Thank you for your interest in serving on our Board of Directors of the Germantown Community Coalition. Serving on the board is a rewarding experience and an opportunity for personal and professional growth. Completing this form will help you understand the skills and time/resource commitments of this leadership position. You may find it helpful to read through the entire document application and Board Member Responsibilities before you begin the application process.

This application will be kept confidential and on file. Applications are used by the Board’s Nominating Committee to identify and evaluate potential board candidates. All new directors are elected by a majority vote of current board members.

Responsibilities and Expectations

Meeting Attendance

Board members are expected to take attendance at meetings seriously. No one can make every meeting but the expectation is to make most of them and let the President know if you are unable to attend. Per GCC bylaws: A director may be removed by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the board of directors then in office, if the director is absent and unexcused from two or more meetings of the board of directors in a twelve month period. The board president is empowered to excuse directors from attendance for a reason deemed adequate by the board president. The president shall not have the power to excuse them self from the board meeting attendance and in that case, the board vice president shall excuse the president.

Committee Participation

Each board member must actively participate and contribute to at least one committee. The work of The Coalition cannot be achieved by a few; this must be a collective, collaborative effort in order to achieve our mission. Failure to contribute to a committee will result in being asked to resign by the executive committee.

Represent Mission and Values Consistently

Mission: The mission of the Coalition is to work in partnership with the community to build a safe, welcoming community based on principles of kindness, inclusion, equity and respect.

Vision: A welcoming community whose people are empowered to promote kindness, celebrate diversity, advocate for equity, and lead through growth-minded development.

The board of directors’ main objective is to ensure our organization fulfills its mission. GCC will not be successful if directors are not consistently working towards the same goals without exception.

Advocate in Community in Alignment with Coalition Messaging Board members are expected to advocate for and serve as ambassadors for the nonprofit in the community and among peers. It is critical for board members to be fully aligned with Coalition brand strategy and messaging while advocating in the community. Board members should always be prepared to speak well of the organization and advocate for its services. They are a bridge between your nonprofit and the community, the media, and government entities. Because they donate their time, people in the community tend to respect the fact that they are part of something they really believe in. No board member shall speak with the media or community leaders on behalf of The Coalition without authorization from the executive committee.

Financial Support

At a minimum, board members must maintain active memberships with The Coalition. Participation in fundraising efforts sets an example for our membership and community and is a representation of commitment to The Coalition.

Ensure Legal and Ethical Integrity and Maintain Accountability

The Board is responsible for making sure that GCC operates with the laws that govern it at the local, state, and national level. Every board member should be familiar with GCC’s bylaws and adhere to them. Our bylaws are the rules of operation and if they are out of date or not followed, GCC is out of integrity with itself. The Board must maintain accurate records in case they are requested by government agencies or donors. All work and records should be uploaded to the appropriate shared drive folder.

Adherence to Professional Code of Conduct

We cannot succeed without the trust and confidence instilled in our directors by our members and the greater community. We earn it by keeping our promises, acting with honesty and integrity and achieving our mission solely through proper conduct. Accordingly, the key question to ask in any decision-making process is: will this establish or enhance trust and belief in The Coalition? Will it create an atmosphere conducive to ongoing positivity and success? Will I be able to deliver what I’ve promised without sacrificing quality or compromising my personal and professional integrity?

Confidentiality

Per GCC bylaws: It is the policy of Germantown Community Coalition that board members will not disclose confidential information belonging to, or obtained through their affiliation with, Germantown Community Coalition to any person, including their relatives, friends, and business and professional associates, unless Germantown Community Coalition has authorized disclosure. This policy is not intended to prevent disclosure where disclosure is required by law.