coordinate tax, regulatory, accounting, audit, or review work as applicable to CCSNA's legal and tax status.
Trustee
| Classification | Elected member of the Executive Council; part of the Society's corporate governance body. |
|---|---|
| Term status | Elected three-year staggered term; number of Trustees is determined by the Executive Council within the Bylaws. |
| Useful experience | Willingness to read materials, ask questions, and work constructively. Experience in nonprofit governance, finance, law, technology, publications, genealogy, events, membership, fundraising, education, or commissioner service can all be valuable. |
Primary Responsibilities
- Help direct the business of the Society as part of the Executive Council's corporate-director function.
- Help ensure organizational adherence to the CCSNA Bylaws and governing documents.
- Prepare for and participate in Executive Council meetings and votes.
- Review financial, strategic, policy, program, and governance information.
- Ask informed questions, exercise independent judgment, and help establish policy and guidance for Society officers and operations.
- Participate in nominations, elections, appointments, committees, budgets, and governance matters assigned to the Executive Council by the Bylaws.
- Support the Society's historical, genealogical, educational, cultural, publication, event, and membership mission while protecting institutional integrity and public trust.