Adoption Agency Active Board Member Recruitment

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Bethany Christian Services of the Pacific Northwest is actively seeking Board Members for its Pacific Northwest Branch. We do what we do because God loves children and so do we. Every child deserves a loving family--that’s where children thrive best--but so many children don’t have this blessing. At Bethany, we believe a loving family is a simple, proven, lasting answer to a child’s needs. Our mission is to demonstrate the love and compassion of Jesus Christ by protecting and enhancing the lives of children and families through quality social services.

The board meets every other month in Shoreline on the third Tuesday evening for 2 hours, although we are currnelty exploring meeting via Skype for Business and in person 2 times per year. Our long time executive board has hit term limits and we need new members to step into their shoes at the end of the year. We are wanting to expand our board.

Branch Boards have the following responsibilities:

• Prays regularly for Bethany and its worldwide ministry.
• Supports fund development through personal giving and participation in fundraising endeavors.
• Ensures the recruitment of diverse skills and community representation necessary for branch board leadership.
• Provides strategic direction to Branch Director and hold Branch Director accountable for clinical outcomes, the advancement of Bethany’s mission, and the attainment of budgeted results and balanced scorecard objectives.
• Promotes Bethany within the community.
• Attends regularly all Board and committee meetings and participates in board activities.
• Provides consultation to the Regional Director on Branch Director performance (meeting license requirements, adhering to Bethany's Statement of Faith, and meeting performance expectations).
• Approves the annual operating budget.
• Completes a board evaluation on an annual basis.
• Affirms the hiring of the Branch Director through appointment of the Branch Director as an officer of the Corporation.

The Board currently consists of:

Chair, Secretary, Treasure and other members, our hope is to have the following members of hte board next year.

Chair

Establishes standing committees and appoints committee chairpersons.

• Meets personally each month with the Branch Director.
• Develops agenda for Board meetings in conjunction with Branch Director.
• Ensures accurate and complete minutes of each Branch Board meeting and ensures their distribution to each Branch Board member and to Bethany USA and Bethany.
• Presides over agenda-based Branch Board meetings.
• Attends periodic meetings with Branch Board members from other states as called by Bethany’s President.
• The Branch Chair is elected by the Branch Board of Directors.

Vice Chair

Performs chair responsibilities when the chair cannot be available (see chair description).

• Works closely with the Branch Chair, other Branch Board officers, and staff.
• Participates closely with other Branch Board officers to oversee the functioning of the Board.
• Performs other responsibilities as assigned by the Branch Board.
• Attends the Executive Committee meetings on a monthly basis.
• Assists the Branch Board of Directors in governing and directing the business and affairs of the Corporation.
• The Branch Vice Chair position is elected by the Branch Board of Directors.

Secretary

• Ensures accurate records of the Branch Board are maintained and ensures effective management of organization’s records.
• Manages minutes of Branch Board meetings.
• Becomes sufficiently familiar with legal documents (articles, by-laws, IRS letters, etc.) in order to note applicability during meetings.
• Assists the Branch Board of Directors in governing and directing the business and affairs of the Corporation.
• The Branch Board Secretary position is elected by the Board of Directors.

Treasurer

Ensures accurate books of accounting and financial transactions of the organization are approved by the Branch Board.

• Meets regularly with the Branch Director.
• Provides annual budget to the Branch Board for members’ approval.
• Ensures development and Branch Board review of financial policies and procedures.
• The Branch Board Treasurer position is elected by the Branch Board of Directors.

Committee Chair

• Sets tone for the committee work.
• Ensures that members have the information needed to effectively do their job.
• Reports to the Branch Board Chair.
• Reports to the full Branch Board on committee’s decisions/recommendations.
• Works closely with the Branch Director and other staff as agreed to by the Branch Director.
• Assigns work to the committee members, sets the agenda and runs the meetings, and ensures distribution of meeting minutes.
• Initiates and leads the committee’s annual evaluation.
• The Committee Chair position is elected by the Branch Board of Directors.
  
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We are hoping to have enough board members to establish the following permanent committees to meet regularly with the Director
Executive:

Members: chairperson, vice-chairperson, treasurer, and secretary.
Acts in emergency situations or in urgent matters requiring immediate action.
Determines recommendations on general branch administrative matters.
Evaluates policy issues, special problems, and the appropriateness of new ventures.
Acts on additional issues for which the Branch Board has delegated responsibility.

Finance:

Makes recommendations to the Branch Board on annual budget approval.
Monitors monthly revenue, expenditures, and intervention plans.
Summarizes the financial report to Branch Board members at meetings.
Reviews and makes recommendations regarding the lease or purchase of property.
Oversees the branch financial stability and the integrity of expenditures.

Fund Raising:

Approves annual plan for raising funds sufficient to support Bethany's ministry needs.
Implements fund development efforts including:
A. Fund raising events.
Current and new donor communications and proposals.
Monitors results and evaluates the effectiveness of all stewardship efforts.

Nominating:

Identifies specific talents needed for the Branch Board.
Establishes recruitment and orientation procedures.
Recommends potential members to the Branch Board.