Board of Directors

Duties

The Board of Directors of NHNPA, in active collaboration and partnership with the Executive Director, shall frame the issues and think creatively of opportunities and challenges to be met for NHNPA to be an exemplary organization.

The legal duties and responsibilities of the Board Members are generally outlined in the by-laws and the NH Attorney General’s Guidebook for New Hampshire Charitable Nonprofit Organizations, (2012).  Each board member should be conversant, and compliant, with the guidebook and its contents.

Most fundamentally, each director has a duty of loyalty and a duty of care.  The following provisions list many of the specific responsibilities and actions required to meet those legal and ethical duties and effectively govern the organization.

Governance

  • Adopt, and regularly review, NHNPA’s mission, and vision statements, and review management’s performance in achieving them.

  • Adopt, and regularly review, NHNPA’s statement of ethics and values, and monitor the organization’s performance following those principles.

  • Adopt, and regularly review, broad written policies reflecting the mission and values of the organization, within which the executive director is authorized to manage the organization and to develop and implement operational plans to carry out the mission.

  • Regularly assess the environment for the nonprofit sector, and develop, in partnership with the executive director, strategies to be responsive.

  • Hire, monitor, appraise, advise, stimulate, support, reward, and, if deemed necessary or desirable, replace the executive director.

  • Ensure that management succession is properly planned.

  • Meet as a board no fewer than six times a year.  Focus on “what matters most,” and apply the knowledge and experience of individual board members to the major challenges facing the organization.

  • Establish committee structure; adopt, and regularly review, committee charters.

  • Annually review and approve the executive committee’s performance review of the executive director, and establish compensation based on recommendations of the executive committee.

  • Ensure that the organizational strength and employee base can sustain the mission and achieve long-range goals.

  • Approve appropriate compensation and benefit policies and practices.

  • Propose prospective board members and fill vacancies as needed. 

  • Ensure adequate orientation of new members.  Ensure adoption and adequacy of board leadership succession plan.

  • Periodically conduct a self-review of board performance (including its composition, organization, and responsibilities) and take steps to improve its performance.

  • Ensure that NHNPA has established appropriate policies to define and identify conflicts of interest throughout the organization and is diligent in its administration and enforcement of those policies.

  • Review compliance with relevant material laws affecting its programs and operations.

Finance and Administration

  • Ensure that NHNPA’s financial structure and funding plans will adequately support its current needs and long-range strategy.

  • Ensure that the board is carrying out its fiduciary responsibilities, such as reviews of periodic and annual financial statements, funding plans, budgets, and financial goals.

  • Review results achieved by management compared with ’s mission, strategic plan, and annual and long-range goals.  Compare performance to that of other statewide nonprofit associations.

  • Approve major actions such as capital expenditures on all projects over authorized limits and major changes in programs and services.

  • Ensure that the board, its committees, members, donors, and the public are adequately informed of the financial condition of the organization and its operations through internal and published reports or other appropriate method.

  • Ensure that published reports properly reflect the operating results and financial condition of the organization.

  • Appoint independent auditors, review audit reports, and review management letters with the executive director.

  • Ensure that adequate risk management policies are established and implemented.

Responsibilities of Each Board Member

Expectations of Board Service

Prepare for and attend monthly board meetings (via video)

Serve on at least one Committee of the Board, which includes participating in its meetings (typically, by phone) and contributing to committee work between meetings

Participate in planning and promoting the annual Northern New England Nurse Practitioner Conference - including solicit conference sponsors, speakers, and attendees 

Contribute to capacity-building efforts, including developing new revenue streams

Support the annual membership drives, and year-round efforts to recruit new members and re-engage lapsed members

Participate in NHNPA’s advocacy efforts at the state and federal levels

Serve as an ambassador for the organization, seeking connections and linkages with individuals and other organizations that would advance the work of NHNPA

Represent the organization, when expressly requested by the Board, at conferences and other events

Abide by the bylaws, code of conduct, and other policies that apply to the board

Be familiar with and follow conflict-of-interest policies, and submit an annual conflict-of-interest disclosure form.

