Prospective Board Member Information Packet

Latest revision: June 19, 2020

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Contents

I. Letter from the President ……………….…………… 3 II. Vision, Mission and Values ……………….…………… 4

III. The NAMI Hillsborough Story ……………….…………… 5 IV. Current Board of Directors ……………….…………… 6 V. Board Member Role ……………….…………… 7

VI. Board Member Responsibilities ……………….…………… 7

VII. Bylaws of NAMI Hillsborough ……………….…………… 9

VIII. Position Descriptions ……………….…………… 18

IX. Next Steps ……………….…………… 20

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Letter from the President of the Board

June 19, 2020 Dear Prospective Board Member, Thank you for your interest in serving on the NAMI Hillsborough Board of Directors. We are excited about getting to know you, and welcome the opportunity to share more about our offerings and organizational needs. NAMI Hillsborough relies on the leadership of our Board members to further our mission in the County. We are a working board, and are active in everything from governance issues including strategic planning, financial oversight, organizational assessment, and fund development. We provide oversight to our volunteers that allows us to further our grassroots initiatives. We are currently seeking new board members who can expand our capabilities in those areas, and who can strengthen our connection with the ethnic, artistic, business, and geographic communities that are essential to furtherance of our mission. The Board meets monthly on the third Thursday at 6:00 pm, and meetings are typically two hours in duration. Our committees meet bi-monthly, and the Board communicates frequently via both phone and email. The following materials will share much more about the organization and the board positions. Feel free to contact the nomination committee with any questions. Again, many thanks for your interest. Best regards, Patrick S. Heidemann President, NAMI Hillsborough

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Vision, Mission and Values

About Us

The National Alliance on Mental Illness is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. NAMI Hillsborough, Inc. is the local affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

NAMI started as a small group of families gathered around a kitchen table in 1979, and has blossomed into the nation's leading voice on mental health. Today, NAMI is an alliance of more than 600 local Affiliates and 48 State Organizations who work in your community to raise awareness and provide support and education that was not previously available to those in need. At NAMI, we believe a diverse, inclusive and equitable organization (or Alliance) is one where all employees, volunteers and members — regardless of gender, race, gender identity, ethnicity, national origin, age, sexual orientation, education, disability, veteran status or other dimension of diversity — feel valued and respected. We are committed to a nondiscriminatory approach and to providing equal opportunity for employment, participation and advancement in all programs and worksites.

Vision

NAMI Hillsborough envisions a County where all people affected by mental illness are leading healthy, fulfilling lives supported by a community that cares. NAMI Hillsborough will be the thought and knowledge leader on mental illness in the Hillsborough County and will contribute to ensuring a stigma-free county where all people affected by mental illness can find the help, hope, and support they need.

Mission

NAMI Hillsborough provides advocacy, education, support, and public awareness so that all individuals and families affected by mental illness can build better lives.

Values

We believe in: HOPE: We believe that recovery and wellness is possible. INCLUSION: We embrace diverse backgrounds, cultures and perspectives. EMPOWERMENT: We promote confidence, self-efficacy and service to our mission. COMPASSION: We practice respect, kindness and empathy. FAIRNESS: We fight for equity and justice.

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The NAMI Hillsborough Story What is known today as NAMI Hillsborough was incorporated in August 1987 as “Tampa Bay Alliance for the Mentally Ill” (TBAMI). Shortly after forming, TBAMI joined NAMI and what is now NAMI Florida in support of their efforts to reduce stigma and improve mental health services, alerting our members to mental health issues/legislation and participating in local committees that examined different aspects of the mental health system.

In addition to supporting NAMI’s efforts, TBAMI (NAMI Hillsborough) offered information, referral, and support over the phone and free support groups for both consumers and family members. TBAMI provided many individuals their first opportunity to talk openly with another consumer or family member.

In 1998, TBAMI (NAMI Hillsborough) received a contract from the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to provide short-term housing for persons with mental illness, one-to-one support, and educational services. TBAMI rented a 2-bedroom apartment and allowed one person to live there rent free in return for helping the short-term residents who used the other bedroom. Many of these short-term residents had just been discharged from residential care and needed a place to live while they looked for more permanent housing.

