Current members:

• Valerie Ohle, Chair (CVO)
• Jennifer Hilton, Vice-chair (CFO)
• Lucille S. Simpson, Secretary (CCO)

Vacancies:  2

About the Board of Directors 

With implementation of this plan, WKI’s board of directors will consist of five members. The board will have three elected officers: a chair, vice-chair and secretary. Board officers will fulfill roles on the Executive Committee as Chief Voluntary Officer (CVO), Chief Financial Officer (CFO), and Chief Compliance Officer (CCO). However in the event an officer does not reside in the area of WKI’s base operations (Knoxville, TN), the board may choose to appoint another current or past board member to the relevant Executive Committee position. Officer Election procedures are outlined in by-laws of the organization, and will take place every four years.   

Function

Provide governance to the organization, represent it to the community, and accept the ultimate legal authority for it.

Member Requirements, Term Length, Term Limits

• Demonstrated commitment to service beneficial to American Indians/Alaska Natives regardless of legal (political) status, especially those residing in Tennessee
• Demonstrated cultural affiliation, cultural knowledge and/or professional knowledge or experience relevant and/or necessary to carrying out the mission and goals of the organization
• Demonstrated leadership skills or qualities
• Receives or obtains appointment recommendation from other board and/or executive committee members, Community Planning Committee members, members of the Tennessee AI/AN community, or other community partner organizations
• Legal and permanent resident of Tennessee
• Term: 4 years
• Term limits:  None

Duties & Responsibilities

• Act on behalf of an organization's constituents, including service recipients, funders, members, the government, and taxpayers
• Responsible for fulfillment of the organization's mission and the transparency and accountability of its operations
• Maintain a clear organizational mission, strategic plan for accomplishing the mission, and oversee and evaluate the plan's success
• Inform others about the organization.
• Ensure sustainability of the organization through fundraising or personal contributions
• Institute a fair system of policies and procedures for human resource management including staff and volunteers
• Institute and abide by conflict of interest and confidentiality policies
• Attend all board and committee meetings and functions, such as special events.
• Review agenda and supporting materials prior to board and committee meetings.
• Suggest possible nominees to the board who can make significant contributions to the work of the board and the organization
• Keep up-to-date on developments in the organization's field.
• Assist the board in carrying out its fiduciary responsibilities, such as reviewing the organization's annual financial statements.
  

Candidate Qualifications

• Embraces the mission, vision and values of the organization
• Has ability to listen, analyze, think clearly and creatively, work well with people individually and in a group.
• Is willing to prepare for and attend board and committee meetings, ask questions, take responsibility and follow through on a given assignment, contribute to fundraising efforts or contribute personal and financial resources in a generous way according to circumstances, open doors in the community, self-evaluate as needed.
• Is willing to develop certain skills if you do not already possess them, such as skills needed to cultivate and solicit funds, cultivate and recruit volunteers, partners and other participants, read and understand financial statements, learn more about the substantive program area of the organization.
• Possesses 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 your nonprofit's development, a sense of humor.