Serve on the ACM Board of Directors

Board Job Description

Accountable to: ACM membership and representatives through the leadership of the Board President and
Executive Director.

Functions
The ACM Board of Directors collectively functions in four major areas:

1. Policy-making
   

2. Strategic planning

3. Fund development
   

4. Financial oversight

In carrying out these functions, the board of directors assumes the legal responsibility for its actions.

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Collective Responsibilities of the Board of Directors
(Adapted from BoardSource)

1. Determine the Association's mission and vision.

2. Select the Chief Executive.

3. Provide proper financial oversight.

4. Ensure adequate resources.

5. Ensure legal and ethical integrity and maintain accountability.

6. Ensure effective organizational planning

7. Recruit and orient new board members and assess board performance.

8. Enhance the Association's public standing.

9. Monitor the Association's programs and services in line with the mission and vision.

10. Support the Chief Executive and assess his or her performance.

While the Board of Directors functions as a body in its deliberations and policy-level decisions, the members are
elected as individuals.

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Individual Responsibilities of Board Members
(Adapted from BoardSource)

General Expectations

• Know the organization's mission, purposes, goals, policies, programs, services, strengths and needs.

• Suggest possible nominees to the board who are clearly leaders and who can make significant contributions to the
  work of the board and the organization's progress.

• Participate in board member self-assessment.

• Serve in leadership positions or undertake committee assignments willingly and enthusiastically when asked.

• Avoid prejudiced judgments on the basis of information received from individuals and urge those with grievances to
  follow established policies and procedures.

• Follow the trends in the children's museum and related fields.

• Bring a sense of humor to the board's deliberations.

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Meetings

• Prepare for and participate in board and committee meetings, including appropriate organizational activities (such
  as InterActivity).

• Ask timely and substantive questions at board and committee meetings consistent with their convictions, while
  supporting the majority decision on issues decided by the board.

• Maintain confidentiality of the board's executive sessions, and speak for the board or Association only when authorized.

• Suggest agenda items periodically for board and committee meetings to ensure that significant policy-related matters
  are addressed.

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Relationship with Staff

• Counsel the Chief Executive as appropriate to offer support in his or her often difficult relationships with groups
  or individuals.

• Understand that the Chief Executive reports to the Board of Directors and the staff reports to the Chief Executive.

• Avoid asking for special favors of the staff, including special requests for extensive information or waivers of policies.

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Avoiding Conflicts

• Serve the organization as a whole rather than any special interest group or constituency.
  

• Avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest that might embarrass the board or the organization, and disclose
  any possible conflicts to the board in a timely fashion.
  

• Maintain independence and objectivity and do what a sense of fairness, ethics and personal integrity dictate even
  though not necessarily obliged to do so by law, policy or custom.
  

• Never accept (or offer) favors or gifts from (or to) anyone who does business with the Association.

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Fiduciary Responsibilities

• Exercise prudence with the Board in the control and transfer of funds.
  

• Faithfully read and understand the organization's financial statements and otherwise help the Board fulfill its
  fiduciary responsibility.

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Fundraising

• Give an annual gift according to personal means.
  

• Assist the development committee and staff by implementing fundraising strategies through personal influence
  with others (corporations, individuals, foundations).

Nominating New Board Members

Serving on the ACM Board is an opportunity to share your individual perspective and skills with a collegial and committed group
to further ACM's mission. To be eligible to serve on the ACM Board of Directors, an individual must represent an open children's museum or affiliate museum dedicated to serving the learning needs of young children and the museum be a current member of the Association. In general, a Board Member is elected to serve a two-year term. Please Note: board terms begin with ACM's annual meeting, InterActivity.

Items to Consider

• Do you have strong experience in one of more of the Board's four major functions: policy-making, strategic planning, fund development and financial oversight?

• Can you meet the all collective and individual responsibilities outlined in the Board Member Job Description?

• Finally, in consideration of those ACM Board Members whose terms will expire in 2011, the ACM Nominating Committee
  has identified three top priorities for Board candidates: ethnic diversity, leadership skills and fundraising abilities. Does your background and/or talents relate to these priorities?

• Elections for the 2011-2013 term will take place in March 2011. Submit your interest or suggest a candidate ACM's Nominating Chairperson Neil H. Gordonby February 1, 2011.