DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE JOB DESCRIPTION

Performance expectations for board members  In performing duties as a member of the Association board, every board member is expected to:

• demonstrate a strong belief and commitment to the Association mission;
• devote the necessary time to prepare for and participate in board and committee meetings (generally 3 face-to-face meetings including 2 days in December, 4 days in summer and 4 hours during InfoComm show with additional 3 web conferences);
• respond to requests for the addition of items to the board agenda;
• exhibit high ethical standards and integrity in all board actions;
• be an enthusiastic advocate for the Association;
• take responsibility and accountability for the Association and all decisions made by the board;
• spend the time necessary to learn how to do the job;
• demonstrate willingness to work as a team member with other board members and the CEO.

Board responsibilities  Board members are responsible for determining Association policy in human resources, planning, finance, member relations, and organizational operations. 

• Human Resources  Board members have three key responsibilities in this area:   

• Board membership, which includes recruiting new board members, recognizing and nurturing existing board members, and providing existing board members with opportunities to grow and develop as leaders;   
• CEO oversight, which includes hiring, termination, disciplining, and ongoing evaluation of the CEO;   
• personnel policies, which includes policies relating to the CEO’s employment, and ensuring that the CEO has complete and up-to-date policies in place for management of staff. 

• Planning:  Board members have five key responsibilities in this area:   

• establishing and reviewing the Association’s mission / philosophy / goals;   
• planning which services / programs the Association provides; 
• evaluating Association services/programs and operations on a regular basis;
• developing and updating multi-year strategic plans to guide the Association’s activities;
• conduct an annual planning meeting composed of some or all board members and guests as invited by the board. 

• Finance:  Board members have four key responsibilities in this area:   

• ensuring financial accountability of the Association;   
• overseeing an ongoing process of budget development, approval, and review;   
• raising funds and / or ensuring that adequate funds are available to support the Association's policies and programs;   
• overseeing properties or investments of the Association. 

• Member Relations:  Board members have three key responsibilities in this area:

•  ensuring that the Association's programs and services appropriately address the needs of those we serve;   
• advocating for the Association's services / programs which includes an awareness that board members are always emissaries of the Association to the members;   
• cooperative action, which includes determining occasions when the Association could / should take part in coalitions, joint operations, etc. 

• Organizational Operations:  Board members have three key responsibilities in this area:   

• ensuring that the board's operations are adequate and appropriate, which includes writing policies for conduct of meetings and operation of board business;   
• ensuring that organizational and legal structure are adequate and appropriate; 
• ensuring that the Association and its board members meet all applicable legal requirements. 

Authority of the Board of Directors
Each member of the Association board, together with other members of the board, is legally and morally responsible for the Association.  All members of the board share in a joint and collective authority that exists and can only be exercised when the group is in session.   

Board member commitment 
Serving as a board member of the Association requires a very special commitment.  To meet that commitment, board members are expected to:

• ensure adherence to the Association’s mission;
• attend and actively participate in all of the board's meetings, and notify the CEO or the Chair of the Board of Directors of anticipated absence;
• when absent from a meeting, review minutes and results of the missed meeting;
• do their homework to be prepared to participate fully in board and committee meetings;
• upon request serve actively on at least one committee;
• act only as a member of the full board, not individually unless authorized to do so by the full board;
• speak for the full board only when the full board sanctions their doing so;
• conduct their own business in a manner that causes members to perceive that the board member is not favoring one member over another member. 

Board delegation of policy interpretation to staff and public
The board delegates to the CEO responsibility for policy interpretation to the staff and public and for rule making, issuance of procedural directives, and guidance not specifically covered or detailed in the Board Policy Manual.  Such interpretations, rules, and directives have the force of board regulations unless and until superseded by board action.   

Board member rights
Members of the Association board are granted certain specific rights.  All board members have the right to:

• receive notice of board meetings and the agenda;
• attend and participate in board meetings;
• examine the Association’s books, records, meeting minutes, financial statements, and contracts;
• place items on the board meeting agenda at the appropriate time.

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