2010 Catalyst Board Member Recruitment

Patricia Mattison Craft ? October 27, 09

The time for talk is over.
It’s fun to talk about how to make Birmingham a better place to live.
It’s thrilling to actually do it.
Catalyst is a place to take your dreams and figure out how to turn them into reality with the support of an entire board.
Just in the past 2 years, our board members dreamt of having local government be more responsive to our generation’s concerns. So we launched Kids Got the
Vote, a peer-to-peer voter registration and education drive.
We wished to get inside the heads of female elected officials, and instigated that conversation in the form of 9 Minute Networking: Women in Politics.
We also dreamt of having a regular conversation with like-minded folks about cutting-edge environmental issues, and that’s why we host Green Third Thursdays, a monthly sustainability salon.
And we care about the future generations in the region so we’ve created the Community Garden Coalition to help the youth learn to have a connection to their environment, be self sustainable, and have responsibility within their community.

Catalyst empowers emerging leaders to make Birmingham a better place to live by combining fun social events, leadership development and service opportunities.
Catalyst values creativity, entrepreneurship and individuality, and its board members have the chance to hone skills they need to move up the leadership ladder, both at work and in the community.

Catalyst. Because it’s hip to be civic.

Catalyst is accepting applications for its 2010 Board now through November 16,2009.

Positions available include:
Chair
Vice Chair
Secretary
Treasurer
Culture Co-Chair (2 positions)
Leadership Co-Chair (2 positions)
Sustainability Co-Chair (2 positions)
PR/Communications Chair
Graphics/IT Chair
Membership/Development Chair
Development Chair
Social Media Chair
Events Chair

What makes a good candidate for Catalyst’s governing board?
Successful board members:
- Have a passion for making Birmingham a better place to live
- Are collaborative, enthusiastic and resourceful
- Have a good sense of humor
- Are ready to sharpen their leadership skills with a combination of training exercises and hands-on service

Board Member Job Descriptions
All board members:
- Prepare for and attend Catalyst events and monthly board meetings
- Maintain an in-depth understanding of Catalyst’s mission and programs
- Serve on committees or task forces and offer to take on special assignments
- Are dues-paying members of the organization
- Fulfill the fiduciary responsibilities of board membership

The Chair (only a current Board Member who has served at least 6 months)
- Oversees board meetings
- Works in partnership with the entire board to ensure Catalyst achieves it goals
- Acts as an alternate spokesperson for the organization
- Consults with board members on their roles and help them assess their performance

The Vice Chair (only a current Board Member who has served at least 6 months.)
- Carries out special assignments as requested by the board chair
- Can perform the board chair’s duties in the chair's absence
- Participates as a vital part of the board leadership

The Secretary:
- Ensures the safety and accuracy of all board records
- Reviews board minutes
- Provides notice of board meetings

The Treasurer:
- Acts as the primary steward of Catalyst’s fiscal sustainability
- Ensures that the board members fulfill their fiduciary responsibilities
- Has a background in accounting, economics or the financial industry
- Ensures that appropriate financial reports are promptly made available to the board
- Presents the annual budget to the board for approval

The Culture Co-Chairs:
- Work collaboratively to set an agenda for Catalyst’s culture-related activities
- Produce measurable results
- Support Sidewalk Moving Picture Film Festival
- Culture includes the performing and visual arts and all forms of culture (including good food and beverages!)

The Leadership Co-Chairs:
- Work collaboratively to set an agenda for Catalyst’s leadership development activities
- Produce Women in Politics and a Fall Candidates Forum + other
- Produce measurable results
- Leadership includes leadership development, civic engagement and political awareness

The Sustainability Co-Chairs:
- Work collaboratively to set an agenda for Catalyst’s sustainability activities
- Support Community Garden Coalition and Green Third Thursday + other
- Produce measurable results
- Sustainability includes urban sustainability, environmental stewardship, parks and open space and economic development

The PR/Communications Chair:
- Works collaboratively with the board to promote Catalyst’s agenda and activities to members, the media and the general public
- Acts as the primary spokesperson for the organization

The Graphics/IT Chair:
- Create eye-catching visuals to tell Catalyst’s story
- Maintains Catalyst’s web page
- Send e-blasts as requested in a timely manner

The Membership/Development Chair:
- Provides leadership for fundraising and resource development activities
&- Manages the recruitment of new members and retention of existing members
- Brings membership concerns, ideas and opportunities to the board’s attention

Social Media Chair
- Maintains Facebook, Twitter and Catalyst website calendar, blogs, and content
- Explore other opportunities to market Catalyst through social media

Events Chair
- Support for all pillars in event planning
- Manages all events and assists with acquiring F&B and venue.

Application for the 2010 Board
If you are interested in serving as a member of Catalyst’s 2010 Board, please send an email to patriciacraft1@gmail.com with the following information:
-Name
-Bio/Resume/Statement of Qualifications
-Other community activities (past and present)
-What position(s) you are interested in - in your order of preference
-Why you are interested in being part of Catalyst’s 2010 board

Applications will be accepted from dues-paying Catalyst members until Monday,November 16.
If you need to pay your Catalyst dues, visit hiptobecivic.com

If you have questions, email Catalyst Chair Patricia Craft at patriciacraft1@gmail.com Catalyst. Because it’s hip to be civic.