Responsibilities of the Board:

In the interests of all the members of the National Audubon Society and its supporters, the Board's responsibilities are primarily four-fold:

• Set overall policies of the organization.
• Select Chief Executive Officer to carry out its policies.
• Maintain the organization's fiscal integrity.
• Participate in fundraising for the organization.
  
  

All Board members are involved in fund-raising activities. Each Director participates in one or more of several fund-raising task forces, including:

• individual or "special gifts"
• corporate/foundation
• planned giving
• birdathon
  
  

The separate roles of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer are clearly defined. The Board sets policy and the CEO implements the policy and holds the responsibility for day-to-day management of all of the affairs of the Society.

Additional Background Information:

There are 36 Directors on the Board. Directors are eligible to serve for two consecutive three-year terms. Those Directors who are elected officers are eligible to serve for three consecutive full terms. The Chairman and Vice Chairman are eligible to serve for four consecutive full terms.

The Board meets four times a year. Meetings usually run over a two-and-one-half to three-day period and include committee meetings, field trips and the formal Board meeting.

Board members are expected to make a personal charitable contribution commensurate with their ability to give.

All Functions are non-paid, volunteer activities. Candidates are expected to be familiar with the Audubon Cause and subscribe to its principles.

The ability to cover one's own travel expenses to Board meetings is desirable, but not a prerequisite for serving on the Board.

The Following Areas of Expertise are Represented on the Board:

• Program Areas*
  (a) Science
  -Wildlife, Land, Air and Water Use, Toxics, etc.
  (b) Education
  -Youth Education, Higher Education, Mass Media, Etc.
  (c) Governmental Affairs/Environmental Policy
  -National, Regional and State Leaders, including Former Government/Public Service Executives and Administrators as well as Leaders from the Private Sector.
  
• Governance*
  Philanthropists and Fund Raisers
  -Major Donors
  -Foundation Leaders
  -Corporate Leaders
  -Other
  
• Persons with Chapter and Regional Experience
  -Chapter, State and Regional Leaders
  -Grassroots Activists and Advocates
  
• Persons with Special Expertise
  -Financial and Investment Advisors
  -Businessmen, Corporate Executives including Publishing, Advertising and Marketing
  -Attorneys
  
  

* Some overlap, but not always and not necessary.

Other Considerations for Achieving a Broad, Diverse Board:

• Geographic/regional distribution
• Gender
• Ethnic
• Diversity of interests/views/backgrounds and the perspective to consider the totality of the Society's interests on a national basis.