Board of Directors

Board of Directors

The number of directors are set in the by-laws. These are not paid positions, but carry serious responsibilities. (In fact, at Maker Nexus board members must purchase a monthly makerspace membership if they want to use the makerspace.) The board of directors has a fiduciary responsibility to the community to see that all resources of the organization are applied to fulfilling the non-profit's mission.

Board positions are defined in the ByLaws.

Generally the board of directors has two responsibilities:

1. Manage the Executive Director (ED)
2. Manage themselves

The board sets the mission of the organization and oversees the Executive Director who carries out programs that implement the mission. The board sets boundaries that the Executive Director works within.

The board decides how much autonomy the ED will have.

• How much can the ED spend without prior board approval?
• How many people can the ED hire without board approval?
• Can the ED start new programs without board approval?

The board should be forward looking to make sure the non-profit continues to exist to deliver on its mission. The board is also responsible for overseeing the operation to make sure it is run effectively and responsibly.

The board is elected through a process described in the by-laws. As of this writing board members are added or removed by a vote of the current board members. The board then assigns members to have certain responsibilities as outlined in the by-laws. The board also decides what else it will do and who will do it.

When the board meets, as specified in the by-laws, the directors are then acting in their role as board members. When the board is not meeting the directors are acting as regular volunteers within the organization. When board members are in the makerspace they come under the direction of the Executive Director. Board members should never consider themselves "super makerspace members"; when not meeting as a board, they are just regular makerspace members and volunteers.

Side note: Non-profits may have "members" that are people who donate to the organization without receiving any significant value in return. (Consider being a "member" of KQED.) In some non-profits these "members" elect the board of directors. Maker Nexus does not have "members" as defined in the by-laws. People who are commonly referred to as members of Maker Nexus are more properly called "makerspace members". These makerspace members are part of the community we serve through our mission. In return for their monthly membership fee they are allowed access to our makerspace and tools.

Board President

Broadly responsible for the continuing health of the organization - short term and long term. Includes financial performance, member satisfaction, organizational design and correction, outbound marketing, assuring the mission is accomplished, recruiting donors. The Maker Nexus president is responsible to:

• Give presentations to interested outside groups to increase our visibility
• With Treasurer, co-authorizes purchases over $500 or $1000 in a month
• One of two people authorized to sign checks.
• Signs contracts for the organization.
• Ensures organization meets non-profit mission objectives to maintain non-profit status.
• Runs the board meetings.
• Regularly meets with the General Manager and coordinates periodic performance reviews.

Board Vice President

• Supports the President in accomplishing their responsibilities. In addition, is the primary link between the member ombudsman and the board of directors.

• Meeting regularly with the member ombudsman.
• One of two people authorized to sign checks.
• Takes on tasks and projects to help the president.

Board Treasurer

• Responsible for the financial well being of the organization. Regularly meets with Accounting to insure that proper controls are in place.
• Signs tax returns
• Approves any new program or revenue generation idea.
• With President, authorizes any expenditure over $500 or $1,000 in a month.

Board Secretary

• Responsible for ensuring the legal record of the board of directors is accurate and complete.
• Takes accurate notes of each board meeting, publishes them, and ensures the board approves them at the next meeting.
• Responsible for answering all correspondence to the board and for all written outbound communication from the board.
• Organizes board meetings, creates agenda, and publishes notices in accordance with the by-laws