This Advisory Council is a body of ex-Board members, mainly advising the current Board, but can also advise (requested or not) on the state of affairs within the association. The RvA is installed at the beginning of the year during the transferal general assembly (OALV), when several ex-Board members take place in the new RvA (Raad van Advies, Dutch for Advisory Council)
Over the course of the academic year, the Board can run into problems and will need to be advised by the RvA, which consists of people that know the association and have experience in leading Mercurius, making them the perfect people to receive guidance from. In demanding situations or official cases, the RvA can be asked to give an official advise. In that case, the RvA will come together to officially advise the current Board. RvA members can, however, also be approached for a short personal advice, which doesn’t need to be official.
Next to the Board, members can also ask the RvA for advice. This usually only happens in extraordinary situations, when a member or a group of members doesn’t agree with the Board or the state of affairs within the association. The RvA is free to decide whether they want to address these issues.
Finally, the members can ask for the involvement of the RvA during a general meeting of members (ALV). The RvA will try to be present at most ALVs, but members can also ask for the RvA’s advice on any Board plans, before they are approved during the ALV.