Purpose

This outlines the responsibilities and commitments needed of candidates when they submit a nomination to serve on the DignityUSA Board of Directors.

Responsibilities of the Board of Directors

Collectively the Directors of the organization must:

• Believe in and commit to the mission of DignityUSA
• Lead and direct the organization
• Make policy
• Supervise the executive director
• Develop, refine and carry out the strategic plan of DignityUSA
• Meet legal standards of duty
• Take on a governance role, and
• Respect executive director's authority as chief staff officer.

Individual responsibilities of a Director

Each Board member will:

• Commit to and participate in at least three in-person weekend and one to two two-hour teleconference Board meetings per year of the two year term
• Use telephone and electronic mail to conduct business as a Board member in the most efficient and effective manner
• Act as the liaison for one committee
• Build coalitions within and outside DignityUSA
• Recruit volunteers to work for DignityUSA, and
• Raise or donate money for the organization to ensure revenues meet expenses.

Time commitment

Each Board member will spend an average of:

• Two or more hours per week reading and answering correspondence and participating in various committee assignments year-round
• Three weekends per year traveling to Washington, DC or another location for intensive weekend-long Board meetings
• One Saturday for a Board teleconference call lasting two hours in January and possibly another in Summer
• Meet other times as necessary, and
• Participate in official Dignity functions including the bi-annual convention and annual membership meetings.

Financial commitment

Each Board member is expected to:

• Make DignityUSA their primary charity
• Consider DignityUSA when planning one's estate
• Donate at least some of the expenses associated with the weekend meetings, and
• Identify and effectively solicit donors.

Skills needed

The Board of Directors needs a variety of skills to function optimally. Those skills include:

• Public relations
• Professional writing and speaking skills
• Marketing
• Financial Management
• Fundraising and Development
• Human Resource Management
• Information Management
• Information Systems
• Legal
• Nonprofit organization administration
• Theology and Ecclesiology
• Strategic Planning
• Project management and program oversight to support the mission of DignityUSA.

Becoming a Candidate

• If you feel that you, or someone you know, have the skills, talent, time and energy to serve on the DignityUSA Board of Directors, please you may submit their name on a Nomination Form. These documents can also be obtained by calling the national office (1-800-877-8797).
• Send the completed form by fax (202-429-9808) or by mail by April 1, 2005, to:

DignityUSA Nominating Committee
1500 Massachusetts Ave NW, Suite 8
Washington, DC 20005-1894

• Your participation in this essential process ensures that DignityUSA remains a vibrant and life-giving organization, ready and able to serve you, the member.
• Questions, comments or concerns can be addressed to Dick Young, National Director/Nominating Committee Chair at alwaysyoung7@yahoo.com.

Download a Nomination Form in MS Word Format…