Board Member

POSITION DESCRIPTION: Board Member (Volunteer role)

The Opportunity:

• End of Life Washington (EOLWA) provides end-of-life counseling and client support services throughout the State of Washington to qualified clients who want to choose the timing of their death. These services are provided at no cost. We encourage advance planning and provide multiple directives to help individuals with their advanced care planning.
• EOLWA was a key player leading the coalition that passed Initiative 1000--the Washington Death with Dignity Act--into law in 2008. We now steward, protect, and uphold the law.
• Our work is focused on protecting, increasing, and strengthening a full range of end-of-life choices, including using the Death with Dignity Law and Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking in the State of Washington.
• We are committed to becoming genuinely inclusive, welcoming, and competent to serve Washingtonians across the spectrum of age, class, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, socioeconomic status, and ability in considering their end-of-life options.

Responsibilities:

End of Life Washington expects that each Board member understands their responsibility to ensure that the organization does the best work possible in pursuit of its goals. To this end, Board members agree to:

• Develop an understanding of the organizations' core programs, services and advocacy efforts, and stay informed about current issues and trends related to the organization’s work.
• Become familiar with the organization's corporate documents and financial model.
• Understand the needs of the people we serve and hold the organization accountable on their behalf.
• Make a personally significant contribution of time, funds or skills (or all three) to the organization on an annual basis.
• Introduce others to the work of the organization and assist in expanding its pool of supporters.
• Strive to attend all board meetings and understand that attending at least 75% is the minimum desirable standard.
• Participate in one standing or ad hoc committee of the Board.
• Make myself available to the Executive Director/s for consultation on important matters as needed.
• Support a culture of inquiry and constructive debate that leads to sound decision making.
• Maintain confidentiality of sensitive Board discussions and adhere to the organization’s conflict of interest policy.