Establish, review, and monitor policies that guide core operational practices (eg. financial management, human resource management)

Participate in the periodic review of NHNPA’s mission and objectives and the development of strategic plans 

Monitor the performance of the organization concerning objectives and core values

Keep informed about community issues relevant to the mission and objectives of NHNPA

Exercise voting rights

Assist in the creation of standing, special, and/or ad-hoc committees as needed

Work as a team member and support board decisions

Demonstrate board member responsibilities of care, loyalty, and obedience

Avoid involvement in all political campaigns in the name of NHNPA unless directed by the board or executive director to question or present an advocacy issue on behalf of the organization to a potential candidate.

Maintain confidentiality of the board’s executive actions.

Planning For The Time Commitment

Prepare for and attend monthly Board meetings

Meetings are held by video conference or face-to-face in Concord, NH

Meetings are currently held in the evening

Estimated time commitment: 3 hours per month

Participate on at least one sub-committee of the Board/membership

Meetings are typically held via video conference

Estimated time commitment: 1-3 hours per month

Serve as a liaison between the Board, organization, partners, and the general public

Promote membership and special events of the organization

Estimated time commitment: 1 hour per month

Attend annual Board retreats and special events 

1 Day Board retreat 

NP Week Celebration

Legislative Breakfast and Board Event following the breakfast - February

Annual membership meeting at the annual conference 

Role Descriptions

President: 

Serves for a two-year term; elected in even-numbered years, automatically assumes office following service as President-Elect.

President  

Accountable to: Membership and Board of Directors

Criteria for Office:

  1. Adherence to NHNPA’s mission, purposes, and goals; representative of the general attitude and values of the association.

  2. An active member of NHNPA.

  3. Commitment to completion of the term as President and Past President.

  4. A resident of NH or work in NH.

Responsibilities of the President:

  1. Serve a term of two years or until the office is assumed by the President-Elect following the Spring Membership Meeting.

  2. Serve as spokesperson for NHNPA.

  3. Preside at all meetings of NHNPA. 

  4. Coordinate with Executive Director to create agendas and convene monthly Board of Director meetings, a one-day planning meeting and an annual membership meeting.

  5. Make appointments to committees when indicated in bylaws.

  6. The President or an officer designated by the President, or the Executive Director, shall sign all contracts and legal documents to be executed on the part of the association according to any standard adopted policy.

  7. Remove individuals, with the approval of the Board, serving on committees/special assignments/task forces.  

  8. Establish, with approval of the Board, ad hoc committees, and serve as an ex-officio member of all such committees/task forces of NHNPA.  

  9. Collaborate with Executive Director regarding their duties.

  10. Have other such powers and perform other such duties as may be assigned by the Board of Directors.  

  11. Assume the office of Immediate Past-President at the end of the term of office.

  12. To support the mission of the NHNPA to empower nurse practitioners and champion their practice

  13. To help lead, advocate for and represent NP as leaders in NH healthcare

  14. To actively demonstrate the values of the NHNPA of integrity, excellence, leadership, respect and service to NH NPs.

  15. Participate in regional marketing efforts to add members

  16. Complete annual conflict of interest statement.

President-Elect:

Two-year term elected in even-numbered years; automatically assumes the office of President's term or a vacancy in the office of President, and will fulfill the remainder of the President's term.  

Vice President

Accountable to:  Membership, President, and Board of Directors

Criteria for Office:

  1. Adherence to NHNPA’s mission, purposes and goals; representative of the general attitude and values of the association.

  2. Active NHNPA member.

  3. Commitment to the completion of the term as President-Elect and willingness to serve as President if the President is unable to complete the term of office.

