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Board Member Responsibilities
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Current Board Members
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Committees
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Three Legal Duties:
Duty of Care: The board member shall make reasonable effort to exercise oversight and ensure that the organization is functioning in a proper manner. Essentially, this means attending meetings and reading relevant written materials like minutes, policies, and financial reports.
Duty of Loyalty: In all actions and decisions regarding the organization, the board member is to support the best interests of the organization. Each board member should avoid conflicts of interest or appearances of impropriety.
Duty of Obedience: The board member must comply with the provisions of the articles of incorporation, code of regulations, and state laws, and should safeguard Habitat’s mission and Christian values.
Legal Protection from Liability: As long as a board member fulfills their legal duties, they are protected from liability when the organization suffers a loss or is victim of a lawsuit. They remain protected even in the case of an honest mistake.
There are only two cases in which a board member may suffer liability. The first occurs if they do not fulfill their duties (e.g. they are negligent in their oversight). The second occurs in cases involving unpaid taxes. If the organization fails to pay its proper taxes, the government may hold the board members liable. For a 501 (c) 3 corporations (non-profit corporation), this situation is unlikely as long as the board members ensure that the organization pays any payroll taxes and maintains its tax-exempt status.
Minimum Job Requirements
Committee Duties
Each board member is expected to serve on at least one standing committee each year.
As a chairperson the board member will assemble a team or committee to work in their area of responsibility.
The executive director commits to giving the committee chairs the resources they need including volunteers, money, and information to carry out their work.
General Expectations
Board Member Terms
Each board member is elected to serve a three year term, starting on the date of election and ending at the close of the fiscal year three years from the election date. Board members may choose to serve two 3-year terms consecutively, but may not serve more than six consecutive years.
Duty of Care: The board member shall make reasonable effort to exercise oversight and ensure that the organization is functioning in a proper manner. Essentially, this means attending meetings and reading relevant written materials like minutes, policies, and financial reports.
Duty of Loyalty: In all actions and decisions regarding the organization, the board member is to support the best interests of the organization. Each board member should avoid conflicts of interest or appearances of impropriety.
Duty of Obedience: The board member must comply with the provisions of the articles of incorporation, code of regulations, and state laws, and should safeguard Habitat’s mission and Christian values.
Legal Protection from Liability: As long as a board member fulfills their legal duties, they are protected from liability when the organization suffers a loss or is victim of a lawsuit. They remain protected even in the case of an honest mistake.
There are only two cases in which a board member may suffer liability. The first occurs if they do not fulfill their duties (e.g. they are negligent in their oversight). The second occurs in cases involving unpaid taxes. If the organization fails to pay its proper taxes, the government may hold the board members liable. For a 501 (c) 3 corporations (non-profit corporation), this situation is unlikely as long as the board members ensure that the organization pays any payroll taxes and maintains its tax-exempt status.
Minimum Job Requirements
- A demonstrated interest in the affiliate’s mission and goals.
- Specific experience and/or knowledge in at least one area: human resources, planning, fundraising, building, finance, community relations, or organizational operation.
- A willingness to expand knowledge of board responsibilities through orientation and ongoing education.
- A willingness to represent Habitat to the community.
- Four to six hours per month distributed among board meetings (preparation and attendance); committee meetings (preparation and attendance); special events and special requests.
- Serve as a liaison to one of the standing committees.
- Give an annual gift according to personal means.
Committee Duties
Each board member is expected to serve on at least one standing committee each year.
As a chairperson the board member will assemble a team or committee to work in their area of responsibility.
- Conduct regular meetings of the committee.
- Communicate their needs to other committee chairs and the executive director.
- Coordinate with other committee chairs to complete the work of MRHFH.
- Report to the executive director.
The executive director commits to giving the committee chairs the resources they need including volunteers, money, and information to carry out their work.
General Expectations
- Know Habitat for Humanity’s mission, purpose, goals, policies, programs, services, strengths, and needs.
- Suggest possible nominees to the board who are clearly women and men of achievement and who can make significant contributions to the board and Habitat’s progress.
- Serve in leadership positions
- Urge those with grievances to follow established policies to bring such matters to the attention of the board.
- Follow trends and issues affecting Habitat for Humanity.
- Prepare for and participate in board and committee meetings, asking timely and substantive questions, maintaining confidentiality and speaking for the board when authorized to do so.
- Counsel the executive director as appropriate to offer support in his or her own difficult relationships with groups or individuals.
- Exercise prudence with the board in the control and transfer of funds.
- Assist the fundraising committee and staff by implementing fundraising strategies to ensure that adequate funds are raised to support the affiliate’s policies and programs.
- Work at least once per year on a house.
- Attend groundbreaking and dedication ceremonies whenever possible.
- Help foster a relationship between the church you attend and Habitat.
- Associate with and get to know the Habitat families as appropriate.
Board Member Terms
Each board member is elected to serve a three year term, starting on the date of election and ending at the close of the fiscal year three years from the election date. Board members may choose to serve two 3-year terms consecutively, but may not serve more than six consecutive years.
Bonny Hansen - President
Patrick Soukup - Vice-President
Eric Van Meter - Secretary
Kourtney Denne - Treasurer
Daniel Buchholtz
Doug Fuerst
Kyle Hohn
Colleen Hunt
Jean Koehler
Jill Luque
Jackie miskimins