List of Board Member Responsibilities

BOARD RESPONSIBILITIES

BOARD MEMBERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION AND EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS.

THE BOARD DETERMINES MISSION AND PURPOSE.

• The board creates the mission statements.
• The board established policies and procedures.
• The board monitors and assesses success.
• The board reviews the mission and policies periodically.

THE BOARD HIRES SOMEONE TO MANAGE THE ORGANIZATION.

• Volunteer board members conduct day-to-day operations of many small organizations.
• As organizations grow, the board hires a manager or executive to take over these operations.
• A sound relationship between board and executive makes for success; its opposite leads to failure.

THE BOARD SUPPORTS AND ASSESSES THE PERFORMANCE OF THE EXECUTIVE.

• The executive implements policies approved by the board.
• Lines of communication between board and executive must b e clearly identified and maintained.
• The board evaluates the executive’s performance and effectiveness on a regular basis.

THE BOARD PLANS FOR THE FUTURE.

• The Board is responsible for long-range planning.
• The executive develops a short-term (one-year) plan to carry out the long-range plan.
• Planning is a team effort.

THE BOARD ENSURES ADEQUATE RESOURCES FOR THE ORGANIZATION TO FULFILL ITS MISSION.

• The board adopts and reviews fiscal policies.
• The board approves an operating budget.
• The board reviews and understands financial statements.
• The board makes sure the organization has sufficient reserves.

BOARD MEMBERS ARE ADVOCATES.

• Advocacy can take different forms:
• Lobbying lawmakers.
• Communicating with industry members about services provided.
• Representing the organization to the media and community at large.
• When acting on behalf of the board, you represent the board, not your own personal issues.

BOARD MEMBERS CONTRIBUTE TO THE BOTTOM LINE.

• Identify funding sources.
• Provide direct financial support.
• Serve as role models when it comes to supporting FAA APAC and NAA PAC.

THE BOARD WORKS AS A TEAM.

• Make a special effort to understand your fellow directors’ perspectives.
• Always remember whose interests you serve: The Association.
• Don’t allow personal preferences or needs to guide your decisions.
• Engage in candid, respectful dialogue.

ONLY THE BOARD HAS THE POWER AND AUTHORITY TO ACT

• Legal, board members can only exercise authority by making decisions together.
• Outside the board meeting, a board member has no legal authority to act for the board or to make decisions for the board.

In summary, as an organization evolves, the board may delegate certain responsibilities to the Executive, but it never gives up absolute responsibility for everything that happens in the organization.