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POLICY TYPE: GOVERNANCE PROCESS

POLICY TITLE: CHAIRPERSON’S ROLE
 

The chairperson assures the integrity of the board’s process and the only person authorized to speak for the board.

Accordingly,

1. The chairperson shall ensure that the board acts consistently with its own rules and those legitimately imposed upon it from outside the organization.
1. Meeting discussion content will include only those issues which, according to board policy, clearly belong to the board.
2. Deliberation will be timely, fair, orderly, and thorough, but also efficient, limited in duration, and kept to the point.
3. The board’s policies concerning individual and group conduct will be enforced appropriately.
4. The chairperson is responsible for setting the board meeting agenda and facilitating the board meeting to ensure that the board remains proactive, forward looking, and value-added in its deliberations.
5. Orientation for new board members will be conducted as stated in B.080.
6. The board chair will explain at the outset of Statements from the Audience that the board may not respond directly to any issues raised but will refer those issues to the president for appropriate action (see B.130 – Agenda Planning).
2. The authority of the chairperson consists of making decisions on behalf of the board consistent with any reasonable interpretation of board policies on Governance Process and on the Board-President Relationship, except where the board specifically delegates portions of this authority to others.
1. The chairperson is empowered to chair board meetings with all the commonly accepted power of that position (e.g., ruling, recognizing).
2. The chairperson has no authority to make decisions about policies created by the board within Ends and Executive Limitations policy areas.  Therefore, the chairperson has no individual authority to supervise or direct the president.
3. The chairperson may represent the board to outside parties in announcing board-stated positions and in stating chairperson decisions and interpretations within the area delegated.
4. The chairperson or any four members of the board may call special meetings as required.
3. The vice chairperson will assume responsibilities of the chairperson in the event of the chairperson’s absence or inability to serve.
4. The chairperson and vice chairperson of the board will be elected at the annual meeting in July.

ADOPTED:  November 9, 1998
REVISED:    May 12, 1999
REVISED:    February 11, 2004
REVIEWED:  March 12, 2008