NCIL Board of Directors Nomination Process

Memorandum: Running for the NCIL Board

To: NCIL Members
From: NCIL Governing Board
Re: Running for NCIL’s Governing Board
Date: April 11, 2023

Elections for the NCIL Governing Board are coming up. We strongly encourage new people to consider running for officer positions, Diversity Committee chair, at-large, or regional representative positions. We especially encourage emerging young leaders and individuals who experience multiple forms of social bias to run.

NCIL Governing Board Requirements

There are at least four (4) NCIL board meetings per year: one in the winter, two around the time of the NCIL Conference and another in the fall. Although these meetings have been held virtually during the pandemic, the Board has re-started in-person board meetings with the understanding that some individuals may need to participate virtually at times. Every few years, we may extend the length of board meeting or hold an additional meeting to allow for strategic planning, additional board training, or a similar agenda item. All board members are expected to participate in every board meeting. The winter and fall board meetings are between 1 to 2 full days (9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.), and the board member or their organization must cover all travel costs incurred including airfare and hotel sleeping rooms. NCIL staff are committed to locating hotels with the best possible sleeping room rates, and providing the dates of the meetings well in advance so that board members can purchase lower priced airfare.

Prior to the pandemic, most board meetings were held in Washington D.C.; however, the fall meetings were usually held in other cities to alleviate some of the high travel costs for board members that do not live near D.C. The exact costs associated with being on the NCIL board will depend on whether meetings will be held in person and if the board member participates in person and the specific travel costs involved.

Every NCIL board member is expected to do the following:

  • Actively participate on at least one NCIL committee or subcommittee.
  • Promote NCIL’s mission and guiding principles.
  • Actively recruit new members for NCIL.
  • Be an individual member of NCIL.
  • Be staff, board, or other designated representative of a current CIL/SILC member.

When urgent issues arise, we may hold a special virtual board meeting. A telephone option is always available for individuals who cannot access the internet / webinars. The minimum time commitment required of board members is 3-4 hours per month, but depends on how involved the individual is with NCIL.

We are providing information about the level of involvement necessary to make sure no one is surprised by the commitment once they are elected. Please feel free to contact Theo Braddy, NCIL Executive Director, or anyone currently on the NCIL Board with any questions or requests for further information.

NCIL Governing Board Open Position Descriptions

President

Reports to: NCIL Governing Board

FUNCTION: The function of the President is to serve as the Chairperson of the Governing Board and preside at all meetings of the Governing Board, Executive Committee and Annual Council. The NCIL President is eligible to serve two (2) full terms of two (2) years each.

Responsibilities:

  1. Presides over the National Council on Independent Living Governing Board, Executive Committee and Annual Council Meetings. Develops agendas with the Executive Director.
  2. Oversees the work and actions of the Board and Board members.
  3. Reviews the organizational structure and develops recommendations for the composition of Board committees.
  4. Appoints, removes or replaces chairs for standing and ad hoc committees, subcommittees or tasks forces (unless otherwise indicated in the NCIL by-laws.)
  5. Participates as an ex-officio member of all standing and ad hoc committees and subcommittees.
  6. Directly supervises the Executive Director of NCIL, and with input from members of the executive committee (and other board members as appropriate) develops and reviews the executive director’s annual performance evaluation. The president, also, with input from the executive committee recommends salary adjustments in accordance with the organization’s approved budget.
  7. Understands and complies with the rules governing the organization.
  8. Assists the board in carrying out its fiduciary responsibilities, such as reviewing the organization’s financial statements, organizational budget and audit report.
  9. Assist in fund raising and resource development activities.
  10. Provides monthly written reports to the Executive Committee and quarterly written reports to the Governing Board and membership.
  11. Identifies individuals who may fill future Board positions and make leadership development and mentoring activities available to them.
  12. Serves as grassroots spokesperson for the organization.
  13. Performs other duties as assigned by the Governing Board.

Requirements:

  • must be a staff, board or designated representative of a current CIL/SILC Member,
  • actively participated as a member of the NCIL board for at least two (2) years or as Chair of a NCIL Committee, Subcommittee, Task Force, or Caucus for four (4) years,
  • must maintain an Individual Membership within NCIL and the sponsoring CIL/SILC must maintain their CIL/SILC membership, and
  • must have the ability and willingness to meet all assigned responsibilities.

Treasurer

Reports to: President

Function: The function of the Treasurer is to assure the proper receipt and disbursement of all NCIL funds, shall make reports on the financial condition of NCIL to the Governing Board and the membership. The Treasurer shall chair NCIL Finance Committee. The Treasurer or his or her designee shall serve on the NCIL Resource Development subcommittee. The NCIL treasurer is eligible to serve two (2) full terms of two (2) years each.

