Board Updates

As part of our commitment to transparency and strong communication, this page serves as a central hub for Board updates, including general information, meeting summaries, financial updates, and more.

Oct. 28, 2026: Updated GOVERNANCE MODEL FOR OUR ORGANIZATION

Your feedback has helped us critically examine how power, responsibility, and participation are structured within SCISA and identify opportunities to make our governance more transparent, inclusive, and accountable.

Governance is an ongoing process of listening, reflection, and collective learning. Your contributions have helped move us toward a league where participation is accessible, leadership is accountable, and our structures reflect the community we aspire to be.

Below is an overview of the finalized documents, key policy updates, open Board positions, and upcoming recruitment and AGM dates.

Key Changes Based On Member Feedback

The revisions strengthen transparency, accountability, accessibility, and member participation through the following changes:

Clearer Board roles and responsibilities: Clarifies the distinction between portfolio Directors and At-Large Directors to support accountability, shared leadership, and a more sustainable distribution of work.
Phased introduction of At-Large Directors: Two At-Large Directors will be recruited for two-year terms in the first year, followed by two additional Directors the following year. This staggered approach supports continuity, knowledge-sharing, and manageable annual recruitment.
More transparent leadership selection: Clarifies how Board-recommended candidates are presented, how alternative nominations can be submitted, and how membership ratification takes place.
Broader participation in governance: Creates opportunities for non-Board members to contribute to designated governance and selection activities, with a random draw used where applications exceed the available positions.
Improved readability and accessibility: Reorganizes sections to make the policy easier to navigate and understand.

Not every suggestion received during the review period has been incorporated, particularly given the timing of this recruitment cycle. However, suggestions not adopted at this stage have not necessarily been ruled out.

The Governance Policy is intended to evolve alongside the needs of our community. The Board will review the policy annually, alongside the bylaws, to assess how these processes work in practice, identify barriers to participation, and make improvements where needed.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to share perspectives, challenge assumptions, and contribute to this process.

Final Governance Documents

The membership review is complete, and the following documents are now available:

Open Board Positions: 2027–2028 Seasons

SCISA is strongest when its leadership reflects the diversity of the community it serves.

Traditional expectations around leadership experience, time commitments, and volunteer capacity can create barriers to participation. We are committed to addressing these barriers and creating meaningful opportunities for members to shape the future of our league.

The introduction of At-Large Director positions is one step toward making Board participation more accessible. These positions allow members to contribute to collective decision-making without being responsible for a specific operational portfolio. Previous Board experience is not required.

We particularly encourage applications from people whose perspectives have historically been underrepresented in leadership, including Black, Indigenous, and other people of colour (BIPOC), women and female-identifying individuals, and people with disabilities. Accessibility and different capacities to volunteer are important considerations in building a more inclusive governance structure.

Our goal is not simply to invite participation, but to make it genuinely achievable, value diverse perspectives, and ensure leadership better reflects the community it serves.

The following positions are open for two-year terms covering the 2027 and 2028 seasons:

Commissioner: Provides overall leadership and direction, chairs the Board, serves as SCISA’s primary spokesperson, and helps ensure the league operates effectively and in accordance with its governing documents.
Treasurer: Oversees finances, including budgeting, financial reporting, banking, payments, and record-keeping, supporting responsible financial decision-making.
Events Director: Leads social events and special activities, including Opening Day, coordinates volunteers, and creates opportunities for members to connect beyond the field.
Umpire in Charge: Recruits, schedules, and supports umpires, promotes consistent application of the Rules of Play, and helps ensure games are properly supported and equipped.
Director of Community Partnerships: Builds relationships with community partners, sponsors, and funders, and pursues sponsorships, grants, and fundraising opportunities.
At-Large Directors (2 positions): Contribute to overall Board decision-making without overseeing a specific operational portfolio. At-Large Directors have the same status, voting rights, and responsibilities as other Directors.

Interested in joining the Board?

SUBMIT YOUR BOARD POSITION APPLICATION

We encourage all interested members to consider applying, regardless of previous leadership experience.

Recruitment Committee - Non-Board Members

We are also seeking two non-Board members to participate in the Recruitment Committee. This is an opportunity to contribute to a transparent, equitable, and accountable leadership selection process without taking on a Board position.

If more than two submissions are received, the two committee members will be selected by random draw. Please review the submission form for details about the role, expectations, and potential conflicts of interest before applying.

SUBMIT YOUR RECRUITMENT COMMITTEE APPLICATION

Recruitment and AGM Timeline

Please note the following key dates:

October 28: Final Governance Policy shared; Board and Recruitment Committee submissions open.
November 6: Recruitment Committee submissions close.
November 9: Recruitment Committee members selected and announced.
November 13: Board candidate submissions close.
November 20 – December 4: Candidate interviews.
December 17: Annual General Meeting (AGM).

SCISA Board Overview

We want all members to feel informed about how the Board operates, including its role, structure, and the responsibilities of individual Board members:

SCISA Board 101 (click to download)

Social Media Sharing Policy

To support the queer, inclusive community in Hamilton, the league (at the discretion of the Director of Communications, the Commissioner, and/or the Vice Commissioner) will share events, content, or announcements from aligned organizations via the league's social media channels.

Requests from non-sponsors can be shared via Instagram/Facebook message or by emailing communications@scisa.ca.

Board Meeting Agendas/Updates

The Board is currently meeting bi-weekly as we prepare for SCISA Season 6. While Board discussions remain confidential, we are committed to keeping members informed and engaged. After each meeting, we will share a high-level summary outlining key topics discussed, decisions made, and any relevant updates.

To review a meeting summary, please select a date below:

2025 annual report

Within 120 days of the beginning of the fiscal year (January 1), the Board of Directors will publish an Annual Report for the previous year. Please click below to download the respective report:

2025 Annual Report

2026 Approved budget

Below is the 2026 budget that was approved by the SCISA Board on March 15, 2026. These numbers are based on historical data/costs from previous years. If you have any financial-related questions, please contact our Treasurer Scott Strybosch (he/him) at treasurer@scisa.ca