1. R. HarrisBoard Orientation1 Local Chapter Leadership Orientation

2. R. HarrisBoard Orientation2 Ground Rules for Serving  Relax and be comfortable.  Listen so that your year will be as effective and powerful as possible.  Ask questions as they arise.  Think in terms of your role as a board member; responsible for the well-being and future of your local chapter.

3. R. HarrisBoard Orientation3 The Tools of Governance  The Bylaws  Articles of Incorporation  Policies & Procedures  Strategic Plan  Budget for Current Year

4. R. HarrisBoard Orientation4 Board Responsibilities  Determine and understand your local chapter’s mission and purpose.  Follow initiatives from FSNA President.  Manage your local chapter’s resources.  Determine, monitor and strengthen programs and services for your members.  Promote professional image.  Help recruit new leaders.

5. R. HarrisBoard Orientation5 Practical Steps for Bd. Service  Attend all board meetings.  Start and end meetings on time.  Study and understand FSNA’s mission statement, both FSNA and local bylaws and policies & procedures.  Prepare for all association meetings by reviewing the agenda.  Treat information and discussions as “confidential.”

6. R. HarrisBoard Orientation6 Practical Steps for Bd. Service  Promote your local chapter to others.  Recruit future leaders to help govern the organization.  Stay current on issues and trends impacting the membership.  Get involved in committee work.  Make contributions and assist with fundraising.

7. R. HarrisBoard Orientation7 The Officers  The officers have special duties described in the bylaws & policies and procedures.

8. R. HarrisBoard Orientation8 Role of the President  Serves as chief elected officer of your local chapter.  Presides over all meetings or designates a person to do so.  Appoints committees in accordance with bylaws.

9. R. HarrisBoard Orientation9 Role of the President-Elect  Serves in the absence of the president.  Performs such duties as identified in the bylaws or assigned by the president.

10. R. HarrisBoard Orientation10 Role of the Secretary/Treasurer  Monitors the accuracy and timely distribution of meeting minutes.  Oversees all funds and financial records.  Oversees preparation of annual budget for approval.  Keeps records of all income and expenses.  Performs such duties as identified in the bylaws & policies & procedures.

11. R. HarrisBoard Orientation11 Financial Responsibilities  The Executive Board approves the proposed budget.  The Executive Board is responsible for reviewing financial reports on a regular basis.

12. R. HarrisBoard Orientation12 Committees  Help the local chapter accomplish the initiatives.  Identify potential leaders.  Serve the interests of subgroups of members.

13. R. HarrisBoard Orientation13 Board Meetings  The Preparation  Notice of the meetings need to be distributed well in advance.  Prepare agenda/make effort to distribute in advance.  Whenever possible, formulate and ask your questions before the meeting.

14. R. HarrisBoard Orientation14 Board Meetings  The Agenda  The agenda is prepared with the input of the President, President-Elect, and Secretary/Treasurer with consideration of current issues, member needs and pending business.  If you have input for the agenda, be sure to provide it to the President well in advance of the meeting.

15. R. HarrisBoard Orientation15 Board Meetings  Minutes  Minutes are a legal record of the meetings.  They are not a record of side conversations.  No audio recordings should be maintained once the minutes are approved.  Secretary should complete minutes and send to the Board for review in a timely manner.  The minutes are to be approved at the next Board meeting.

16. R. HarrisBoard Orientation16 Board Meetings  The Rules of Order  Procedural rules are used to maintain order at meetings.  All persons must be recognized by the chair before speaking.  Time limits may be set on certain topics.  When in doubt – refer to Robert’s Rules of Order and/or Robert’s Rules of Order In Brief

17. R. HarrisBoard Orientation17 Recruiting Leaders  A responsibility of board members is to identify future leaders for both your local chapter and at the state level.  Training programs encourage and help recruit leaders.  Committees and chapters may be a source of future leaders.

18. R. HarrisBoard Orientation18 Board Legal Considerations  Duty of Care  Good business judgment at all times.  Due diligence in decision making.  Duty of Loyalty  Avoid conflicts of interest.  Duty of Obedience  Faithful to the mission and goals.  Follow the governing documents.

19. R. HarrisBoard Orientation19 Thank You for Serving!  The board experience should be a positive one.  The board is the caretaker of your local chapter.  The board speaks as a whole, no board member should have more input or authority than others.  There are NO dumb questions.  Always ask questions as they arise.  Thank you for serving on your board!