The following serves to outline the responsibilities of the Country Network portfolios as necessary for the fulfillment of the objectives and strategy of the DA Abroad.
1. COUNTRY NETWORKS
National Country Networks can be established if a member is available to volunteer as a Country Representative or if three or more members form a National Organising Committee, provided that permission is obtained from the DA Abroad Executive Committee (EC) prior to their establishment.
The mandate of the Country Networks is to further the strategic objectives of the DA Abroad as outlined in the DA Abroad Rules, and through the following activities:
- Represent the DA and the DA Abroad in a professional manner at all times, and ensuring that the DA’s brand and reputation is in good standing. The DA Abroad Country Networks shall at all times adhere to the DA Constitution and the DA Abroad Rules as well as other policies and procedures as stipulated by the DA and DA Abroad executive structures.
- Grow the support and membership of the DA Abroad in your country, engaging your members, recruiting volunteers, and building a database (primarily email address) of South Africans abroad who are interested in voting abroad and support the DA
- Be a DA Abroad presence at SA community events, networking and building relationships with the SA diaspora and organisations with an interest in South Africa. This presence can also be developed online by being an active contributor to South African groups on Facebook and so on
- Organise at least 2 events a year (braai events, networking drinks, blue plate dinners etc.) to bring together the South African community to hear about the DA messaging
- Develop good relations with other South African networks in your country – for example, your local South African overseas mission, alumni networks, chambers of commerce etc. Support and encourage positive community development through these associations
- Support DA and DA Abroad campaigns and initiatives, identifying opportunities to further the campaign objectives and amplify the campaign message to drive support in the country where you live. Country Networks are encouraged to initiate campaigns that may be of interest to their local South African community, or the global South African diaspora. These campaigns must have received permission from the DA Abroad Executive Committee prior to launch.
- Become an expert on all things voting and registration abroad so that you’re able to communicate details to South Africans living in your city and region
- In the build up to the elections, act as the key contact for your country and make contact with the South African mission abroad to ensure they’re prepared to run all voting processes. Committee members and Country Representatives may also be asked to be a DA Party Agent on election day – this is very important in ensuring the elections are free and fair
- Be an active and accountable member of the global DA Abroad team. This includes regular attendance of Regional Forum calls (at least 50% of all meetings in a year, and apologies submitted 24hrs in advance), submitting monthly activity reports in a timely manner to the Regional Forum Chair, and respecting the decisions and requests of the DA Abroad Executive Committee.
2. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COUNTRY REPRESENTATIVE
In addition to the mandate detailed above, as a DA Abroad Country Representative, your responsibilities includes some/all the following elements:
- Be the main point of contact in your country, representing the DA and DA Abroad
- Work toward establishing a National Organising Committee in your country, which requires 3 or more active DA Abroad members
3. NATIONAL ORGANISING COMMITTEE
A National Organising Committee (NOC) is comprised of the following office bearers, who are elected at the inaugural meeting, and thereafter at an Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Country Network by a system of voting as agreed to by the Federal Executive of the Party from time to time:
- Chairperson
- Deputy Chairperson
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- Additional members and portfolios as determined by the National Organising Committee and are listed below.
The following outlines the roles and responsibilities of the NOC office bearers and potential other portfolios
1. Chairperson
- Represent the organisation as its figurehead, and may from time to time be called upon to represent the organisation and be its spokesperson at, for example, functions or meeting.
- Ensure the Organising Committee functions properly, and is responsible for making sure that each meeting is planned effectively, and that matters are dealt with in an orderly, efficient manner.
- Make the most of all his/her committee members and ‘leads the team’. This also involves regularly reviewing the Committee’s performance and identifying and managing the process for renewal of the Committee through recruitment of new members.
- Represent the committee on at least 50% of the Regional Forum calls corresponding to his/her area.
2. Deputy Chairperson
- Provide support and guidance to the Chairperson
- Deputise for the Chairperson, as may be required
- Represent the committee on at least 50% of the Regional Forum calls corresponding to his/her area.
3. Secretary
- Know all DA Abroad policies and procedures, and keep abreast of all DA Abroad Committee activities in your area.
- Organises and follows up meetings of the Organising Committee
- Look after the overall administration of the Organising Committee
- Contact other Committee Members to follow-up tasks needing to be done
- Maintain up-to-date contact details (i.e. names, addresses and telephone numbers) for the Organising Committee and (where relevant) ordinary members of the organisation.
