APEN's Policy and Guidelines
The documentation of Policies and Guidelines is an ongoing process.
The different areas of APEN business are represented by the Board and Committees in the structure diagram and their terms of reference and other available plans, guidelines and documentation on the operation of these is included below.
APEN Board
The APEN Board has 5-9 elected and or appointed Directors, one of which is the President who is elected by the members for a three year term. In the first meeting after the AGM the Office Bearers, Vice President, Treasurer and Company Secretary are elected or confirmed by the Board members for the year until the next AGM. The Board is assisted by the Board Appointed Officers, Editor for Member Communications, Chief Editor of the Rural Extension & Innovation Systems Journal and the Executive Officer. The EO and Editor for Member Communications attend Board meetings.
The Board meets at least six times per year by web-conferencing and once in person either at the APEN Conference or at a planning meeting elsewhere.
Directors and Office Bearers responsibilities are listed here.
One of the Board members is also a member of the Regional Activities Committee which is made up of elected Regional Coordinators.
Directors are expected to be involved with at least one of the APEN Committees.
Conflict of Interest policy - also applicable to other APEN Committee members.
Regional Activiites Committee
The Regional Activities Committee (RAC) is made up of Regional Coordinators who are elected for a three year term and able to stay on for another three years. Their role is to assist with APEN's Regional Activites, organising at least one per year for their region and being a regional representative to inform the Board.
The RAC meets every two months and are invited to attend the Board planning meeting. The EO, Editor of Member Communications also attend the RAC meetings along with the President if they wish.
Communications
Early in 2018 the Communications Committee was called to discuss the development of the Communications Strategy. The draft was developed and then refined by APEN Director, Dr Anthony Kachenko, and is available here.
The document sets out the communication strategy for Australasia Pacific Extension Network Limited (APEN) and provides guidance for project communication activities to:
- establish a roadmap for communication to ensure all partners are on the same page
- streamline messaging
- ensure all available partner communication tools are being utilised
- detail processes and attribution requirements.
This strategy is underpinned by the APEN Strategic Plan 2017 – 2022.
Conference
The Conference Committee organises an APEN conference every two years and its membership includes the Convenor, members of the Board including the President, APEN Treasurer and Executive Officer, interested RAC members and where possible local APEN members from the Region hosting the event. The Chief Editor, REIS Journal is involved to assist with the calling for abstracts and publishing of papers. Normally there will be a Conference Treasurer and Committee members will be involved in determining the venue, conference themes, program, handbook, dinner and entertainment, pre or post field trips or workshops etc and finding sponsorship, promotion and then running the event. Where possible the Board likes to announce the upcoming conference at the end of a conference.
Guidelines for organising APEN conferences.
Presentation guidelines
Poster guidelines