NOLOSE board of directors

The 2011 board application deadline has passed; stay tuned for more opportunity to join in 2012!

 

Do you want to help make future NOLOSE conferences as radical, inclusive, and supportively challenging as they can be? Are you committed to creating vibrant queer fat culture, and upholding social justice work and anti-oppression politics from all angles? Do you have secret skills and superpowers that you think would benefit NOLOSE as an organization? And do you love working hard in the service of a community that supports you right back? If so, we want you to apply to be a member of the NOLOSE Board of Directors!

Responsibilities and Commitment:

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.

We are especially looking to bring on more Board members who identify as people of color, superfat, older, transgender (especially trans women) and gender non-conforming, disabled, from countries other than the U.S., and/or from areas of the country currently underrepresented on our board (i.e. the Southeast, Southwest, Midwest). Experience with fundraising, mediation, facilitation (group and/or workshop), financial skills, legal knowledge, organizational development, project management, social justice/anti-oppression work within radical organizations, and/or event planning is valuable.

 

Specific Duties:

NOLOSE’s Board of Directors takes an active role in carrying out organizational duties, the 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. 100% Board commitment to giving is essential to NOLOSE’s ongoing development and sustainability.  Individual and team responsibilities may also include:

• Budgeting/expenses/legal compliance, and fundraising/financial development (through events and individual, foundation, and corporate solicitations).
• Public relations (representing/speaking on behalf of NOLOSE).
• Attendance and active participation in all officially designated Board activities, including Directors’ meetings (primarily via telephone, with some in-person meetings) and the annual conference.
• Conception, development, discussion, review, and implementation of policies regarding all aspects of NOLOSE’s missions, with periodic review of the ongoing effectiveness of such policies.
• Development, planning, and management of the annual conference, as well as any other organizational programming.

 

Qualifications

Candidates should:

• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Have attended at least one annual NOLOSE conference.
• Be able to commit 5-10 hours/month to NOLOSE Board work, with this amount of time increasing during heavy planning/pre-conference periods, and continuing through the conference itself.
• Have a clear understanding of the issues surrounding the size acceptance movement in general, and NOLOSE in particular.
• Be committed to the mission of NOLOSE, particularly our belief that size acceptance organizing must be inherently linked to other social justice movements.   
• Be able and eager to work cooperatively and productively with others.
• Be able to communicate both by phone and online (other accommodations will be made as possible).
• Bring specific qualities, talents, and/or community connections to the Board.
• Be able to clearly and logically present, or react to, proposals.

 

Time Commitment/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.
• Approach fat liberation in an intersectional manner, understanding that we do not all have the same experience of fat oppression. Rather, all of our identities mutually shape and intersect with one another, and therefore the way any given person experiences fat oppression is affected by her/his other experiences of marginalization or privilege around race, gender, class, ability, sexual orientation, nation, religion, and more.
• Take responsibility for being aware of one’s positions of privilege, in whatever manner they occur.
• Keep disagreements among board members impersonal, and promote overall respect and unity.
• 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 assigned or taken on.