It is Expected that ACLU Montana Board Members Shall:

Be committed to the preservation of civil liberties and the vigorous enforcement of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights;

Be an ACLU member in good standing, i.e. an ACLU member whose dues are current;

Attend the four quarterly Board meetings and special meetings, if called;

Participate in and contribute to organizational activities;

Accept the responsibility to participate in fundraising activities for the organization, including assigning a high priority to personal voluntary giving;

Embrace the principle that the Board, individually and collectively, is responsible for the performance and maintenance of the organization and is accountable for the results achieved.

Responsibilities of ACLU Montana Board Members:

1. Assure that ACLU Montana maintains its institutional integrity, stays true to and advances its mission, values, and mandate, and focuses on those activities that are most important to realizing its goals:

a. Participate in the development of the organization’s broad directions and goals, with the advice of staff,

b. Participate in the development of the organization’s long range and annual plans, and the budgeting process to assure that budget allocations are consistent with those plans,

c. Evaluate the effectiveness and impact of the organization’s work,

d. Assure that all actions taken by the board are consistent with, and further ACLU Montana’s mission of protecting civil liberties and vigorously enforcing the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

2. Assure the financial soundness and integrity of ACLU Montana and the adequacy of its financial resources:

a. Oversee, and participate as appropriate, in the organization’s financial planning and management,

b. Review and analyze the organization’s quarterly financial reports and yearly audits for accuracy and fiscal soundness, and for consistency with the organization’s long-range and annual plans,

c. Assure that adequate financial controls are in place,

d. Approve, and adopt as appropriate, staff developed long and short range fund raising strategies, including plans to increase the donation of funds by cultivating new donors, by stewarding current donors, and by identifying and soliciting new sources of funding for the organization,

e. Further fund raising strategies by donating funds to the organization personally, and by cultivating new donors, stewarding current donors, and/or soliciting donations from others.

3. Assure that the organization is well led and managed:

a. Participate in the selection of the organization’s executive director and the setting of her/his compensation,

b. Participate in the evaluation of the executive director’s performance, whether as a member of the Board or of a committee assigned that task by the Board, and provide insight and commentary as appropriate,

c. Participate in the periodic review and approval of the organization’s personnel policies and procedures whether as a member of the Board or of a committee assigned that task by the Board, and provide insight and commentary as appropriate,

4. Assure that the board is well constituted,to carry out its responsibilities, is organized to and capable of doing so appropriately, and functions well in doing so,

a. Participate in the periodic review and adoption of by laws and policies for the organization, and in the faithful implementation of the by-laws and policies as adopted,

b. Participate in the analysis of the board’s composition, and adopt and generally oversee implementation of a strategic nomination and recruitment process designed to assures that the board is composed of people who meet its needs and its affirmative action goals,

c. On an informal basis, continually evaluate the Board’s functioning, and offer suggestions for improving its functioning.

5. Contribute to advancing the organization’s work and credibility with key constituencies:

a. Serve as advocates for the organization, understanding and conveying its principal message and goals

b. Work to establish links with key constituencies, including the introduction of staff to significant individuals and institutions of the constituency.