General Purpose

The governance committee is commissioned by and responsible to the Board of Trustees to assume the primary responsibility for matters pertaining to Board of Trustees recruitment, nominations, orientation, training, and evaluation in accordance with the bylaws of the organization as well as established policies and practices approved by the Board of Trustees.

Appointments and Composition

1. Appointments of the chair and members of the Board governance committee shall be made annually by the Chair of the Board with the advice and consent of the Board in accordance with the Bylaws.
2. The chair of this committee shall be a member of the Board of Trustees.
3. Other members of this committee shall be members of the Board of Trustees.
4. Additional committee members may be appointed and need not be members of the Board of Trustees.

Responsibilities

1. Analyze the skills and experience needed on the Board.
2. Create a short and long-term board recruitment strategy.
3. Work with Board Chair and CEO on a succession plan for board officers.
4. Recruit members to serve as members of the Board and develop a slate of trustees for consideration by the membership at the annual meeting in accordance with selection/election procedures outlined in the bylaws.
5. Develop and review annually the procedures for Board recruitment.
6. Develop an orientation and training plan for new trustees.
7. Assist in the planning of an annual Board retreat and other deeper strategy sessions as needed.
8. Develop and revise a Board member handbook outlining the responsibilities of the Board and Board members, Board policies, and other relevant information.
9. Conduct board education as needed.
10. Create specific measurable board-level goals for the year as part of the full board planning process.
11. Regularly evaluate the effectiveness of board meetings, and make recommendations for improvement to the chair and the full board as needed.
12. Annually coordinate an evaluation of the full board and individual trustees.
13. Report to the Board of Trustees at regular meetings of the Board in a manner determined by the Board.
14. Annually evaluate its work as a committee and the objectives it has committed itself to and report on same to the Board of Trustees.