SGCI Board: Call for Nominations DUE NOVEMBER 15

Dear SGC International Members,

SGC International is seeking nominations/self-nominations to fill a number of openings and new positions on the 2020-2022 Executive Board and Subcommittees. Terms begin in the fall of 2020 and end in March of 2022. We seek nominees who reflect the philosophic, geographic, institutional, racial, and gender diversity of our membership.

The call for nominations will only proceed on the proviso we have a pool with 40% of applicants identifying as Black, Indigenous, LGBTQIA+, Latinx, Persons of Color, Women, or Persons with a Disability. We hope you will consider nominating yourself or your colleagues for these important leadership roles, described in further detail below.

All SGCI Members in good standing are invited to nominate/self-nominate. Submission forms are now available online: click here! For more information please contact Kate McQuillen admin@sgcinternational.org or Faisal Abdu’Allah fabduallah@sgcinternational.org.

Thank you,

 

 

Faisal Abdu’Allah
President, SGC International

Benefits of Serving

  • Guide the direction of the organization during an exciting time of change and development
  • Support initiatives that are meaningful to you
  • Gain leadership experience
  • Interact directly with members and form deeper connections in the community
  • Develop skill sets in governance, finance, branding, and other topics
  • Expand your professional network and create lasting relationships with colleagues
  • Develop your Curriculum Vitae

About Serving on the Board:

As someone who directly benefited from being a member of SGCI and a supportive print community, serving on the board of SGC International gave me the opportunity to give back, open doors, and create opportunities for younger artists. I strongly believe in SGCI and its mission, and encourage anyone with the time and means to volunteer, to do so. With each new board comes a unique opportunity to make SGCI a better organization.
–Joseph Lupo, West Virginia University, SGCI President 2008-2010

Openings

  • Vice-President of Outreach (voting board member)
  • Affiliate Liaisons Coordinator (non-voting board member)
  • Web Editor (non-voting board member)
  • Finance Subcommittee (non-voting subcommittee, reporting to the board)
  • Bylaws Subcommittee (non-voting subcommittee, reporting to the board)

Serving on the SGC Board was an expression of gratitude. It was a way to say thank you. Being on the Board introduced me to many people that I would not have otherwise met. It also allowed me to solidify and continue building preexisting friendships from across the country and internationally. Being on the Board is a lot of work. The caveat is that with minimal bureaucracy positive and beneficial changes can take place.
—Anita Jung, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa. SGCI President, 2006-2008.

Process & Timeline

We are pleased to announce an improved nomination and voting system:

  1. Early October: Call for Nominations is announced
  2. Mid October: Application forms are now available online: click here.
  3. November 15th: Applications close
  4. Late Fall: Submissions are screened by the board for meeting basic qualifications, outlined below
  5. Winter: Elections will take place electronically, by way of a popular vote of active members (a new feature). In any election, the organization will allow nominations from the floor prior to calling for any vote, though it is strongly encouraged that those interested in serving on the board express their desire to serve through our standard nominations process.

Leadership in the SGCI is a tremendous way to create opportunities for colleagues, especially students and emerging artists and teachers, and in this way, to ensure the future of printmaking. I  have attended most SGCI conferences since 1986, and have served on the board, was SGCI president, edited the organization’s newsletter Graphic Impressions for four years, and have been involved in hosting four conferences. While often challenging, these activities were always meaningful, and made a difference in the lives of others. I have seen my current students  transformed by attending an open portfolio session at one of our conferences, making lasting connections with new peers. Most exciting, some of my former students have gone onto play an active role in SGCI leadership, and in this way, one can see the torch passed to another generation of printmakers. SGCI is not a monolith, but a professional and academic organization of our own creation, and will evolve and grow as it is able to attract new leadership to it ranks.
—Beauvais Lyons, Chancellor’s Professor, UT Knoxville, SGCI President 1994-1996

 

“Make your voice matter. If you want a change, be part of the change. One person may be small to change, but many hands make light work.
–Sangmi Yoo, Member-at-Large, 2018-2020

DESCRIPTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

of Current Openings

Board of Directors

VICE PRESIDENT of Outreach
Voting board member

The Vice President of Outreach facilitates sharing information about SGCI with a greater community of artists, art institutions, and other art organizations. The VP of Outreach will lead the organization’s initiatives toward a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive SGCI. This includes communication with affiliate organization liaisons and may also include communication with other organizations that promote printmaking. Current affiliate organizations that have official Liaison appointments to SGCI include:

  • College Art Association
  • Southeastern College Arts Association
  • Mid-America Print Council 
  • American Print Alliance

The Vice President of Outreach also helps with organizational funding. The VP of Outreach facilitates this through researching and applying for both the institutional and private grants level on behalf of SGCI.

The VP of Outreach will also assist when necessary with the planning and development of SGCI sponsor conferences.  This may include on-site visits and off-site communication with the conference planning committee.

 

AFFILIATE LIAISONS Coordinator
Non-voting board member

The Affiliate Liaisons Coordinator maintains oversight and monitors relationships with affiliate organizations. The Affiliate Liaisons Coordinator is a non-voting member appointed by the President. The Affiliate Liaisons Coordinator may hold other positions on the SGCI board. There is no fixed term for the Affiliate Coordinator but generally a two to three-year term is advisable. The Affiliate Coordinator is a voluntary position and receives no financial compensation. The Affiliate Liaisons Coordinator has the primary responsibility for the communication with the SGCI liaisons to affiliate organizations.