One-to-one support included help with daily activities and transportation, but far more often involved providing simple companionship to persons who would otherwise have been isolated by their illness. Most of those who provided support were consumers themselves. The educational services were provided by individual consumers who spoke to groups of consumers about their experiences with mental illness and what helped them recover. Further, TBAMI (NAMI Hillsborough) was also able to provide education services for family members utilizing local volunteer speakers with expertise in topics of interest to consumers and family members.

In 1999, NAMI asked all state and local affiliates to include the word NAMI in their names and we became NAMI Hillsborough. From its beginning as the Tampa Bay Alliance, NAMI Hillsborough has worked to help consumers (persons with mental illness) and family members (people who have someone with mental illness in their family) create better lives for themselves.

The contract with DCF lasted through 2008, though residential services were discontinued some years earlier. During the last three years of the contract, the one-to-one and educational services were funded through Project Return, a local provider that received funding from DCF and subcontracted with NAMI Hillsborough.

In 2006, NAMI Hillsborough provided its first NAMI Family- to- Family Class (F2F) and Peer-to-Peer classes (P2P). Family- to- Family, an evidence-based program, and Peer-to-Peer were developed by NAMI and are nationally acclaimed. Since these first classes, NAMI Hillsborough has been able to provide these classes for family members and consumers almost every year.

In 2008, new members joined the NAMI Hillsborough Board, allowing it to become more active and the Board has remained more active ever since then.

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Current Board of Directors

Executive Board

Patrick S. Heidemann, President (Vacating) VACANT - 1st Vice President VACANT – 2nd Vice President Karen McAllister, Secretary Alisha Ozmeral, Treasurer Natasha A. Pierre, Executive Director

Board Members

George Thomas Robin Waters Camelia Francisc Mandi Clay Jamaa Cinque Mike Muzyca

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Board Member Role Board members are recruited for a variety of reasons. Some individuals are talented fundraisers and are valuable to nonprofits for that reason. Others bring significant industry experience, credibility and/or prestige to an organization. Whatever the reasons for service, the principal role of the board member is stewardship. The Board of directors are ultimately responsible for the management of the organization. This requires active participation. People who do not have the time to regularly participate should would not be a suitable fit for a working board. One of the most important functions of the board is to ensure all resources and efforts are focused on the organization’s mission. As a starting point, every board member should have adequate understanding of the organization's programs, support groups, scope of advocacy, and membership. Board members should be familiar with the organization's Bylaws and with the Robert’s Rule of Order procedural guide for conducting meetings. The board is not expected to manage the day-to-day activities of the charity. However, they are expected to oversee committees and the volunteers that carry out the day-to-day activities of the committee.

Board Member Responsibilities The law generally imposes three duties of trust. They are regularly described as the duties of due care, loyalty to the corporation and obedience to the law. The main legal responsibilities of a nonprofit board are summarized in the "three Ds": Duty of Care: Board members are expected to actively participate in organizational planning and decision-

making and to make sound and informed judgments. Directors need not always be right, but they must act with common sense and informed judgment. Duty of Loyalty: When acting on behalf of the organization, board members must put the interests of the nonprofit before any personal or professional concerns and avoid potential conflicts of interest.

Decisions regarding the organization's funds and activities must promote the organization's public purpose rather than private interest.

Duty of Obedience: Directors have a duty to follow the organization's governing documents (Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws) to carry out the organization's mission and to ensure that funds are used for lawful purposes. Board members must ensure that the organization complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations, and that it remains committed to its established mission.

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NAMI Hillsborough Board Member Responsibilities

Be an active member in good standing of NAMI Hillsborough

Attend all Board and committee meetings and functions, such as special events

Be informed about the organization’s vision, mission, values, programs, groups and policies

Review agenda and supporting materials prior to Board and committee meetings

Lead and/or serve on committee(s) and offer to take on special assignments

Make a personal financial contribution to the organization (Give and Get Policy)

Inform others about the organization

Suggest Board candidates who can make significant contributions Time, Talent and Treasure.

