Director of Professional Conduct – A Great Introductory Board Position

I thought it might be interesting to share the evolution of my involvement with Advocis as a volunteer – first as a committee member, then as a board member, chairing committees, and now also serving as Vice-President.

Several years ago, I was approached by former Advocis Greater Vancouver President Warren Campbell and asked if I would like to join his committee, as he was in charge of the annual Professional Development (PD) Day.  Given that I had known Warren for several years, I accepted his invitation and so began my volunteer journey with Advocis.

The following year I was asked to join the Board.  I was somewhat reluctant to accept, as it seemed a little overwhelming at the time, but did so and slowly began the process of getting to know our organization from the inside out.  I was honoured to be in the company of several well-known, well-respected professionals and leaders in our industry. 

The role of Director of Professional Conduct itself (see previous blog “The Role of The Director of Professional Conduct”) was not nearly as daunting as I had imagined, and soon I was very comfortable at our monthly board meetings and was at ease giving my input on all matters of discussion.

From there my responsibilities within Advocis increased, although I must say I have never felt that it was “too much”.  Over the next few years, I also assumed the positions of Chair of PD Day (this annual event was discontinued after 2011), Chair of the Fellowship Committee, and as of December 2012, Vice-President.

I share this with you for a few reasons.  Firstly, as overwhelmed as I was a few years ago by my initial involvement, I have come to realize that volunteering with Advocis is a great way to give back to our community and our industry. The time commitment is nominal, and the involvement provides an opportunity to meet and network with likeminded professionals, and more importantly, great people.  Secondly, I would like to invite you, as Advocis members, to become more engaged in your local chapter.  The strength of our organization is our membership – we need to be continually growing our volunteer base from within. 

It is likely that we will have one or more board positions becoming available in the next few years.  The Director of Professional Conduct is a great introductory Board position that will provide an opportunity for further growth within our organization.        If you are interested in volunteering with Advocis, joining a committee, or would like to get involved at the Board level, please contact myself or any Advocis Great Vancouver Board member.

Sincerely,

Michael A. Healey, B.A., CFP, CLU, CHS

Vice-President / Director of Professional Conduct / Fellowship Committee Chair

Advocis Greater Vancouver