- Keep a record of the organisation’s activities – press clippings etc
- Maintain a diary of future activities
- Check quorum is present at meetings
- Ensure elections are in line with stipulated procedures
4. Treasurer
- Oversee, approve and present budgets, accounts and financial statements
- Prepare and present financial reports to the relevant committees
- Ensure that appropriate accounting procedures and controls are in place
- Liaise with any paid staff and volunteers about financial matters
- Advise on the financial implications of the DA Abroad’s strategic plans
- Ensure the DA Abroad’s compliance with legislation
- Ensure equipment and assets are adequately maintained and insured
- Ensure that the accounts are prepared and disclosed in the form required by the Party and the relevant statutory bodies
- If external scrutiny of accounts is required, ensure that the accounts are scrutinised in the manner required (independent examination or audit) and any recommendations are implemented
- Contribute to the fundraising strategy of the DA Abroad
- Responsible for all other matters that affect the financial stability of the DA Abroad.
5. Fundraising Manager
- Maximise the generation of funds for the DA war chest, as well as operational funds for the DA Abroad.
- Generate increased income from existing sources.
- Identify and research potential funding opportunities for high-net-worth individuals and grassroots fundraising.
- Develop proposals for projects that could attract new funding.
- Establish links with other voluntary and statutory bodies.
- Develop a three-year fundraising strategy.
- Liaise with other committee members for profile-raising events.
- Undertake other duties as required support the projects teams
6. Membership and Affiliations Manager
- Build a network of DA Abroad members, supporters and volunteers in your area and maintain regular contact with all members.
- To act as Membership Secretary for the DA Abroad in your area
- Keep members, supporters and volunteers informed about the Democratic Alliance and DA Abroad activities, news and events related to our campaigns via social media, emails and the website.
- Grow our supporter base by responding to membership inquiries and identifying and reaching out to those with similar interests, and/or potential members or advocates.
- Mobilise members, supporters and volunteers to take actions necessary for the success of our campaigns.
- Research new areas in and around the your area and globally where South Africans reside and reach out to them to get them involved in the success of our campaigns.
- Build relationships with organisations that can help us achieve our objectives.
- To be a DA Abroad representative at all South African Networking events in your area.
7. Events Manager
- Plan and manage your annual DA Abroad calendar of events with the aim of hosting at least one event (e.g. Blue, The Network or Blue Plate Dinner) every quarter that contributes to the fulfillment of the objectives of the DA Abroad, increase our reach and brand awareness, boosts DA Abroad team morale, brings our members, supporters and volunteers together in a positive way and develops the South African community in your area.
- Keep the DA Abroad committee informed on events relating to South Africa taking place in your area.
8. Media Liaison
- Be the first port of call for the media for any inquiries and endeavour to respond to all inquiries within 12-24hrs.
- Maintain and update the Media Contact List, actively reaching out to new media contacts and growing the database.
- Compile media statements as and when required, and distribute to relevant media contacts.
- Keep DA Abroad team in your area informed of media interest.
- All statements intended to be published in the press must be approved by the Media Liaison.
- The Media Liaison will provide DA Abroad project teams with advice and assistance with regards to press & media opportunities that will lead to the success of their campaigns.
9. Digital Marketing Manager
- Ensure the DA Abroad website it regularly updated with all DA Abroad activities in your area.
- Send out the monthly e-newsletter, and manage the email marketing list data.
- Ensure the DA Abroad social media pages are maintained and updated with the DA Abroad activities in your area, especially Twitter and Facebook.
10. Non-Portfolio Committee Members
- This position is for an individual who simply wants to volunteer to be on the organising committee, in order to be involved in specific campaigns or project teams, but does not want to hold a specific position.
Please note:
- Excluding the first four portfolios, which must be filled, the other portfolios are flexible and can be adjusted to the requirements of the Committee and the skills of the Committee members. During the nomination process these “flexible” portfolios are open to discussion, and should be agreed by the current NOC.
- When standing for a position, consider your availability for the upcoming year, and try to commit to attending at least 50% of all National Organising Committee meetings (either in person or on diall-in). If you are unable to attend, apologies must be sent to the meeting organizer in advance. If apologies are not received for more than 3 concurrent meetings then your position will be made available for re-election.
- Resignations will be accepted at any time via email or phone call to the standing Chairperson. An appropriate handover will be expected to a remaining member of the Organising Committee.