Description of Primary Duties:

  • Collate the reports from each affiliate liaison for the mid-year and conference board meetings as well as make sure the Executive Board is up-to-date on any pertinent information about affiliate organizations.
  •  Keep track of SGCI memberships with affiliate organizations; be proactive about keeping up to date with SGC International’s memberships and communicate with the Treasurer when they need to be renewed.
  • Make recommendations to the SGCI president for individuals to serve as Affiliate Liaisons
  • Maintain communication with Affiliate Liaisons and make collect reports for mid-year and conference board meetings, and provide summary reports at SGCI Board meetings.
  • Explore opportunities for collaborations between the Affiliate organization and SGCI (sponsored panels, exhibition exchanges, guest articles in the newsletter, etc.)

WEB Editor
Non-voting board member

The Website Editor is a nonvoting member of the Executive Board. They are appointed at the discretion of the President with no fixed term. The Website Editor has primary responsibility for the editorial content of the Graphic Impressions section of SGCI’s website—soliciting and writing written content that may include essays, reviews, interviews, how-tos editorials, etc. The Website Editor should strive to post at least one new item on the website per month. They will work closely with the Website Curator, the President, and the Program Coordinator to develop the content for SGCI’s website, ensuring that it is active, current, challenging, and engaging for SGCI’s membership and the public. Additionally, the Website Editor will assist the Program Coordinator on some of the organization’s social media posts. The Website Editor will ensure that the Student Representative participates in the creation of two (or more) posts and/or other content annually. The Website Editor may select one or more Associate Editor(s) to assist in editorial activities. 

Subcommittees

FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEE member
Non-voting subcommittee, reporting to the board

The Finance Subcommittee is chaired by the treasurer, reports to the board, and acts as an advisory panel to the financial operation of SGCI as a non-profit organization. Subcommittee members serve as additional oversight to the board and treasurer, add perspective beyond the treasurer’s experience, and provide additional assistance to the important need of following best financial practices for a non-profit organization.

Subcommittee responsibilities include:

  • Reviewing and monitoring financial reports
  • Reviewing the annual budget and recommending it to the board for approval
  • Reviewing major grants, fundraising opportunities and associated terms
  • Recommending financial policies and procedures

Time commitment:

  • Attending quarterly virtual subcommittee meetings, with the potential for more should it be deemed necessary by the Finance Subcommittee.

Please note that the Finance Subcommittee member roles are volunteer positions and as they are not officially part of the SGCI Executive Board, expenses are not covered for travel, registration, or membership.

 

BYLAWS SUBCOMMITTEE member
Non-voting subcommittee, reporting to the board

SGCI’s Constitution and Bylaws are overdue for an update to be in line with the strategic plan and better represent the diverse printmaking community. 

SGCI’s members and our non-profit law consultant asked for revisions to our structure. Individuals affected by these rules have the right to participate in their modification; any changes to the bylaws must be voted upon by the membership. To increase diverse representation in SGCI and give members a stronger voice, Southern Graphics Council International seeks applicants for a committee to reexamine the bylaws and constitution. Printmaking is not inherently democratic; democratic qualities must be sought out and fought for.

Requirements:

  • An interest in organizational structure
  • A flexible schedule
  • Has never served on the board of SGCI
  • Anyone can apply but must be a member in good standing to accept a committee position

BOARD OF DIRECTORS FINANCIAL SUPPORT


SGC International provides support for voting board members’ participation in the Mid-Year Meeting which is traditionally held in October or November of each year at the site of the upcoming conference. This support includes:

  • a stipend of up to $500 for travel,
  • hotel accommodations (SGCI’s conference hotel contracts usually include comped rooms for the Mid-Year Meeting. If this is not the case, SGCI will cover hotel expenses for board members. Board members should expect to share a room for these meetings), and
  • at least one meal per day while attending the meeting.
  • Full travel and hotel expenses are paid for the Student Representative.

SGCI board members are responsible for paying for their SGCI Memberships and conference registrations. SGCI board members receive neither conference registration reductions nor conference registration waivers.

Institutional support of the nominees by their organizations is helpful. In extenuating circumstances some compensation may be available for officers not supported by their institutions for travel to the meetings. It is recognized that some nominees may not be affiliated with an educational institution or to an organization.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPECTATIONS

Eligibility

  1. Possesses passion and commitment for SGCI and its mission.
    1. Is a current SGCI member.
    2. Demonstrates engagement with SGCI and the printmaking and graphic arts fields through a history of participation.
  2. Not required, but appreciated:
    1. Experience working in the non-profit realm or serving on nonprofit boards, for-profit boards, or in civic engagement positions.
    2. Participates in leadership roles in the art community, such as through an academic institution, community printshop, art-based business or similar organizations.

Expectations

  1. Embrace the mission of the organization.
  2. Make an effort to attend all board meetings, Mid-Year Meetings, Conferences and special events during their term
  3. Come to board meetings prepared to participate fully and show a willingness to work within SGCI’s Google Drive and attentively communicate via SGCI Slack and Gmail accounts.
  4. Learn—and carry out—the legal responsibilities of the board.
  5. Learn enough about the organization to portray it accurately.
  6. Play a leadership role in at least one committee or task force.
  7. Help with fundraising efforts in whatever way is most appropriate.
  8. Serve as an ambassador between the organization and the community.
  9. Exercise loyalty and confidentiality in dealings with the board.
  10. Support the organization and officers in times of controversy or crisis.
  11. Fulfill commitments on time.

Thank you for your interest in SGC International.