Do you have a passion for serving your community and bringing the Grey Bears mission to life? Then please consider serving on the Board of Directors.
Role of the Grey Bears Board of Directors
The Board guides the strategic policy direction for Grey Bears growth and change. Among other fun and interesting responsibilities, the Board acts as ambassadors to the community by promoting our mission and vision.
Board of Directors General Responsibilities
- Attend monthly meetings, in person or via Zoom on the first Thursday of the month, 10 am
- Understand and support the organization’s mission, services, policies and programs
- Utilize personal and professional connections to support revenue development for operations and capital needs
- Serve on committee(s) as needed and participate in board development activities
- Attend functions including volunteering at a minimum of one annual fundraising or special event (live schedule pending)
- Regularly assess the organization’s performance
- Setting the organization’s mission and vision and strategic direction, creating agreed-upon outcomes and tracking progress and implementation
- Ensuring financial health by actively participating in financial oversight, understanding financial reports and fostering a culture of financial responsibility overseeing programs
- Maintaining legal and ethical integrity by upholding bylaws and policies, fulfilling obligations, managing risks and promoting transparency and accountability
- Demonstrate commitment to the organization through an annual financial contribution to the organization, in an amount meaningful to the individual
- Selecting and evaluating the executive director
- Take on special assignments as needed
Term Length
- Board terms are three years and generally begin July 1
- Each director may serve up to two consecutive terms
Standing Committees
- Executive
- Finance
- Personnel & Compensation
- Elections
Advisory Committees
- Facilities
- Sustainability
Currently Seeking the Following Skills and Attributes:
- Leaders from the agricultural community, where most of the healthy food we provide to seniors is grown and harvested
- Business owners and community partners representing a “South County” perspective including communities of Corralitos, Freedom, Watsonville, Pajaro Valley, and Aptos
Typical Month
The Grey Bears Board of Directors meets monthly and meetings last from 90 minutes to two hours. Meetings are held in a hybrid format to facilitate broad participation, but joining in person is preferred, when possible, to develop deeper bonds with fellow board members and staff
Board members on other committees can expect an additional hour per meeting, plus some preparation and reporting work.
Current Projects
Grey Bears is working with Bogard Construction to develop plans for submittal to Santa Cruz County to modernize and upgrade our facilities, creating a new, larger commercial kitchen, food market, community room, food delivery preparation and storage areas and administrative offices under a single roof, at an adjacent existing warehouse.
Join Us!
Please fill out the application and contact the following individuals to learn more about how you might join the exciting work Grey Bears is engaged in today and planning for the future.
Jennifer Merchant, Executive Director
Grey Bears Board of Directors Application
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