Co-Chairs, 2021 Nominations Committee 

 

IMPORTANT – SEEKING NATIONAL LEADERSHIP NOMINATIONS 

 

Brothers,

 

The nominations process is underway for the Alpha Phi Omega Board of Directors! The Fraternity is a nonprofit corporation with more than 500,000 members on more than 350 college campuses and an annual operating budget of $2 million. We are looking for individuals who have skills and experience in leadership and governance of complex organizations and who will bring strategic thinking, analysis and planning to Alpha Phi Omega. This is where you come in; you may know a person who would be a good board member for the Fraternity. Therefore, we are asking you to nominate yourself or another person who you believe will help Alpha Phi Omega continue to grow by bringing skills to the board such as program evaluation, long-range thinking and planning, commitment to educating college students, financial experience, diversity of thought and experience, and a desire to lead and contribute to a team of committed volunteers and professional staff guiding Alpha Phi Omega brothers doing service across the country.

 

The deadline for nominations is Tuesday, September 28, 2021. If you are nominating yourself, we want you to embody the qualities below. We request that you complete the online nomination form which can be viewed on the Fraternity’s website and which provides detailed information on the required qualifications and the applications process. Additionally, we request that you identify other individuals who you believe would bring strengths to the board. Please submit the names of any such individuals to the Nominating Committee by using the drop-down selection box of the nominations form and include the reason for your recommendation.

 

Below is the list of qualities and responsibilities of board members for which the nominations committee will be seeking. We hope this list gives you a better idea of what the nominations committee is seeking in candidates, helps you in your thought process of identifying qualified individuals, and in encouraging those people to be nominated for the board.

• INTEGRITY. Effective board members are committed to an “above-board” organization that complies with all laws on all governmental levels.
• DIVERSITY. An effective board is diverse and includes members from various backgrounds and fields of expertise, with applicable degrees of organizational experience, to ensure that the organization is well balanced in its strengths.
• STRATEGY. Board members prepare and adhere to a sound strategic plan that provides measurable goals and ensures ongoing financial resources to support the organization’s staffing and programs.
• SERVICE. Board members faithfully attend board meetings and special organizational events. They talk with staff members and clients and sound out problems that need fixing or issues that must be addressed.
• COMMITMENT. Board members demonstrate their faith in the organization through personal financial contributions.
• PREPARATION. Board members do their homework; they come to meetings informed and ready to discuss concerns, questions and disagreements about organizational methods and goals.
• ENTHUSIASM. Board members are eager to learn, willing to be team players and are energetic in their service.
• SCRUTINY. Board members audit their records regularly and in detail.
• KNOWLEDGE. Board members know the organization’s mission and purpose and understand how its programs and services support the organization’s strategic plan.
• DIPLOMACY. Board members represent the best of the organization and mediate appropriately between the organization and the community it serves.
• FOCUS. Board members direct the organization toward its goals without getting tied-down in details or sidetracked by non-crucial issues.
• ACCOUNTABILITY. Each board member has a unique function on the board. Board members accept responsibility for their functions and their actions.
• DEPENDENCE. Board members acknowledge the value of the organization’s staff and the need for committed, consistent volunteers.

 

TEN BASIC RESPONSIBILITIES OF NONPROFIT BOARDS

1. DETERMINE MISSION AND PURPOSE. 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 CHIEF EXECUTIVE. 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. MONITOR AND STRENGTHEN PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. 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 secure adequate resources for the organization to fulfill its mission.
7. PROTECT ASSETS AND PROVIDE PROPER 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 their 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.

On behalf of the 2021 Nominations Committee, thank you for your careful consideration in nominating strong and capable individuals who will help lead our Fraternity toward our 100th anniversary of developing campus and community leaders through service.

 

In Service/In Brotherhood,

 

Alex and Jack