  4. Resident of NH or work in NH.

Responsibilities of the President-Elect:


  1. Serve a term of two years or until assuming the office of President.  

  2. Assume the duties of the President during absences or periods when the President is unable to perform the duties of the office. 

  3. Serve on the Finance Committee.

  4. Perform other duties as assigned by the President.

  5. Assume the office of the President at the end of the term of office.

  6. To support the mission of the NHNPA to empower nurse practitioners and champion their practice

  7. To help lead, advocate for, and represent NP as leaders in NH healthcare

  8. To actively demonstrate the values of the NHNPA of integrity, excellence, leadership, respect, and service to NH NPs.

  9. Participate in regional marketing efforts to add members

  10. Complete the annual conflict of interest statement.

Immediate Past-President: 

One-year term; automatically assumes office following service as President. 

Accountable to: Membership, President, and Board of Directors

Criteria for Office:

  1. Adherence to NHNPA’s mission, purposes and goals; representative of the general attitude and values of the association.

  2. Is the Immediate Past- President of NHNPA.

  3. Active member of NHNPA.

  4. Commitment to serve the full term of office.

  5. Resident of NH or work in NH.

Purpose of Role: Provide recent association knowledge and experience to the Board of Directors and Executive Committee.

Responsibilities of the Immediate Past-President:

  1. Serve a term of one year or until replaced by the retiring President.  

  2. Provide guidance as a non-voting member to the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee. 

  3. Serve as a member of the Legislative Committee.

  4. Preside over the Nominations Committee.

  5. To support the mission of the NHNPA to empower nurse practitioners and champion their practice

  6. To help lead, advocate for, and represent NP as leaders in NH healthcare

  7. To actively demonstrate the values of the NHNPA of integrity, excellence, leadership, respect, and service to NH NPs.

  8. Participate in regional marketing efforts to add members

  9. Complete annual conflict of interest statement.

Secretary: 

Accountable to: Membership, President, and Board of Directors

Criteria for Office:

  1. Adherence to NHNPA’s mission,  purposes, and goals, representative of the general attitudes and values of the association.

  2. Ability to take and compile accurate minutes.

  3. Active NHNPA member.

  4. Commitment to serving the full term of office.

  5. A resident of NH or work in NH.

  6. Access and comfortability with using Google Docs.

Goal: To facilitate the continuity of NHNPA activities through the documentation and record-keeping of appropriate information relevant to meetings and activities.  

Responsibilities of the Secretary:

  1. Election to the office will be in odd-numbered years.  

  2. Serve a two-year term.

  3. Record the proceedings of all business conducted at Board of Directors Meetings, Executive Committee Meetings, the Annual Membership Meeting, and any Special Meeting called by the President.  The minutes shall be open at all reasonable times to the inspection of any officer or association members.

  4. Provide each committee member, the Executive Director, and the Association Manager with a copy of the minutes. (This may be done electronically and in collaboration with the Executive Director).

  5. In the absence of the Secretary from any meeting of the association members or of the Executive Committee, a Secretary Pro Tempore may be chosen who shall record the proceedings for such meeting. 

  6. To support the mission of the NHNPA to empower nurse practitioners and champion their practice

  7. To help lead, advocate for and represent NP as leaders in NH healthcare

  8. To actively demonstrate the values of the NHNPA of integrity, excellence, leadership, respect and service to NH NPs.

  9. Participate in regional marketing efforts to add members

  10. Complete annual conflict of interest statement.

Treasurer: 

Two-year term elected in odd-numbered years. 

Accountable to: Membership, President and Board of Directors

Criteria for Office:

  1. Adherence to NHNPA’s mission, purposes and goals, representative of the general attitudes and values of the association.

