EFFECTIVE BOARD MEMBERSHIP
Being a Board member at TBI is a sacred trust to represent the whole congregation in building a sustainable future for Temple Beth Israel. Through its leadership, the Board sets the tone for congregational life.
Each Board member is expected to:
- Act with derech eretz (respect) at meetings, events and in the community
- Chair or serve on a TBI committee other than the Board or Va'ad
- As a role model, attend religious services as often as possible with the goal of at least once per month
- Represent the Board by sitting on the bimah, welcoming the Bar/Bat Mitzvah into the community and making announcements at 2-3 Friday nights or Shabbat morning services each year
- Support and attend congregation-sponsored educational, tikkun olam, fund raising and/or social programs
- Seek and welcome new members into all aspects of congregational life
When a Board operates effectively, it:
- Inspires and leads the congregation
- Identifies priorities and long and short term goals
- Sets broad policy guidelines and direction
- Co-operates with other community groups who are working toward the same or similar goals
- Gathers information from all sources to improve its work
- Respects and works in partnership with senior executive staff
- Has a mindset of continuous improvement
- Establishes procedures for the ongoing selection and training of new Board members, including leadership development activities.
POSITION DESCRIPTIONS FOR VOLUNTEER LAY LEADERS
Position Title: Past President
Basic Function:Serve as "tribal elder" to TBI.
Specific responsibilities:
- Act as mentor to the President and Board/Va'ad Chair
- Provide the benefit of experience at Board and Va'ad meetings
- Champion lay succession planning, looking for and developing potential leaders
- As agreed with the President, represent TBI at other Progressive Jewish organisations or at general community meetings.
Position Title: President
Basic Function:Serve as chief elected officer representing the entire TBI membership and, together with the rabbi(s), act as spokesperson for TBI.
Specific Responsibilities:
- Ensure the successful running of the organisation
- Together with the Treasurer, ensure the organisation operates within the agreed budget year on year
- Manage and guide the Executive Manager and provide the official line of communication between the Board and the Executive Manager.
- Initiate, develop and implement strategies and policies together with Board members and the Executive Manager
- Together with the Rabbi(s) and Board, ensure that TBI is an inclusive, welcoming and warm organisation
- Ensure clear and timely communications to all TBI members
- Conduct an annual review of organisational and senior staff performance and effectiveness
- Represent TBI at Progressive Judaism Victoria (PJV), Union of Progressive Judaism (UPJ) and at general community functions.
- Sign and authorise formal documents and accounts
- Present yearly report at the annual general meeting.
Position Title: Vice President
Basic Function:Assist the President in carrying out his or her responsibilities. It is a tradition at TBI to have two Vice Presidents with the more senior typically being groomed immediately for the presidency and the junior being guided by that person.
Specific Responsibilities:
- Deputise for the President in their absence.
- Offer the benefit of their TBI knowledge at Board and Va'ad meetings as well as with the community at large
- Mentor Board members who seek such guidance
- Perform duties assigned by the President such as chairing committees.
- Attend annual meetings and special meetings as requested by the President
- Represent TBI at other organisations
- Lead the Staff Relations Committee ensuring consistent and transparent staff policies and practices.
Position Title: Secretary
Basic Functions:Ensure that records are maintained of all Board and Va'ad meetings other than those of an in camera nature.
Specific Responsibilities:
- Serve as a member of the Board of Governance.
- Take minutes at Board and Va'ad meetings and ensure their timely distribution
- Ascertain that records are maintained for all meetings of the Temple, the Board of Governance and the Va'ad.
- Serve as chairperson of one or more committees if requested by the President.
- Perform other duties as may be assigned by the President.
Position Title:Treasurer
Basic Function:Ensure the integrity of the fiscal affairs of TBI.
Specific Responsibilities:
- Serve as a member of the Board of Governance, the Va'ad and the Finance Committee.
- Together with the President, ensure the organisation operates within the agreed budget year on year
- Ensure that the association maintains accurate financial records
- Review association expenditures and financial status on a regular basis to ensure overall fiscal integrity
- Ensure that regular financial reports are submitted to the Board of Governance and Va'ad
- Submit the financial accounts of the association for annual independent audit.
- Present the annual financial report to the membership.
- Perform other duties assigned by the President, which may include serving as a committee chairperson.
- Represent TBI with other organisations as assigned by the President.
Position Title: Board and Va'ad Chairperson
Basic Function:Facilitate Board and Va'ad meetings to ensure that they meet agreed goals and objectives.
Specific Responsibilities:
- Together with Board and Va'ad members, develop strategic and annual goals
- Prepare Board and Va'ad agendas and ensure their distribution
- Conduct Board and Va'ad meetings and ensure minutes are accurate
- Assist the President in making committee member appointments
- Assist the Past President and President in identifying potential lay leaders.
- Encourage active participation by Board and Va'ad members in TBI activities
- Inspire the Board to work collaboratively and effectively
Position Title: Committee Membership
From time to time, committees and task groups will be set up to ensure that agreed Board strategies and policies are translated into action i.e. membership and communication, fund raising, finance, risk management, facilities, governance, honours and awards, staff relations.
Basic Function:Participate in Board strategy implementation
Specific Responsibilities:
- Appoint a committee chair
- Agree on key issues
- Define clear and measurable committee goals
- Decide time frame for completion of goals
- Agree on success factors
- Present recommendations and outcomes of endeavours to the Board
Board Of Governance - roles & responsibilities, 1 June, 2011
