ICOM posts
There are seven posts to be filled within the International Committee (ICOM), three of which have traditionally also formed part of the Executive Committee (ExCom): president, vice-president and treasurer. For this most recent period of office, IFOR Council voted for the first time for two co-vice-presidents. The ICOM is the political (but not the legal) board of IFOR. The president and treasurer are also ex officio members of the IFOR Stichting, the legal board registered at the Chamber of Commerce in the Netherlands.
Together, the ICOM/ExCom set the annual budget and the direction of work of the IFOR, including, over the last term, preparation of a vision document for the future. They collectively hold responsibility for oversight of senior secretariat staff, principally the International Coordinator (IC). As this post has remained unfilled over the last four years, the ExCom has also had a more hands-on role in supervising other staff and executing the work of the IC. It is also the ICOM’s task to oversee the preparation and delivery of the quadrennial Council, with help from other quarters.
Gender and regional balance should be sought in approving ICOM/ExCom’s composition. Please remember that it is not the custom to introduce new nominations at Council, so these should be made in good time bearing this fact in mind.
President
The president is the public face of IFOR and carries overall responsibility for the functioning and direction of the International Fellowship. S/he works with the treasurer on the budget, and is involved in the preparation and signing off on project proposals. S/he convenes and chairs meetings of the ICOM/ExCom and other meetings as appropriate. In this past term, she has had supervisory responsibility for the Communications and Admin Assistant, and the Coordinator of the JRCT-funded project on conscientious objectors (with her other roles). In the absence of an IC, and assuming the continuation of this project, these duties are likely to continue.
Vice-President
The vice-president assists the president and the treasurer in executing their duties. In this last term, the co-vice-presidents have borne responsibility for internal communication among the BGAs, including the creation and preparation of the bulletin Reconciled. There are no specific supervisory responsibilities with this post.
Treasurer
The treasurer is responsible for IFOR’s income and spending patterns. S/he is responsible for preparing the drafts of budgets, and liaising with BGAs about financial results and contributions. Over the last term, the treasurer has had responsibility for supervising and working with IFOR’s book-keeper.
The remainder of ICOM assists the ExCom in these decision-making processes, and may take on specific tasks from time to time.
Traditionally, the ICOM (or at least the ExCom) sought to meet in person once a year. Due to budgetary pressures and the pandemic, ICOM has on average met once every quarter/every fourth month online, with ExCom meetings at the halfway point between ICOM meetings, also online. ExCom has managed to meet twice in Geneva over this last period. Strategically organised to coincide with other events/activities, these remain useful spaces. Some meetings are deliberative or ‘stock-taking’ in nature; at other times, decisions are called for. There is no specific secretarial function; ICOM/ExCom members have up to now been at liberty to decide how to organise this matter. ExCom members, in particular, may expect to dedicate a number of hours weekly to their duties.
Any branch can nominate any member of any branch to an ICOM post (groups and affiliates may not make nominations, according to IFOR's Constitution). Please bear in mind that ICOM should be balanced geographically and in terms of gender, and this should be reflected in your nominations. The deadline for nominations is 30th September; nominations are not accepted at Council. The Nominations Committee co-convenors are Suseela Mathew (India) and Gustavo Cabrera (Costa Rica). You can reach them on nominations@ifor.org.