In Other Words Needs Volunteers and Board Members!

In Other Words is seeking board members and store/committe volunteers as we transition into a feminist community center.  We have been actively working to expand our programming, to learn what it means to be a “community center” and become an entirely volunteer-run organization.  IOW has had many changes in the last year and needs your help to create a functioning and healthy community space.  This is an excellent opportunity to come in to an evolving system on the ground floor.  We need people to ask tough questions, do hard work and provide leadership as we grow. 

We have several committees that need non-board member volunteers as well as volunteers for work teams.  If you have any interest in contributing or learning on these committees/teams, we need you!  Team and committee opportunities:  executive committee, strategic planning, finance, development, personnel, volunteer systems, IT, communications, community engagement, fundraising, community events, lending library, bookstore, consignment and zines.  Please contact me with any questions or for position descriptions alice@inotherwords.org

 

About the Board

The In Other Words Feminist Community Center Board of Directors is a group of dedicated volunteers who oversee the development of policies and procedures for the organization that IOW is a project of: Women’s Community Education Project. Each member brings a different set of skills and experiences to the table and contributes to an area of needed expertise by serving in a specific role and participating in volunteer committees. Experience in non-profit organizations, grass-roots fundraising and board or committee work is a plus. Feminism is a must!

All board members share these central responsibilities:

1. Maintain mission and principles

2. Oversee overall sustainability and health of community center (financial management, sales, programming, community partnerships, leadership development of volunteers, etc.) to ensure accountability, engage in problem solving, and provide support to volunteers and peers.  Board members typically volunteer 20-30 hours a month. 

In Other Words is currently seeking volunteers to fill the following board positions:

Board Treasurer

●      Chair of the Finance Committee

●      Responsible for directing the annual budget process

●      Responsible for the monthly account reconciliations

●      Oversees the quarterly financial reporting process and presenting those reports in a tangible manner to the Board of Directors and Executive Director.

●      Conducts long term financial planning

Ideal Skills/Background

●      Accounting and bookkeeping

●      Creating and updating budgets

●      Written and oral communication skills

●      Working independently and with a team

 

Strategic Planning Committee Member

This committee’s efforts are in the areas of identifying organizational mission, values, guiding principles and ethics, as well as establishing program priorities, goals and success measures.

The Strategic Planning Committee is dual-focused – responsible for coordinating the formal strategic planning process and also coordinating the ongoing organizational strategy, program planning and evaluation. Both processes are done in partnership with IOW volunteers, service users, community partners and patrons.

 

Ideal Skills/background

●      Strong leadership skills

●      Excellent written and oral communication skills

●      Able to work as part of a team

●      Flexibility within complex systems and structures

 

Development Committee Member

The Development Committee oversees the creation and implementation of the organization’s fundraising plan. Establishing broad fundraising plans and goals is the primary focus of the Development Committee. These goals are established through close collaboration with the Strategic Planning and Finance Committees, to ensure necessary funding and support for all the organization’s programs. The Development Committee coordinates the fundraising done by the board, which includes board gifts, grant applications and major donor development, and supports and empowers the volunteer-led fundraising team to coordinate and manage the majority of agency fundraising efforts, including fundraising events, campaigns, and community/business fundraising partnerships.

 

Ideal Skills/background

●      Strong leadership skills

●      Excellent written and oral communication skills

●      Fundraising experience

●      Event planning

●      Grant writing

●      Donor cultivation

 

Please contact me for more information, with questions or to see position descriptions.  We are looking for diverse people with varying backgrounds and experience.  We value a diversity of feminist perspectives.  alice@inotherwords.org