Effective Commitee Structures

The number and types of committees can vary greatly depending on the size of the school and the Board. Usually committees are of two kinds; Standing and Ad Hoc. All committees should have clearly stated charges, definite terms for members, channels of communication with appropriate staff members, and defined responsibility for reporting and recommending to the Board as a whole.

STANDING COMMITTEES

1. Executive Committee: officers, chairpersons of other standing committees, and a specified number of at-large Board members. They usually meet for the purpose of performing urgent business that cannot wait for Board action or cannot be handled by a functional committee of the Board.
   
   
2. Finance Committee: Usually consists of the Treasurer and several other members; considers details of the budget, monitors financial condition and reports, approves major purchases, etc.
   
   
3. Board Development Committee: Purpose is to nominate officers and candidates for membership, recommend criteria for selection of new members, provide orientation of new members, analyze attendance at meetings, arrange training opportunities for Board Members, and recommend action regarding inactive members.
   
   
4. Personnel Committee: Recommends policies and procedures regarding salaries, fringe benefits, hours and working conditions that permit employment and retention of qualified staff and foster high productivity and quality of service.
   
   
5. Program Committee: Provides Board with detailed information about the Outward Bound School's services that cannot be given in Board meetings; continually examines the school's programs (how they relate to the agreed Mission and to other programs in the community); gives the Executive Director and appropriate staff opportunities to discuss with the Board how effectively services reflect changing trends; and formulates policies for Board action.
   
   
6. Marketing & Public Relations Committee: Informs others about the Outward Bound School through dissemination of information to the school's different publics and ensures their understanding of the programs and services. It assists in the development of marketing strategies and recommends policy on marketing & public relations.
   
7. Development or Fund Raising Committee: Recommends policies for systematic fund raising, grant applications and special project funds.

1. Strategic Planning Committee: Responsible for systematic and objective identification of basic issues that will provide the Board with direction in planning; obtains information about community needs, the people that the Outward Bound School serves, and the role and relationships of other community organizations.

2. Special events: Open Houses, celebrations, special visits.

3. International activities: To represent the school on international initiatives that take place from time to time.

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