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Job Descriptions

An administrative assistant will be hired, initially on a part-time basis, to assist the Executive Director in the administration of the Council, and he/she will report directly the Executive Director.  His/her responsibilities will include: 

• Payment of bills and maintenance of accounting records
• Provide office support
• Website design, desktop publishing and assistance with Website administration
• Assistance with travel arrangements
• Arranging Meetings
• Communication with external parties when necessary

The Executive Director will have direct responsibility for the day-to-day administration of the Council.  He reports to the President, and, initially at least, will serve as a trustee of the Council.  His responsibilities will include:

• Responsibility for all aspects of the administration of the Council.  These include all of the tasks outlined in the work plan
• Coordination of the affairs of the Committees.
• Set up the operating office of the Council
• Promotion of the Council, via website and attendance of non-profit and academic conferences
• Development of position papers on a variety of subjects, with distribution ranging from web publishing, general publication, magazine/journal articles, pamphlets for schools, community groups, etc.

• The outreach activities of EDIT shall include (i) working with textbook publishers and academic institutions, (ii) working with media, and (iii) helping the community itself in a variety of needs. Especially in case of (iii), but also in many instances of (ii), community leaders would become very important allies and resources.
• In the long term, financial support from the community shall become important, and the leaders of the community must participate from the very beginning.
• Community leaders shall also bring issues to ECIT that need addressing from the perspective of the community being affected.
• One of the intentions is to help bridge the gap between contemporary practice in America and its academic portrayal.
• Beliefs on certain matters could vary across various denominations even within the same religion. Hence, there is need to ensure that ECIT champions a sympathetic portrayal reflecting the sentiments of the diversity within the traditions. This might imply presenting multiple views on a given issue, especially since these traditions are dynamic and flexible, and beliefs may be interpreted by the appropriate leaders based on the times and the needs of a given situation.

It is too early to construct the exact dynamics of how this committee would operate, and there are many advantages to leaving things fluid, and enabling a creative process to emerge over time. To a large extent, the dynamics would depend on the individuals involved and also the nature of the Council’s activities and challenges, which are also untested. Therefore, this is merely a guideline for discussion and as a starting point.

This committee shall consist of scholarly experts in the field of Indic Traditions. Each appointment shall be for a period of two years(?), with no limit on renewals.

The committee members shall elect among themselves a chairman of the committee(?).

Following are some of the activities envisioned for the advisors, and this list is likely to evolve:

• Executive Director or President may call for advice or consultation by phone, review of some document, help with an introduction to a third party, or other casual work.
• An advisor may be called upon to do a detailed review of a section of a textbook, media article, or other portrayal by someone concerning Indic traditions, including examining instances of appropriation without proper credit for the traditions. The result of this review could then be used by the Council in a variety of ways.
• An advisor may be requested to interact with a third party, on such representation issues. This could include publishers, media, educators, public officials, religious heads or other organizations. The motive would be improve the third party’s impression or portrayal of Indic traditions.
• It is the intention of the Council to host an annual meeting generally collocated at AAR or other popular events, in order to minimize the burden for special travel. Such a meeting shall include the Executive Director’s status report and plans for the future, along with any other areas of discussion concerning the Council’s activities.