Keep up-to-date on developments in the organization’s field

Follow conflict-of-interest and confidentiality policies

Assist the Board in carrying out its fiduciary responsibilities, such as reviewing the organization’s annual financial statements

Advocacy in the community at large for the organization and its mission

This means that I:

Know NAMI Hillsborough’s vision, mission, values, programs, policies

Join in discussions and votes

Understand the budget process

Review financial statements

Review meeting minutes

Lead, support and participate in fundraising projects

Lead/ serve on a Board committee

Represent and promote the organization in the community

Assist NAMI Hillsborough through personal commitment and contacts

Participate in Board development and training activities

Participate in as many NAMI Hillsborough activities as time allows, while fulfilling primary responsibilities to the Board.

Freely give My Time, Talent and Treasure

Personal Characteristics

Ability to listen, analyze, think clearly and creatively

Ability to work well with diverse people - individually and in a group

Willing to prepare for and to attend Board and committee meetings

Willingness to take initiative and to follow through on requisite tasks

Develop skills necessary to cultivate and solicit funds, cultivate and recruit board members and other volunteers, read and understand financial statements, learn more about the substantive program area of the organization

Possess honesty, sensitivity to and tolerance of differing views; a friendly, responsive and patient approach; community-building skills; personal integrity; a developed sense of values; concern for nonprofit’s development; and a sense of humor.

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Bylaws

Page Left Intentionally Blank.

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Position Descriptions

President

Is a member of the Board

Serves as the Chief Volunteer of the organization

Is a partner with the Executive Director in achieving the organization's mission

Provides leadership to the Board of Directors, who sets policy

Chairs Board meetings after developing the agenda with the Executive Director

Encourages Board's role in strategic planning

Appoints the chairpersons of committees, in consultation with other Board members.

Serves ex officio as a member of committees and attends their meetings when invited

Discusses issues confronting the organization with the Executive Director

Helps guide and mediate Board actions with respect to organizational priorities and governance

Reviews with the Executive Director any issues of concern to the Board

Monitors financial planning and financial reports

Plays a leading role in fundraising activities

Formally evaluates the performance of the Executive Director and informally evaluates Board members efficacy

Evaluates the performance of the organization annually in achieving its mission

Performs other responsibilities assigned by the Board

1st and 2nd Vice President

Is a member of the Board

Performs President responsibilities when the President is absent

Reports to the Board President

Works closely with the President and other staff

Participates closely with the President to develop and implement officer transition plans

Performs other responsibilities as assigned by the Board

Secretary

Is a member of the Board

Records and files minutes of each Board meeting Is sufficiently familiar with organizational legal documents (articles, by-laws, etc.)

Treasurer

Is a member of the Board

Manages finances of the organization

Administrates fiscal matters of the organization

Provides annual budget to the board for members' approval

Ensures development and board review of financial policies and procedures

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Committee Chair

Is a member of the Board

Sets tone for the committee work

Ensures members have the information necessary to complete tasks

Oversees the logistics of committee's operations

Reports to the Board's Chair and works closely with the Executive Director

Reports to the full Board on committee's decisions/recommendations

Assigns work to the committee members

Creates committee meeting agendas, facilitates meetings, and ensures distribution of meeting minutes

Initiates and leads the committee's annual evaluation

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Next Steps Thank you again for your interest in becoming a NAMI Hillsborough Board Member. The following are

your next steps:

1. Please visit https://www.nami.org/About-NAMI/Join-NAMI to become a member of NAMI and

select “NAMI Hillsborough” as your chosen affiliate.

2. Please visit https://NAMIHillsborough.org/BoardCandidates to obtain that Board Application.

3. Complete the Board Application, and submit along with an interest statement and your resume.

4. Return to https://NAMIHillsborough.org/BoardCandidates, and upload the completed application,

interest statement and resume by Tuesday, June 30, 2020.

5. Should you have any questions, feel free to email Support@NAMIHillsborough.org.

Selected candidates will be contacted for an interview.

Thank you.

Board Nomination Committee