Q: Would I be a good Board member?

A: Popular misconceptions are that it takes too much money or too much time - not true.  The key questions to ask yourself are whether our mission is something you can feel committed to, and whether you feel a need to give back to your community.  You will find that it is a great way to use your skills and knowledge while supporting a great cause and making new friendships.  In brief, you can ask yourself these questions:

• Do I want to give back to my community?
• Do I believe in helping homeless families in our community?
• Do I have a skill (or skills) that I can bring to the agency?
• Do I have 4 hours a month to give?
• Can I "evangelize" the agency to friends, associates, community leaders (etc.)?

Q: How much time should I expect to spend as a PV Shelter Board member?

A: You should expect the following:

• 3 hours per month in Board and Committee meetings
• ½ hour per month reading Board materials and Board-related agency emails
• A half day annually in a Board retreat
• The Board member term of service is 3 years
• Overall, we tell Board candidates to expect an average over the year of 4-6 hours per month

Q: When are the meetings?

A: The Board of Directors monthly Board meeting is at 6:00 on the second Thursday of every month in Watsonville.  Committee meetings and special meetings are arranged to fit everyone’s schedule for the most part.

Q: Do you carry Board of Directors liability insurance (sometimes referred to as "D&O")?

A: Yes.

Q: What skills and qualities are needed to be a good Board member?

A: In general: willingness to accept responsibility, to engage in affairs of the Board actively and responsibly, management capabilities, and the ability to promote the agency whenever and wherever possible.  It would be nice if you had a special skill that you could bring to the agency, like finance expertise, management skills, connections with local businesses or funders, property management experience, etc.  We also like to have a diverse Board, so we heartily invite people from varying  cultures, race, ethnicity, background, etc.  Awareness of the Pajaro Valley community is a plus, but not required.

Q: Do I have to have previously been a Board member of a non-profit?

A: Absolutely not.  We welcome new members to the non-profit Board community!

Q: How much will I get paid?

A:  Well, there is no pay...it is a volunteer Board.  However, if you consider the satisfaction that you will receive from helping all of the people we help...then the pay is huge!   Being a volunteer Board member also presents itself well to your friends, family, business partners, and customers and is always a welcome addition to a resume, showing responsibility and community commitment.

Q: Do I have to ask people for money?

A: This is always a sticky point with many non-profit Boards.  While not required, it would of course it would be wonderful to have someone who can ask donors for money.  However, we do have people who can do that.  More importantly, it helps to have someone who can "open doors", make introductions, and evangelize the agency.  This would be a "friend raiser" rather than a "fund raiser".   Of course, if you want to ask people for money, we invite that too!   You will find, however, that some of your friends may even expect you to ask them for money, knowing that you are a Board member of the agency.

Q: Do I have to give s large personal donation to the agency?

A: Funding organizations like to see 100% Board giving, so we expect that.  However, the amount you give is up to you.  If you do donate to charities, your donation as a Board member should probably be up there with your other donations.  Often you may find that your company or other organization will give money with a little prompting from you, and that certainly counts.