SKILLS, Inc. is seeking Board Members to Join it's Board of Directors

Mission Statement

SKILLS is a non-profit organization in Maine helping people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and/or Autism pursue their goals, interests, preferences, and choices.

Board Members At-Large - Position Description

The Board shall have up to 15, but no fewer than 5, regular Board members. The number of regular Board members may be increased beyond 15 members or decreased to less than 5 members by the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the then serving regular Board of Directors. A Board member need not be a resident of the State of Maine.  All appointments to the Board shall generally be for a term of no more than 1 or 2 years. There are no limits on the number of consecutive terms a member may serve.

SKILLS, Inc. Board meetings are currently held on the Second Wednesday, from 6:00 - 7:30 pm, bi-monthly, in Palmyra, Maine. Remote participation is possible.

Qualifications for Service

• Interest in and willingness to support SKILLS, Inc.’s goals and objectives
• Past or current engagement with SKILLS, Inc. preferred
• Initiative
• Integrity
• Analytical ability
• Sensitivity and awareness
• Leadership
• Sound decision-making ability
• Planning skills
• Ability to organize and monitor work
• Collaborative
• Ability to easily use email and other technology such as cloud services
• Commitment to open and honest communication

Officers

The Board shall elect officers of the Organization which shall include a Chair of the Board, a Vice Chair of the Board, Executive Director, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and such other officers as the Board may designate by resolution. The same person may hold any number of offices, except that neither the Secretary nor the Treasurer may serve concurrently as the Chair of the Board or the Executive Director.

General Powers and Responsibilities

The Organization shall be governed by a Board of Directors (the "Board"), which shall have all the rights, powers, privileges and limitations of liability of Directors of a non-profit corporation organized under Title 13-B, the Maine Nonprofit Corporations Act. The Board shall establish policies and directives governing business and programs of the Organization and shall delegate to the Executive Director and Organization staff, subject to the provisions of these Bylaws, authority and responsibility to see that the policies and directives are appropriately followed.

Ten Basic Board Roles and Responsibilities:

1. Determine mission and purposes. It is the Board’s responsibility to create and review a statement of mission and purpose that articulates the organization’s goals, means, and primary constituents served.
2. Select the Executive Director. Boards must reach consensus on the chief executive’s responsibilities and undertake a careful search to find the most qualified individual for the position.
3. Support and evaluate the chief executive. The Board should ensure that the chief executive has the moral and professional support he or she needs to further the goals of the organization.
4. Ensure effective planning. Boards must actively participate in an overall planning process and assist in implementing and monitoring the plan’s goals.
5. The Board’s responsibility is to determine which programs are consistent with the organization’s mission and monitor their effectiveness.
6. Ensure adequate financial resources. One of the Board’s foremost responsibilities is to provide adequate resources for the organization to fulfill its mission.
7. Protect assets and provide financial oversight. The Board must assist in developing the annual budget and ensuring that proper financial controls are in place.
8. Build a competent board. All boards have a responsibility to articulate prerequisites for candidates, orient new members, and periodically and comprehensively evaluate its own performance.
9. Ensure legal and ethical integrity. The Board is ultimately responsible for adherence to legal standards and ethical norms.
10. Enhance the organization’s public standing. The Board should clearly articulate the organization’s mission, accomplishments, and goals to the public and garner support from the community.

(From Ten Basic Responsibilities of Nonprofit Boards by Richard T. Ingram (BoardSource, Second Edition 2008)

Responsibilities

1. Serve as a leading ambassador of SKILLS, Inc.’s mission, programs, and services.

2. Agree to a one or two-year Board term with the option of renewal for unlimited consecutive terms.

3. Regularly attend and prepare for bi-monthly Board meetings and important related meetings.

4. Make a serious commitment to participate actively in Board and other SKILLS, Inc. work.

5. Prepare and approve necessary organizational policies.

6. Commit to an annual philanthropic commitment as determined by the individual Board member and fundraise/recruit members on behalf of the organization.

7. Participate in annual self-evaluation of personal Board service.

8. Participate in the hiring and oversight process of the Executive Director including an annual performance evaluation.

9. Be knowledgeable about SKILLS, Inc.’s mission, vision, programs, and events.

10. Stay informed about Board matters, prepare themselves for meetings, and review and comment on issues of importance.

11. Participate in creation of strategic plan and conduct annual review of the strategic plan.

12. Get to know other Board members and SKILLS, Inc. stakeholders and build a collegial working relationship that contributes to consensus.

13. Respond to requests for feedback or decisions between meetings in a timely manner.

14. Understand financial statements or commit to learning about nonprofit financial oversight.