, ,

So You Want to Be a Board Member?

, ,

By Skitty

Fantastic! The Center for Sex Positive Culture needs you. You are the Center. To assist with getting you more involved, here are some things you should know…

A number of people have recently put their names forward as prospective Board Members (also known as Directors). This is exciting news! The Board is always looking for folx who want to step up, take on more responsibility, and help chart a path forward for this organization that we all love so passionately. Some applicants will likely join the Board soon, others need more experience before being considered, and some will find other ways to make a difference in the community. To help you decide whether joining the Board is right for you, or simply to satiate your curiosity, here is information about the application process and what really goes on behind the scenes.

Why does the CSPC have a Board of Directors?

The Center for Sex Positive Culture is a 501(c)(7) nonprofit, operated in a manner consistent with maintaining that tax-exempt status. We are a membership-based community center for the benefit of sex-positive culture, focusing on Seattle and the surrounding areas. Here is our mission statement:

  • The Center for Sex Positive Culture creates spaces to celebrate, develop, and explore sexuality and sensuality among a diverse, supportive community.

We are required to have a working Board of Directors, including the Executive Offices of President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer, with a minimum of seven Directors. We may have up to two Community Directors (more on that in a future article).

What do individual Board Members do?

  • Board members typically volunteer between 10 and 40 hours per week, on top of attending events and any other volunteer roles they take on (such as EC, Champion, Online Host, etc.). 

  • Basic duties include:

    • participating in weekly Board video calls

    • preparing for, and attendance at, the monthly Board Meeting

    • engaging in a yearly Board Retreat (intensive, day-long work meeting)

    • serving on committees and disappearing task forces (DTFs)(e.g., building committee, document creation/revision DTF)

    • managing special initiatives

    • participating in fundraising by volunteering as staff, donating or procuring items, or making financial contributions

    • directing recurring seasonal events (e.g., CSPC Pride, the Frolic)

    • attending/leading one-on-one and small group meetings

    • answering emails — so many emails!

    • writing reports, creating documents, compiling spreadsheets

    • monitoring CSPC social media, engaging when necessary, and keeping a professional tone and attitude

    • liaising with other organizations and individuals sharing a similar or related mission

  • Executive Officers (President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer) and Division Directors (Events, HR, Operations, and Communications) all handle a ton more responsibilities related to their role, contributing many additional volunteer hours per week.

  • All Board Members are expected to take on an initiative of their choosing, or a Directorship, or an Executive Office, after a few months of settling in and getting a feel for the basic responsibilities of being a Board Member.

What qualifications does a person need in order to be a Board Member?

There is a lot of flexibility with respect to the qualifications required to be a Board Member. This is on purpose — to help remove barriers and promote diversity in leadership. That said, a few things are necessary.

All Board Members must be willing to:

  • consistently devote productive time to the CSPC

  • maintain communication with the other Directors

  • serve the three-year term for which they have been elected

  • allow their full legal name to be made available in public record

  • provide their current address, phone numbers, and email address to the Board

  • fill out a conflict of interest form, understand the implications of their personal, financial, and other volunteer relationships, and be willing to answer questions about those relationships

  • maintain an active CSPC membership

  • execute the documentation required for membership and Board participation

Recommended qualifications:

  • minimum one year of active CSPC membership

  • extensive volunteer experience within the CSPC, including leadership positions (demonstrates characteristics required for successful Board participation)

  • periodic attendance at Board Meetings (demonstrates an interest in, and understanding of, the workings of the CSPC)

  • work experience relevant to the role of Board Member

  • volunteer experience outside of the CSPC

  • education, apprenticeships, certifications (in whatever, all of these really do count!)

  • life experience and the ability to demonstrate how that is applicable

What are the characteristics of a successful Board Member?

The CSPC is a diverse community and so are Board Members. That said, there are a number of characteristics needed to be successful and effective:

  • consistently demonstrate a solid understanding and application of consent culture, commitment to consent culture, and a willingness to engage in ongoing consent education

  • demonstrate an impeccable practice of confidentiality

  • behave with emotional intelligence

  • when applicable, disagree productively in the appropriate venue

  • ability to collaborate and communicate electronically or have a willingness to learn how to use Google Drive, docs, spreadsheets, etc.

  • consistently represent the organization, adhering to the mission statement and House Rules

  • think and act independently

  • be highly motivated

  • be reliable

  • be dependable

  • follow through on commitments, responsibilities, and projects

What else do I need to know before applying?

Volunteering as a Board Member is an enormous responsibility. It is not for the faint of heart. You will be a public-facing representative of the organization, both within our events, and outside of the community. Most of your work will go unrecognized and will often be criticized. There will be much you cannot speak about publicly — ever. It will change the way you interact with the rest of the community. Many of the things you can do as a regular Member, you cannot do as a Board Member. For your entire term, and quite a while after that, everything you do or say will be interpreted (rightly or wrongly) as coming from “the Board.” It is, at times, exhausting.

All that said, being a Board Member is an honor and a privilege. It is an opportunity to connect with membership in a unique way, and provides a profound opportunity to shape and change the organization. It is an act of service that will forever change you and the way you view this beloved community.

What is the application process?

  • Reread the above information and consider whether this is the right time for you to put your name forward. We will always need new Board Members — next month, next year, next decade… There is no rush. 

  • Engage with current and/or past Board Members, asking them about their experiences and any questions you may have.

  • Fill out the Google Form.

  • Include some sort of résumé. This can be along the lines of a customary business résumé or some other format that provides information as to your skills and experience relevant to the work of a Board Member. If this, or any aspect of the application process is preventing you from putting your name forward for consideration, please let us know. Assistance can be provided or accommodations made.

  • Demonstrate your ability to represent the community in a respectful, informed, and civil manner. This includes the ways you interact with others at CSPC events, on social media, and in the surrounding sex positive community.

  • Demonstrate your ability to lead by becoming more involved: 

    • If you haven’t already, volunteer to take on other leadership positions within the CSPC. If you are not sure how, ask someone in leadership, preferably in the area that interests you the most.

    • Check out our monthly Board Meetings and if applicable, participate during the attendee comments period. Get to know the inner workings of the organization, the Board Members, and help us get to know you and your vision of the CSPC.

What if this isn’t the right fit? How do I make a meaningful contribution to the organization?

Not everyone is best suited for the role of Board Member. Not everyone wants to serve on the Board. It takes a special breed of masochist. That doesn’t mean you can’t contribute to the CSPC in a substantial, meaningful, and enriching way. The CSPC needs volunteers in every capacity. If you see a need, bring forward your ideas of how you can make changes in the community.

Approach this as you would when considering a new play partner. Think about what you have to offer, what attracts you to the other person, what kind of play you are interested in, and then negotiate a scene or a relationship that can be enjoyable and fulfilling for both of you. As with play, you may not end up with the scene you first envisioned, but hopefully something even better!

Please direct questions and feedback arising from this article to: president@thecspc.org

The CSPC