The Board is the legal authority for the AWNA.  The Board is responsible for the AWNA and its outcomes.  The Board focuses on policy and direction rather than on the operational aspects of management.  

 

The Board believes that clear policies provide direction and parameters for action for its Board members, committee members, and staff.  The Board expects all people involved in these roles to be aware of the policies related to their positions and duties.  Clear policies also provide a basis for monitoring and evaluating the performance of the Board, its committees, the Executive Director, and the AWNA. 

 

 

1. To fulfill its policy functions, the Board develops and approves policies that:

a) Establish the broadest policy areas of the AWNA, such as the vision, values, mission, objectives, and outcomes;

b) Define the work of the Board, and how the Board carries out and monitors its work;

c) Describe the relationship between the Board and the Executive Director, and how the Board delegates authority and monitors the Executive Director’s performance;

d) Establish broad parameters and limitations in operational areas within which the Executive Director must take executive action and make decisions.

 

2. The Board ensures that Board policies comply with legislation and regulations and with the AWNA’s Bylaws, and are compatible with existing Board policies or agreements.

 

5. When setting policy, the Board begins from the broadest, most general statement for the identified policy.  The Board then further defines the specifics of the policy until it is satisfied that it has clearly stated the necessary parameters and directions for those implementing the policy.  In operational areas, the Board refrains from making detailed operational directions for areas that it has delegated to management.  In these cases, the Executive Director is responsible for developing detailed operational directions for implementing Board’s policy.

 

 

4. The Board uses the following process for establishing policies:

a) The Board is responsible for adopting new policies or revising existing polices.  The Board values the input of the Executive Director, staff, and members in its policy-making process, and involves them when appropriate.

 

b) After clarifying the direction and desired outcomes of a policy, the Board then delegates the drafting of the policy to the appropriate Board committee, an adhoc committee, or the Executive Director.  The draft policy follows the format approved by the Board.

 

c) All draft policies are submitted to Board for review, modification as required, and approval.

 

d) The Board ensures that all of its policies are reviewed annually for compliance and relevance.  A report is presented to the Board that details the level of compliance with the policy, and any recommended changes to the policy.

 

5. The Board ensures that policies, or amendments to existing policies, approved by the Board are available to Board members, staff, and the membership.