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
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605-933-1196 bhansen@fnni.com
First term: 10/9/2017-6/30/2020 Second Term: 7/1/2020-6/30/2023 Committees: Executive, Faith Relations Bonny is a Director of Trust Services at FNN Trust |
Patrick Soukup - Vice-President
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605-999-6754 pats@centralec.coop
First term: 11/13/2018-6/30/2021 Committees: Executive, Fundraising Patrick is Manager of Member Services & Marketing at Central Electric Cooperative |
Eric Van Meter - Secretary
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870-219-6255 ervanmet@dwu.edu
First term: 1/13/2020-6/30/2023 Committees: Executive, Family Support Eric is the Campus Pastor at Dakota Wesleyan University |
Kourtney Denne - Treasurer
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605-680-4023 kourtney.denne@elocpa.com
First term: 1/8/2018-6/30/2020 Second term: 7/1/2020-6/30-2023 Committees: Executive, Fundraising Kourtney is Accounting Support at ELO CPAs & Advisors |
Daniel Buchholtz
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605-691-3827 danbuchholtz@hotmail.com
First term: 1/13/2020-6/30/2023 Committees: Family Support, Construction Daniel is an OSP/CAD Specialist at Vantage Point Solutions |
Doug Fuerst
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605-933-0216 doug.fuerst@mitchelltech.edu
First term: 1/1/2015-6/30/2018 Second term: 7/1/2018-6/30/2021 Committees: Nominating, Construction Doug is an Electrical Construction and Maintenance Instructor at Mitchell Technical College |
Kyle Hohn
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605-933-0416 kyle.hohn@northwestern.com
First term: 7/1/2018-6/30/2021 Committees: Construction Kyle is a Construction Engineer at Northwestern Energy |
Colleen Hunt
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605-999-9278 colbrihunt@gmail.com
First term: 7/8/2019-6/30/2022 Committees: Family Selection Colleen is a Broker Associate at Mitchell Realty |
Jean Koehler
Jill Luque
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605-461-0774 jluque@plainscommerce.com
First term: 1/20/2021-6/30-2024 Committees: Fundraising Jill is Branch Manager at Plains Commerce Bank |
Jackie miskimins
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605-999-0372 jacki.miskimins@vantagepnt.com
First term: 11/9/2020-6/30/2023 Committees: Fundraising Jacki is Director of Marketing at Vantage Point Solutions |
Scott Ymker
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605-469-5462 ymkerphotos@gmail.com
First term: 7/13/2020-6/30/2023 Committees: Fundraising Scott is the owner of Scott Ymker Photography |