Board Member Agreement

Board Member Agreement

A completed version of the form is maintained for all directors. Adopted by the Board of Directors on June 14, 2025

I, ______________________________, understand that as a member of the Board of Directors of Asmbly Makerspace, I have a legal and ethical responsibility to ensure that the organization does the best work possible in pursuit of its goals. I believe in the purpose and the mission of the organization, and I will act responsibly and prudently as its steward. As part of my responsibilities as a board member:

1. I will interpret the organization’s work and values to the community, represent the organization, and act as a spokesperson.
2. In turn, I will interpret our constituencies’ needs and values to the organization, speak out for their interests, and on their behalf, hold the organization accountable.
3. I will attend at least 75 percent of board meetings.
4. Each year, but no later than Thanksgiving of each year and without having to be asked, I will make a personal financial contribution at a level that is meaningful to me.
5. I will actively participate in one or more fundraising activities.
6. I will attend and actively participate in one or more special events.
7. I will excuse myself from discussions and votes where I have a conflict of interest.
8. I will maintain the confidentiality of board deliberations and will publicly support the decisions of the board, including those with which I might have been in disagreement.
9. I will stay informed about what’s going on in the organization. I will ask questions and request information. I will participate in and take responsibility for making decisions on issues, policies, and other matters. I will not stay silent if I have questions or concerns.
10. I will encourage, enable, and respect the participation and contributions of fellow board members.
11. I will respect and support the Executive Director’s authority, communicate ideas about program or administrative activities to the Executive Director rather than to line staff, refrain from making special requests of the staff and avoid discussion of personnel matters with staff.
12. I will work in good faith with staff, volunteers, and other board members as partners toward achievement of our goals.
13. I will participate in and take responsibility for making decisions on issues, policies, and other matters. I will not stay silent if I have questions or concerns.
14. I will participate in the assessment of my fulfillment of these commitments and remain receptive to feedback on my performance. I will abide by a board vote to remove me from the board.

If I don’t fulfill these commitments to the organization, I will expect the board president to call me and discuss my responsibilities with me.

In turn, the organization will be responsible to me in the following ways:

1. I will be sent, without having to request them, regular financial reports and an update of organizational activities that allow me to meet the “prudent person” standards of the law. (The “prudent person rule,” applied in many legal settings in slightly differing language, states that an individual must act with the same judgment and care as, in similar circumstances, a prudent person would act.)
2. Opportunities will be offered to me to discuss with the Executive Director and the Board President the organization’s programs, goals, activities, and status; additionally, I can request such opportunities.
3. The organization will help me perform my duties by keeping me informed about issues in the industry and field in which we are working and by offering me opportunities for professional development as a board member.
4. Board members and staff will respond in a straightforward fashion to questions that I feel are necessary to carry out my fiscal, legal, and moral responsibilities to this organization. Board members and staff will work in good faith with me toward achievement of our goals.

If the organization does not fulfill its commitments to me, I can call on the Board President and Executive Director to discuss the organization’s responsibilities to me.

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Board Member

Signature: ______________________________ Date: ____________

Print Name: ______________________________

President of the Board of Directors

Signature: ______________________________ Date: ____________

Print Name: ______________________________

Categorization

This is a board policy maintained by the secretary of the board. Changes to this policy require board action. You can learn more about the board of directors here. Contact board@asmbly.org for comments or questions.