Mount Holyoke Club of Northern California
Board Positions
2023-2024
(Fiscal Year: July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024)
The Club is thrilled you are considering joining the Board! While each position involves unique features and skill sets, a few guidelines for commitment to the Board when joining are universal across every position.
Each Board member makes a commitment to:
- Complete the entire expected term—two years for President, VP, and General Board Members, and one year for all other positions. If unable to complete the expected term due to extenuating circumstances, members may share concerns with the president and work together on a plan for succession.
- “Attend” at least 9/12 of our monthly Zoom conference calls per year. When unable to attend a meeting, members will add updates, as needed, to the agenda before the meeting and will review the notes afterward to keep abreast with Board business and action items.
- Actively participate in internal Board communication, event planning, calendaring, and larger Club brainstorming via our Slack channel and email.
- Commit to planning, coordinating, co-coordinating, hosting, and/or being the day-of point of contact for at least 1-3 events per year.
We are actively seeking people for the highlighted positions. If any positions spark your interest, please email us at mountholyoke@gmail.com.
President(s)
Purpose: Lead the Club Board and act as a liaison among Club members, the larger alum community (e.g. other clubs and groups), the Alum Association, and the College’s administrative offices (including Alum Admission Representatives).
Key Responsibilities:
- Guide policy decisions regarding the Club’s direction and role
- Work with Communications team on schedule of events
- Collaborate with Board members to review Board positions annually, and to update Board positions as Club needs and focus evolve
- Encourage all Board members and provide assistance with new ideas, events, and programs
- Maintain and improve upon systems for knowledge management and Board collaboration (e.g. Google Drive, Slack, email, etc.)
- Mentor new Club volunteers and encourage opportunities to develop new leaders
- Collaborate with other Clubs (Seven Sisters/Siblings, Five Colleges, etc.) to put on events, network, etc.
- Manage monthly Zoom meetings (create and distribute Agenda; fill in if scheduled facilitator cannot attend)
Qualifications: Previous Board experience preferred; Current or previous volunteer leader for the College/Alum Association; passionate about Mount Holyoke, with a strong desire to engage the alum community
Commitment: Two-year term; 1 hour monthly Board meeting; 1-3 hours/week for key responsibilities
***
Vice President(s)
Purpose: As part of a collaborative leadership team with the Co-Presidents, help to lead Club Board, and act as a liaison between Club members, the larger alum community (e.g. other clubs and groups), the Alum Association, and the College’s administrative offices (including Alum Admission Representatives).
Key Responsibilities:
- Support and collaborate with co-Presidents in any necessary duties
- Encourage all Board members and provide assistance with new ideas, events, and programs
- Maintain and improve upon systems for knowledge management and Board collaboration (e.g. Google Drive, Slack, email, etc.)
- Mentor new Club volunteers and provide new opportunities to develop new leaders
- Collaborate with other Clubs (Seven Sisters/Siblings, Five Colleges, etc.) to put on events, network, etc.
- If a President steps down, a VP is asked to take on this role
Qualifications: Previous Board experience preferred; Current or previous volunteer leader for the College/Alum Association; passionate about Mount Holyoke, with a strong desire to engage the alum community
Commitment: Two-year term; 1 hour monthly Board meeting; 1-3 hours/week for key responsibilities
***
Treasurer(s)
Purpose: Be a good steward of the Club’s treasury
Key Responsibilities:
- Deposit funds and reimburse expenses promptly, reconcile the bank account and track funds; report out to the Club Board quarterly
- Report on an annual basis back to the Alum Association
- Track dues and other donations from members; send thank you notes
- In coordination with the Membership Chair, consider the best way(s) to collect dues and generate additional revenue for the Club
- Write checks and use Club debit card as needed for misc. expenses
Qualifications: Comfortable with numbers and money; an eye for detail and communication; responsible and reliable
Commitment: One-year term; 1 hour monthly Board meeting; 1 hour/week for key responsibilities
***
Communications Chair(s)
Purpose: Communicate all events to the Northern California alums through various channels
Key Responsibilities:
- Write/curate monthly newsletters for distribution via email through the Alum Association
- Manage Club Facebook Page, Group, and Instagram presence and engagement with those platforms
- Maintain Club website
- Manage internal events calendar
- Create registrations via Zoom for virtual events and Eventbrite for in-person ones
- Make graphics and images for upcoming events using Canva
- Brainstorm, identify, and utilize additional marketing tools to encourage new membership and alums to attend events
Qualifications: Social media savvy; ability to write compelling marketing copy
Commitment: One-year term; 1 hour monthly Board meeting; 1-2 hours/week for key responsibilities
***
Membership Chair(s)
Purpose: Support the activity of the Board as it relates to retaining and growing our dues-paying Membership.
