Aylmer Heritage Association recruiting board members ahead of AGM

Tashi Farmilo

The Aylmer Heritage Association is asking residents to consider joining its board of directors before its annual general meeting on April 30, as the 50-year-old organization works to build a governing body large enough to share the workload sustainably.

The meeting takes place at the Old Methodist Chapel on Aylmer Road, with doors opening at 6:30 pm and proceedings starting at 7:00 pm. The agenda includes an annual report, financial statements, and the election of directors for the coming year.

The association's constitution requires between seven and eleven directors. Current president Kevin Bosch and his fellow directors have had a challenging year on that front: five of the nine people currently serving on the board were appointed mid-year to fill vacancies rather than elected at the last annual meeting. With Henry Robertson the only director carrying over by right into the coming term, the association needed at least six candidates to meet its legal minimum. As of late March, six members had confirmed they would stand: Daly Drevniok, Maurice Graffin, James Lauer, Richard Lueger, Enid Page, and Henry Robertson. The association is hoping more community members will come forward, as the bylaws allow up to ten positions to be filled if enough candidates are available. Once elected, directors will choose from among themselves who will serve as president, secretary, and treasurer.

The push to grow beyond the minimum reflects concerns raised at last year's annual meeting, where outgoing co-presidents noted that the pace and volume of work had become unsustainable, with some board members effectively putting in near full-time hours. A larger board, the association has noted, means responsibilities can be distributed rather than concentrated among a few people.

The association has been a fixture in the community for half a century, working to safeguard Aylmer's historic buildings and green spaces, document local history, and maintain an archive holding rare photographs, records stretching back to 1800, and collections covering founding families and local aviation history.

Board membership does not require a background in heritage work or nonprofit management. The time commitment runs to roughly two hours a week plus a monthly meeting. The organization conducts its work in both French and English.

Anyone interested in joining the board or learning more can reach out at associationpatrimoineaylmer@gmail.com or visit www.associationpatrimoineaylmer.com