Board Member Position Description

RESPONSIBILITY OF BOARD MEMBERS

The primary responsibilities of the NSCA Board are to oversee the activities of the Association, to set goals, and to provide the means to accomplish these goals in accordance with the Mission Statement and the needs of the membership.

Attendance at all Board meetings is required. A Board position requires active participation in Association activities and an unimpeded commitment. Attention to Association matters must be completed in a timely fashion and in accordance with NCSA policies and procedures.

All agenda items must be directed to the Executive Director to be prepared in advance of a Board meeting. All agenda items with proper documentation and justification must then be submitted to the President for approval.

Board members are required to review all agendas prior to Board meetings and ensure that all documentation has been received. Each Board member should carefully study the issues and bring up any questions prior to the meeting, to allow sufficient time for research, if necessary.

Board members should understand the Association’s rules and regulations as well as the general operating procedures. These documents define the relationship between the Board and Association office staff. Utilize the staff as a reference in responding to questions. It is important to maintain consistency and credibility in providing information to the public.

BOARD MEETINGS
An agenda and appropriate supporting materials will be prepared and distributed three weeks prior to regularly scheduled meetings and seven days prior for special meetings of the Board. It is essential to an effective discussion of agenda items that the materials in the meeting notebook are read and any inquiries about the agenda and/or materials are done before attendance at the meeting.

At an NSCA Board meeting, the President will preside and conduct the meeting. All Board members are encouraged to discuss the agenda items and express their opinions freely. Frank discussion of the issues by all members helps assure that the Board makes intelligent, informed choices. Any concerns about an item should be voiced at the meeting. Once a decision has been made by official vote of the NSCA Board, it is the responsibility of all Board members to support that decision in public, regardless of their personal opinions or their stances taken prior to final adoption.

The Board functions effectively because the members work as a group of peers. Each member has a fiduciary responsibility to the Association, regardless of the individual member's employment affiliation or position in the profession. The recognition that all members of the Board must contribute on an equal basis and avoid the "us versus them" approach is vital to the effective operation of the NSCA Board. Members have the responsibility to act in the best interest of the Association regardless of their area of affiliation.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST
Essentially, all members are expected to refrain from using their positions on the NSCA Board in the pursuit of personal gain, and are required to place the interest of the Association ahead of their own in making decisions as members of the NSCA Board.

The full NSCA Board reviews activities that may constitute a conflict of interest on an individual basis. Members are obligated to bring to the attention of the NSCA Board any matter which may be a conflict of interest or about which there may be any doubt, before taking an action on the matter. Please refer to the Conflict of Interest Policy for officers and directors document for a more detailed explanation regarding the issue of conflict of interest.

Members of the NSCA Board will be asked to sign an acknowledgment attesting to their compliance with the rules of conduct. If questions about this information, the President and/or Executive Director should be consulted.