Board Manual: Guidelines for CASA Program DirectorsThe Department of Criminal Justice ServicesJuvenile Services Section202 North Ninth Street, 10th FloorRichmond, VA 23219(804)786-6428March, 1999Table of ContentsChapter 1: Board Operations4Basic Board Responsibilities4Code of Ethics5Pledge Form6Board Member Description7Board Job Descriptions, Responsibilities, and Policies8Roles and Responsibilities of the Board12Legal Liability14Conflicts of Interest16Chapter 2: Board/Staff Interactions18Relating to the Director, Staff and Volunteers18Board/ Staff Relations20Expectations21Rights of Volunteer Board Members22Policy vs. Management23Board and Staff - Who Does What?27Supervising the Director29Chapter 3: Committees & Meetings31All Committees are Not Created Equal31The Role of Committees32Guidelines for Key Standing Committees36Board Meetings41How to Make Committees Work Effectively45Guide to Preparation of an Agenda48Committee Report Form50Meeting Record: Action Plan51Chapter 4: Finances52Guide to Finance & Fundraising52Ten Ways a Board Member Can Participate in Fundraising58Advantages and Disadvantages of Different Types of Funders59Where is the Funding Pie?61Fundraising Difficulties62Asking for Money63Special Events 64Chapter 5: Board Membership65Making Your Board the Best it Can Be65Recruiting New Members66Assessing Board Membership72Orienting New Board Members73Application for Appointment to Board74Board Qualities Checklist75Planning a Board Retreat76Retreat Site Selection80Board Composition Analysis82Board/Staff Expertise83Chapter 6: Evaluation84Measuring the Board84Evaluating the Board for Progress89End of Term Questionnaire92Evaluating the Director94Administrator Evaluation Checklist95Chapter 7: Long Range Planning97Strategic Planning97What Should a Strategic Plan Include?102How do we Increase Our Chances of Implementing Our Strategic Plan?105Chapter 1BOARD OPERATIONSBasic Board ResponsibilitiesTo be a successful and valuable member of your board, you will want to keep the following items foremost in your mind. These are your basic board member responsibilities:Supporting your directorWithout your directors day-to-day management skills, the policies and plans adopted by the board would be of little impact. He or she truly is the person who makes your ideas and visions real. As you work together to achieve CASAs goals, however, you must also remember that your job and the directors job are quite different. You make the plan, but the director decides how the plan is implemented and the goals accomplished.Setting policyYour primary board function is to fashion policies that ensure your organization is run effectively, legally, and ethically. These policies are building blocks for your director who, in turn, is responsible for implementing your policies and managing the organization in accordance with them.Guiding long-range planning and developmentThe board gives direction to your organization through long-range goals ranging at least three to five years into the future. During the planning process, you will be asked to assess the present and future needs of the community and to determine how CASA fits into that picture.Raising money and monitoring financesAs a “trustee” for your organizations money, you are responsible for seeing that it is spent effectively in delivering programs and services. Youre also responsible for looking into the financial future. When you plot CASAs goals, you must review your ability to pay for your plans. That means fundraising when appropriate.Working cooperatively with other board membersIf you cannot work with your peers, then your board will accomplish nothing. This is true in every aspect of board service - meeting efficiency, conflict management, recruitment, training, and director evaluation.Code of EthicsA code of ethics lists actions that are essential to your boards integrity and it lends credibility to the goals that CASA is striving for. In your communitys eyes, the code keeps the board honest. Behind boardroom doors, the code serves as a reminder that your organizations mission takes priority over personal agendas.As a member of this board, I will: Represent the interests of all people served by this organization and not favor special interests inside or outside of this non-profit. Not use my services on this board for my own personal advantage or for the advantage of my friends or associates. Keep confidential information confidential. Respect and support the majority decisions of the board. Approach all board issues with an o