board member responsibilities

General Responsibilities:

A Board member's primary responsibility is to effectively and responsibly pursue our mission of ending fat oppression and creating vibrant fat queer culture. A Board member must provide guidance to the organization through short- and long-range planning, the preparation and implementation of policies, provision of contacts with allies and supporters, raising of funds, and frequent evaluations of the progress of the organization in achieving its mission.

Specific Duties:

Generally, NOLOSE’s Board of Directors takes an active role in carrying out organizational duties, conference, and long-term planning. Currently, the majority of the work of the organization is carried out by the efforts of the Board with the help of volunteers. It is not a figurehead board, but rather one that takes care of the organization on a day-to-day basis.

Financial Management

• To develop, review, and approve NOLOSE's annual budget, to monitor ongoing budget expenses and revenue throughout the year
• To assure fiscal responsibility through analyzing and approving financial reports, overseeing investments, and ensuring legal compliance

Financial Development

• To actively engage in fundraising for NOLOSE through individual, foundation, and corporate solicitations, or other means of fundraising
• We encourage all Board members to personally donate whatever time, skills, and financial contributions they can afford. 100% Board commitment to giving is an important component of NOLOSE's resource development program

Public Relations

• To serve as an informed spokesperson for NOLOSE as required, and to publicly conduct oneself in a professional manner which will reflect well on NOLOSE.

Board Affairs

• To come prepared to attend and actively participate in all officially designated Board activities, including Directors' meetings (primarily via telephone, with some in-person meetings) and the annual conference. Please refer to NOLOSE by-laws for attendance and absenteeism policies.

Planning and Program

• To conceive, develop, discuss, review, and implement internal and external policies regarding all aspects of NOLOSE's missions, and to review the ongoing effectiveness of such policies periodically.
• To be fully informed and up-to-date on NOLOSE's organizational, political, programmatic, administrative, and planning activities and policies, and to critically review them for efficiency and appropriateness.
• To develop and monitor strategic plans in order to achieve NOLOSE's mission.
• To develop and plan the annual conference, as well as any other organizational programming.

Qualifications

Candidates should:

• Be at least 18 years of age at the time of Board membership
• Have attended at least one annual conference
• Have a clear understanding of the issues of the size acceptance movement in general, and NOLOSE, in particular
• Be loyal and dedicated to the mission of NOLOSE
• Be able to work cooperatively and productively with others
• Be able to communicate on-line
• Bring qualities, talents, community and/or connections to the board
• Be able to clearly and logically present, or react to, proposals

Expected Performance

All Board members are expected to:

• Attend all sessions at a scheduled board event, and to attend the annual NOLOSE conference (regardless of location)
• Arrive at board meetings with a thorough understanding of the materials distributed
• Be willing and available to assist in areas of special experience or expertise
• Keep abreast of issues in the fat liberation movement
• Have a good understanding of consensus decision making procedures and abide by it during meetings
• Keep disagreements among board members impersonal, and promote overall respect and unity
• Fully investigate any proposal brought to the board on behalf of third parties
• Display unbiased, independent, resourceful thinking in all board actions
• Maintain an appropriate level of confidentiality regarding sensitive issues or issues discussed in executive session
• Follow through on projects and tasks that you have been a ssigned or for which you have volunteered

NOLOSE Board Member Code of Ethics

As a member of the Board I will:

• Support and work to fulfill the mission of the organization.
• Listen carefully to my fellow Board members, and the constituents of NOLOSE.
• Respect the opinions of my fellow Board members and strive toward a constructive discourse.
• Not block consensus without just cause.
• Recognize that all authority is vested in the Board when it meets in legal session and not in individual Board members.
• Keep well-informed of developments that are relevant to issues that may come before the Board.
• Participate actively in Board meetings and actions.
• Call to the attention of the Board any issues I believe will have an adverse effect on NOLOSE, its mission, or our constituents.
• Attempt to interpret the needs of the constituents to NOLOSE and the actions of NOLOSE to its constituents.
• Address complaints fairly and timely.
• In pursuit of fulfilling the mission on NOLOSE, represent all constituents of NOLOSE and not a particular geographic area or special interest group.
• Consider myself a "trustee" of NOLOSE and do my best to ensure that NOLOSE is well maintained, financially secure, growing, and always operating with the best interests of its mission and its constituents.
• Always work to learn more about the Board member's job and how to do the job better.
• Adhere the Board's policy on conflicts of interest between my personal life and my position on the NOLOSE Board.

As a member of the Board, I will not:

• Disparage fellow Board members, in or outside of Board meetings, for their opinions. (Again, we emphasize wanting to maintain a constructive discourse.)
• Use NOLOSE or any part of the organization for my personal advantage or the personal advantage of my friends or relatives.
• Discuss the confidential proceedings of the Board outside Board meetings.
• Promise prior to meetings how I will vote on any issue in the meetings.