Hello everybody,
Another day sharing the IJP structure, today we’re glad to introduce the role of Regional Representatives and explain the Temporary Regional Advisors group!
What are the Regional Representatives (RR)?
Regional Representatives are judges from the different Regions selected by their regional peers during the annual General Assembly to represent them in the Regional Representatives Council.
As you probably remember from Alfonso’s article regarding our Statutes, every year there will be an Online General Assembly where all IJP judges will have the opportunity to review and approve the accounting of the association, and where half of the Regions will elect their representative for the next 2 years.
These elected representatives are the Regional Representatives: IJP judges from each of the defined Regions that provide advice to the Program Leads regarding their region’s needs and circumstances, elect the Program Leads and are responsible for facilitating the existence of a fluid communication between their region’s members and the IJP leading groups.
Then… What are the Temporary Regional Advisors?
They’re the people who will have the Regional Representatives duties during the first year of the IJP, until the 1st General Assembly votes for the first batch of Regional Representatives as defined above.
The IJP is legally required to be created with already defined Program Leads, both to be registered as association and to ensure its development during this critical first year. The Regional Representative Council was created as an advisory and control group for the PLs, and we considered a similar temporary solution was needed during this first transition year to ensure the different regional perspectives were taken into account during this period.
Since this first group is selected by the PLs instead of voted, for logistical reasons (we still don’t have members, but need to start operating with as many perspectives as possible), a different name was needed.
So, when do we vote?
During the first General Assembly, expected during Q1 of 2025, all IJP judges will vote for their Regional Representatives. Half of the RRs (defined in advance) will have a 2 year term and the other half a 1 year term, to transit into the standard procedure.
In the meantime, we expect everybody to start being part of the IJP and pay attention to the people they’d like to be their RRs, because at that point it will be up to all of you to make that decision.
Last but not least, we want to hear from you.
During the next few days we will be choosing the Temporary Regional Advisors, if you’ve got any suggestions on who should be in these positions, feel free to email us at programleads@internationaljudgeprogram.org with your advice, before Dec the 24th 2023.
Of course, many possible candidates will be considered, but we have to make a list and put our trust in some we think will make a solid contribution during this first year. Your feedback will definitely help to shape that list. We all need each other to make this succeed.
Hope to hear from you! 🙂
