I was only 33 when I was first elected to the SOCAN board of directors, so I was definitely the new boy! When I was presented with the massive board of directors Resource Guide, I was staggered. Sitting on the board of a large organization is quite an education, let me tell you, but I did not view myself as a small, independent publisher for very long because the SOCAN board is really well organized, and nobody is made to feel that there are Class A directors and Class B directors.

This experience has provided me with incomparable training. I learned new ways of doing things and gained a better understanding of corporate governance issues of our industry as a whole, and of the role of politics in the mix. I find this fascinating. Even today, some of the highlights of our meetings, for me, are the presentations made to the SOCAN board by our lobbyist in Ottawa.

During my first three years, I was more or less in training. Having been re-elected for a second mandate, however, I must say that I now feel more confident, and comfortable enough to express my opinions in front of all those people who have so much more experience than I do. You can also meet great people on an organization’s board, and I have had the opportunity to get to know, and network with, publishers from across the country. Plus the fact that being a board member of an organization such as SOCAN gives you added credibility and even visibility at international events such as MIDEM, for example.

In concrete terms, we have four statutory board meetings in Toronto, Montreal or Vancouver each year, plus our own committee meetings (all board members are required to sit on at least one SOCAN board committee), so you can expect two to three days of activities on each occasion with travelling time. There is also a two-day board retreat every third year, and occasional teleconference meetings as well. Personally, I try to combine my SOCAN board travel with business meetings to make the best use of my time. I have learned a whole lot, and I urge all interested SOCAN members to run for the 2009-12 board of directors.

Uploaded Fall 2008

Comments? Questions? Suggestions? Send them to Rick MacMillan, Words & Music Corporate Editor, at wordsandmusic@socan.ca.