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How does EBCC operate?
The role of the Executive Comittee (ExCo)
The day-to-day management of EBCC business and affairs is undertaken by an Executive Committee (ExCo) acting on behalf of EBCC´s national Delegates. The governance of EBCC is defined by a written Constitution. The role of ExCo is to advance the agreed aims of EBCC as best it can in a professional and progressive fashion within budget and other constraints, and as guided by the views of the national Delegates. Members of ExCo are drawn from a range of different organisations in Europe, but each acts on ExCo in a personal and voluntary capacity.
ExCo is composed of ten people: a Chair, Vice-Chair,Secretary, Treasurer, Bird Census News Editor, Delegate Officer and four ordinary members. ExCo meets twice a year, usually in spring and autumn to discuss EBCC business and affairs. A number of observers, nominated by ExCo, also attend these meetings from organisations such as the British Trust for Ornithology, SOVON Dutch centre for Field Ornithology, and BirdLife International. Observers act in an advisory capacity, linking the work of EBCC to ongoing activities and programmes. These individuals have no voting rights on ExCo.
ExCo is elected by a Board of Delegates, which is composed of two Delegates from each European country within the network. Delegates are ratified by ExCo following discussion and recommendations from relevant national organisations, institutes and experts within each country. The Board of Delegates meets every three or four years coinciding with EBCC´s major international conferences. At each Board meeting, ExCo presents a summary of its work since the last conference and a financial report to the Board of Delegates. It also suggests and seeks venues for future conferences, it raises constitutional matters and any other relevant issues, which may be voted upon. The ExCo is renewed by vote of the Board of Delegates at each Board meeting. In normal circumstances, the current ExCo would make a recommendation as to the composition of a new ExCo and this is ratified as a whole, or in part, by vote of the Board of Delegates. ExCo would very much welcome suggestions and nominations for ExCo from Delegates too. Each Delegate has a single vote.
The role of the national Delegates
The two nominated national Delegates per country play a central role in the operation of EBCC. Their role is to advance the agreed aims of EBCC as best they can in a professional and progressive fashion within budget and other contraints, and as guided by the ExCo. In brief, the role of the Delegate is to further the aims of the EBCC both at a national and international levels by representing national views and communicating them to ExCo, by disseminating relevant EBCC news and information within countries, and by engaging actively in EBCC initiatives.
At the same time as Delegates are expected to contribute in various ways, the idea is of course, that the Delegates and the countries they represent should benefit from sharing ideas and knowledge from like-minded experts from other European countries.
Guidelines for selecting and appointing new Delegates are defined within the Constitution, as are procedures for replacing those who wish to stand down and those Delegates who are not able to engage actively with EBCC.
Delegates are encouraged to cooperate actively with the work of EBCC in some of the the following ways:
In those circumstances where existing Delegates are unable to engage with the work of the EBCC in the ways described above (for whatever reason), then ExCo would seek to find suitable replacements in discussion and agreement with relevant national contacts.
15.07.2004