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The past president’s job by Chuck Jacobs Leadership Development Specialist Rural Organizations and Services Branch The role of the past president is often the least defined of any ex- ecutive position. This is a person, who, for a year or more, has been the chairman of most meetings, an ex- officio member of all committees, the person most identified with the organization. This changes abruptly though, at an annual meeting, when a new president assumes these roles. What does this person do now? If you are a past president, it can be difficult to hand over the reins and watch as your pet projects are set aside, new directions are taken by the group. and regulations are followed differently as new leaders emerge. Because people would respect your experience. you could stifle the creativity of the new executive by making sure regulations are followed as strictly as ever, or by discouraging new ideas, and by championing all of the projects that were initiated during your term. You could even retain partial control of meetings, by virtue of having more experience and more confidence than the president on how things should be done. At the other end of the spectrum, some past presidents may abdicate completely, feeling that “they’ve done their time” and have no need to add anything further to the organization. You may withhold information, gained by you as presi- dent, that could be useful to a new executive. This act would go with a feeling of “let them learn the hard way and make the same mistakes as I did”. Some past presidents may be tempted to use their special influence to participate in selfâ€"development opportunities, such as seminars, trips and conferences that the group is invited to send representatives to. Granted, many opportunities may require people with experience attained by coming up through the ranks, but the organization may 14 benefit more by sending someone who has not yet had the personal growth that comes from being an executive member. You, as past president, can be a real boon to the organization. For starters, you can share the infor- mation, contacts and resources that you developed during your terms; at the same time, however, try not to pass on too many biases to the new executive. Attend events and meetings with the intent of being available for consultations, receptive [0 questions, and willing to update people on the history behind certain decisions and issues. Let the new president adapt his or her own style to the conduction of meetings, while offering constructive suggestions based on your experience of how to improve the efficiency of meetings (this can sometimes be a fine line to walk). Public relations is an important aspect of a past president's duties, In the eyes of members. media and the community, the past president will continue to represent the group [mm the new president becomes familiar to them. Considering this, now not the time to criticize the new exec,» the public officials, or other Org? mi tions that you have built a no int relationship with. ” Some organizations have t? .131 structures to involve past presi: ,11 Some ideas we have heard inc it: chairing the constitution COlTll leg; or nominating committee, sitti on a critics committee or financn in. mittee. maybe chairing the a tail elections. Several groups have presit l'3 binders that are passed on each it. so that the past president cat w some of his or her information rte new president in written form How well an organization I .‘3‘, use of all its members can dete flt‘ how successful it is. Hopefull “5 article has touched on a few way. at can assist in making the past i dent one of group’s grt RI resources. A WI perspective. . . FWIO Past President Janet Hiephel also has some helpful advice for past Women's institutes presidents. In several instances in Women‘s Institute, it is the past president who is given the opportunity to serve at the next level. Could the president when finished with her term of office â€" think that possibly she has “graduated” and now can also serve her branch or district or area or pro- vincial board, if it is the wish of the members? Hopefully members will ask past presidents at branch and district levels to take office or a con» venership at the next level. The branch members are then much better informed about current issues at other levels. If a past president is not asked to serve in her own b -:h or the District when her (err is finished, she can only lend supr to her branch when asked an ct opportunities to learn and Spa: at her members is then very lit d Past presidents at any lei ul' Women‘s Institute are a store it: of information. The fine line :0 know when to speak out and \vi '0 listen.