Responsibilities:

  1. Chairs the Finance Committee and conducts regular conference calls/meetings of the committee.
  2. Reviews the organization’s income and expense statements regularly with the staff accountant and the Executive Director as needed.
  3. With the Executive Director presents the financial statements at each meeting of the Executive Committee and at each business meeting of the Governing Board.
  4. Provides the Executive Director with input of ways to develop financial reports
  5. With the Executive Director develops an annual organizational budget and presents it to the Governing Board
  6. With the Executive Director reviews annual independent organizational audit and presents the audit to the Governing Board and NCIL membership.
  7. Understands and complies with the rules governing the organization.
  8. Actively participates in NCIL’s fund raising and resource development activities.
  9. Provides input to NCIL President on Executive Director’s job performance evaluation.
  10. Identifies individuals who may fill future Board positions and make leadership development and mentoring activities available to them.
  11. Attends and participates on all Executive Committee conference calls and Governing Board meetings. *
  12. Performs other duties as assigned by NCIL President or Governing Board.

Requirements:

  • must be a staff, board or designated representative of a current CIL/SILC Member,
  • have experience with non-profit fiscal management,
  • highly recommend active participation as a member of the NCIL Board and/or as a member of the NCIL Finance Committee for at least two years
  • must maintain an Individual Membership within NCIL and the sponsoring CIL/SILC must maintain their CIL/SILC membership, and
  • must have the ability and willingness to meet all assigned responsibilities.

Regional Representative

Reports to: Regional Representative Chair

Function: The primary function of the Regional Representative is to ensure communication between the NCIL members within their region, and the NCIL Governing Board, Executive Committee and NCIL office.

Responsibilities:

  1. Communicates regularly with NCIL members within the region regarding NCIL Board and NCIL Legislative and Advocacy Activities.
  2. Provides the NCIL Governing Board and NCIL office with input from the regional members regarding NCIL activities, policies or procedures.
  3. Assists in disseminating NCIL Legislative and Advocacy Alerts to the regional members and other advocates as requested.
  4. Actively recruits and maintains all levels of NCIL membership within THEIR region.
  5. Participates on regularly scheduled Regional Representative conference calls.
  6. Attends and participates in all NCIL Governing Board meetings.
  7. Understands and complies with the rules governing the organization.
  8. Assists the board in carrying out its fiduciary responsibilities, such as reviewing the organization’s financial statements, organizational budget and audit report.
  9. Actively participates in NCIL fund raising and resource development activities.
  10. Provides regional members with information related to the Governing Board and Executive Committee meetings.
  11. Coordinates advocacy activities with members in one’s own region related to NCIL’s “Day on the Hill” prior to, and during the NCIL Conference.
  12. Facilitates regional meetings during NCIL Conference.
  13. Provides technical assistance to members in the region regarding meeting with legislators, NCIL advocacy activities, and general advocacy techniques.
  14. Identifies individuals who may fill future Regional Representative or Board positions and make leadership development and mentoring activities available to them.
  15. Other duties as requested by the Regional Representative Chair or the Board.

Requirements:

  • must be a staff, board or designated representative of a current CIL/SILC member,
  • must live in the region the individual representing,
  • must maintain an Individual Membership within NCIL and the sponsoring CIL/SILC must maintain their CIL/SILC membership, and
  • must have the ability and willingness to meet all assigned responsibilities.

Member At-Large

Reports to: President

Function: The function of a Member At-Large is to assist recruiting new NCIL members and in building a coordinated grassroots coalition to assist in advancing NCIL’s advocacy activities.

Responsibilities:

  1. Actively participate on at least one (1) NCIL committee, subcommittee or task force.
  2. Recruits NCIL members by disseminating NCIL membership information in local, state and regional meetings, trainings and conferences.
  3. Works with the NCIL Vice President to identify current or pending advocacy issues on which NCIL will need to develop a position and provide input to the administration and/or congress as requested.
  4. Works with the Regional Representatives in identifying NCIL members who are experts in those national disability laws and/or policies for which NCIL does not have a committee or position.
  5. As requested, assist in identifying NCIL members who can provide testimony for NCIL at local federal hearings
  6. In conjunction with the Regional Representatives act as local grassroots coordinators to assist in expanding NCIL ability to respond to advocacy alerts and calls to action.
  7. Works with the Regional Representatives, Legislative and Advocacy Subcommittees and NCIL office to identify individuals to act as local coordinators in areas/states where there is no NCIL representation.
  8. Attends and participate in all NCIL Governing Board meetings. *
  9. Understands and complies with the rules governing the organization.
  10. Assists the board in carrying out its fiduciary responsibilities, such as reviewing the organization’s financial statements, organizational budget and audit report.
  11. Assist in fund raising and resource development activities.
  12. Informs others about the organization and identify and recruit new NCIL members.
  13. Identifies individuals who may fill future Board positions and make leadership development and mentoring activities available to them.
  14. Performs other duties as assigned by the President or Governing Board.

Requirements:

  • must be a staff, board or designated representative of a current CIL/SILC Member,
  • must maintain an Individual Membership within NCIL and the sponsoring CIL/SILC must maintain their CIL/SILC membership, and
  • must have the ability and willingness to meet all assigned responsibilities.