Governance Structures and Practices
- Understands and fulfills the fiduciary duties of a director.
- Acts and responds within the established hierarchy and procedures of the cooperative.
- Votes with the best interests of the cooperative in mind.
- Demonstrates behaviors that support a diverse, inclusive, and equitable environment where all directors, staff, and members feel respected and valued regardless of gender, age, race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation or identity, disability, or education.
- Advocates on behalf of the cooperative and engages in political processes in a way that aligns with board consensus, and encourages employees and members of the cooperative to do the same.
Cooperative Outlook
- Promotes the value of the cooperative within the community.
Understands and provides effective oversight of the cooperative’s risk management efforts. - Stays informed about board and committee matters.
- Serves as a conduit for information about community and members’ interests and concerns.
Personal Effectiveness
- Regularly attends board meetings and related local, regional, state, and national events.
- Understands and promotes the cooperative’s goals, vision, and strategic objectives.
- Is familiar with the cooperative’s organizational structure, financial information, key risks, and risk management strategy.
- Solicits and relays cooperative member comments, suggestions, and questions.
- Communicates individual positions of cooperative members, but votes on behalf of the entire membership.
- When voting, is adequately informed, exercises independent judgment, and avoids or addresses conflicts of interest.
- Reads cooperative and board communications.
- Thinks systematically, conceptually, and analytically to determine effective solutions.
- Participates in training and education to increase knowledge and understanding of industry and governance issues.
- Comes to meetings prepared, having reviewed materials and formulated questions for clarification of issues.
- Actively participates in board discussions, periodic evaluations, and planning efforts.
- Builds a productive working relationship with other directors that contributes to moving the cooperative forward.
- Serves on committees, task forces, or work groups as assigned.
- Comfortably uses basic technologies including a PC or tablet, email, and other applications or technologies used by the cooperative and the Board to communicate and conduct business.
- Recognizes that unless authorized by the Board of Directors, a director may not speak on the Board’s behalf; direct, instruct, or supervise cooperative employees or agents; or disclose confidential information or documents.