Key Responsibilities:
- Welcome new members virtually via email and continue to create community by connecting with new and existing members at in-person events
- Cultivate member engagement and involvement by inviting them to Club events, soliciting input, and fielding inquiries from alums
- Brainstorm and develop event ideas with members interested in organizing a Club event
- Strategically plan and implement ways to engage a diverse range of segments of the membership with special attention to segments that have been under-served by the Club
- Encourage members to contribute membership dues and to update their contact information with the Alum Association
- Work with Treasurer to find the best ways to collect dues and work with the whole Board to creatively brainstorm ways to encourage new members to join the Club. Membership is a strong indicator of how well the club is being run.
- Volunteer to host at least two events per year and to serve as the Board Liaison for two events per year.
Qualifications: Highly organized; a connector
Commitment: One-year term; 1 hour monthly Board meeting; 1 hour/week for key responsibilities
***
Recent Alum Chair(s)
Purpose: Engage recent alum in our region and represent their interests and perspectives
Key Responsibilities:
- Plan and execute at least 2 events/year that will attract recent alum, provide space for fun, networking, and relationship-building opportunities, and encourage future involvement
- Act as point person for recent alums interested in learning more about the Club and/or in getting involved
- Create opportunities for recent alums, alums from all years, and the Board to connect and
support each other
Qualifications: Graduated 2013-2024; experience with event planning
Commitment: One-year term; 1 hour monthly Board meeting; 1 hour/week for key responsibilities
***
External Relationships Liaisons
Purpose: Engage and collaborate with the leadership of external clubs (for example, other MHC alum clubs, Seven Sisters orgs, Five Colleges alums, etc.) in and outside of our region to offer co-hosted events and programs for our members
Key Responsibilities:
- Collaborate with non-Mount Holyoke clubs on co-hosted, or otherwise cross-listed, events and programming
- Ensure that the aforementioned events and programs are aligned with the Club’s purpose, with the Club’s calendar of events, and with the interests and needs of the Club membership
- Maintain and expand key external relationships and Rolodex and ensure warm handoff to future liaisons and other board members
Qualifications: Previous Board or MHC class leadership experience preferred
Commitment: One-year term; 1 hour monthly Board meeting; 1-2 hours/week for key responsibilities
***
General Board Member
Purpose: Support the growth and longevity of the Board
Key Responsibilities:
- Serve in an advisory capacity to Board
- Serve on committees and take on special projects as needed
- Assist Co-Presidents to identify and recruit additional Board members
- Host/be the Point Person for at least one event per year
Qualifications: Previous Board Member, or current or previous volunteer leader for the College/Alum Association; passionate about Mount Holyoke, with a strong desire to engage the alum community
Commitment: Two-year term; 1 hour monthly Board meeting; 1 hour/week for key responsibilities
In addition to Board opportunities:
Have an idea for an event?
Event Lead (ad hoc)
Purpose: Plan and host an individual event for the regional Mount Holyoke community
Key Responsibilities:
- Propose an event to the Board
- Coordinate logistics and serve as host/point person at the event
- Collaborate with the Board to publicize the event to Club membership and to manage sign-ups
Qualifications: Interested in getting involved by leading the planning and execution of an event
Commitment: Plan and host one event