Board of Directors – Responsibilities
General
You are expected to:
- Understand the organization’s mission and mandate, be aware of issues and keep up to date on trends in the community that might affect these issues.
- Ensure that the organization’s legal affairs are in order, know the board’s legal obligations and make sure that they are upheld.
- Understand and, if necessary, query all financial and budget matters.
- Keep board discussions confidential.
- Bring your own training, skills and experience to all board decisions.
Board Meeting
You are expected to:
- Attend all board meetings, and notify the Chair if you are unable to attend.
- Prepare for meetings by reading unites and preparatory material.
- Participate actively in the meetings by asking questions to clarify issues; by expressing you views; by listening to and considering the views of others; by changing your opinion if the situation warrants; and by making decisions.
- Complete any tasks or assignments that you accept at Board meeting or from the Chair on behalf of the Board.
- Abide by and support the decisions of the board. (In instances where you strongly oppose decision of the Board you may wish to formally register your opposition, but your obligation to support the decision outside the board meeting remains the same.)
Committees
You are encouraged to:
- Participate on one or more committees and possibly chair one.
- Prepare for, attend and actively participate in committee meetings.
- Work with other committee members to carry out any committee tasks between meetings.
Other Tasks
These may include:
- Assisting with fundraising
- Public speaking
- Meeting with other agencies, funders, legislators
- Giving advice and assistance to staff in areas where you have expertise
Board Members Job Descriptions
All Members
Together with other Members, the Board Member is legally and morally responsible for all activities of Cook’s School Day Care Inc., including:
- Board membership, recruitment of new members, as well as, providing opportunities for Board development.
- The Executive Members (President/Co-Chairperson, Vice-President/Co-Chairperson, Secretary, and Treasurer) are responsible for hiring, termination, and evaluation of the Executive Director.
- Setting and reviewing the Organization’s Mission Statement and Philosophy.
- Planning and evaluating short and long term goals.
- Ensuring the financial accountability of the Organization.
- Budget approval and review.
- Ensuring adequate funds are raised to support the Organization’s Policies and Programs.
- Public relations, which includes awareness that Board Members are always emissaries of the Organization in the community.
- Facilitating and maintaining cooperative actions with other Organizations.
- Ensuring that the Organization and its Board meet all legal requirements.
- Ensuring that the Board and Organizational operations are adequate and appropriate.
- Ensuring strict confidentiality of all matters concerning the Organization.
Requirements:
- A demonstrated interest in the Organization’s service goals.
- A representative of and advocate for not-for-profit early learning and child care.
- A willingness to expand one’s knowledge of Board responsibilities through ongoing education and/or training.
- A willingness to represent the Organization in the community.
Time Commitment:
Regular Board Meetings: Once per month approximately two (2) hours each Committee Meetings: As required and determined by the Committee Special Meeting: As needed (i.e., training, development, etc.)
Officers/Executive Committee
President/Co-Chairperson
The President/Co-Chairperson is the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, and in that capacity will preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and General Membership Meetings; in conjunction with the Vice-President/Co-Chairperson and Secretary, prepare the agenda for each meeting; and attest the minutes of each meeting. The President/Co-Chairperson shall be an Ex-Officio Member of all Standing and Ad-Hoc Committees.
Vice-President/Co-Chairperson
The Vice-President/Co-Chairperson shall carry out such duties as prescribed by the Board of Directors from time to time and shall be designated by the Board of Directors to assume the duties of the President/Co-Chairperson in the President’s/Co-Chairperson’s absence or inability to act.
Treasurer
The Treasurer shall be responsible for ensuring accurate accounts and shall present, in conjunction with the Administrative Assistant and the General Manager, Financial Statements at the regular meetings of the Board of Directors and perform other such duties as prescribed by the Board.
Secretary
The Secretary shall keep minutes of all meetings of the Board of Directors and members, and shall carry out other duties as prescribed by the Board and as set down in the Corporations Act. In conjunction with the President, Vice-President, and General Manager the Secretary shall prepare the agenda for each meeting.
The minutes of Board of Directors’ meetings shall be made available to the Officers and Directors at least one week prior to the next scheduled meeting. The minutes of the Annual General Meeting or Special Meetings of the Membership must be available within one month following the meeting date.
Eligibility
A Board of Director member shall:
- Be at least 18 years of age.
- Be a member in good standing.
- Not be an employee or contract position of the Corporation nor a family member of an employee or contract position of the Corporation.
Exception: Employees and contract positions of the Corporation are not eligible to be elected to the Board of Directors.
Application Process
Applicants are required to complete the following:
- The application form (pdf)
- Background check forms for the Children’s Aid Society. Cook’s School Day Care provides the forms.
- The declaration form agreeing to abide by the Policies of Cook’s School Day Care including Confidentiality Policy.
- Applicants must provide proof of a clear background check from Police Services which includes a vulnerable sector search.