  2. Active NHNPA member.

  3. Experience with budgeting as an NHNPA committee member or job or other volunteer-related experience.

  4. Commitment to complete a full term of office.

  5. A resident of NH or work in NH.

  6. Access and comfortability with using Google Docs.

Responsibilities of the Treasurer:

  1. Preside over the Finance Committee. 

  2. Assume the responsibility and accountability for the fiscal affairs of the association. 

  3. Present a budget annually to the Board of Directors for approval. 

  4. Provide monthly budgetary reports to the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors including updated balance sheets and budget vs. actual reports of income and expenditures.

  5. Collaborate with ED and oversee the disbursement of funds with the approval of the Board of Directors.

  6. Monitor balances of all accounts, make recommendations and facilitate transfers of funds as needed.

  7. To support the mission of the NHNPA to empower nurse practitioners and champion their practice

  8. To help lead, advocate for and represent NP as leaders in NH healthcare

  9. To actively demonstrate the values of the NHNPA of integrity, excellence, leadership, respect and service to NH NPs.

  10. Participate in regional marketing efforts to add members

  11. Complete annual conflict of interest statement.

Chair - Government Affairs Committee: 

Accountable to: Membership, President, and Board of Directors

Criteria for Office:

  1. Adherence to NHNPA’s mission,  purposes, and goals, representative of the general attitudes and values of the association.

  2. Have a working knowledge of  state and national legislative processes

  3. Active NHNPA member.

  4. Commitment to serving the full term of office.

  5. A resident of NH or work in NH.

  6. Access and comfortability with using Google Docs.

Responsibilities of the Chair - Government Affairs Committee

  1. Serve a two-year term, elected in odd-numbered years.

  2. Coordinate regularly scheduled meetings and communications with the legislative affairs committee members - a set fixed schedule should be established and published

  3. Responsible for developing meeting agendas with the ED, president, and lobbyist

  4. Communicate information on legislative tracking and priorities to the legislative affairs committee members and NHNPA board of directors

  5. Responsible for coordinating the presentation of testimony with the ED and committee members.

  6. Responsible for collaborating with ED, President, committee, and lobbyist to take primary responsibility for knowledge and delegation of needed legislative action.

  7. To support the mission of the NHNPA to empower nurse practitioners and champion their practice

  8. To help lead, advocate for, and represent NP as leaders in NH healthcare

  9. To actively demonstrate the values of the NHNPA of integrity, excellence, leadership, respect, and service to NH NPs.

  10. Participate in regional marketing efforts to add members

  11. Complete the annual conflict of interest statement.

Chair - Conference Committee: 

Two-year term appointed on even-numbered years.

Chair of the Conference Committee 

The Chairperson of the Conference Committee will coordinate the annual conference including operational activities, speakers, and sponsorships.  The Chairperson will work cooperatively with the Event Coordinator.

Accountable to: Membership, President, and Board of Directors

Criteria for Office:

  1. Adherence to NHNPA’s mission,  purposes, and goals, representative of the general attitudes and values of the association.

  2. Active NHNPA member.

  3. Commitment to serve the full term of office.

  4. A resident of NH or work in NH.

  5. Access and comfortability with using Google Docs.

Responsibilities of the Chair - Conference Committee

1. Assist the Chair to coordinate the annual conference including operational activities, speakers, and sponsorships.  

2. Will work cooperatively with the Conference Committee Chair, Event Coordinator and Executive Director

3. To support the mission of the NHNPA to empower nurse practitioners and champion their practice

4. To help lead, advocate for and represent NP as leaders in NH healthcare

5. To actively demonstrate the values of the NHNPA of integrity, excellence, leadership, respect and service to NH NPs.

  1. Participate in regional marketing efforts to add members

  2. Complete annual conflict of interest statement.

Member-At-Large: 

Two-year term elected in even-numbered years.

Member at Large  

Bylaws: There shall be a Member-at-Large who will be nominated by the Nominating Committee to serve in any capacity, as necessary, on the Executive Committee. The Member at Large represents the NP community as a whole.

Accountable to: Membership, President, and Board of Directors

Criteria for Office:

  1. Adherence to NHNPA’s mission,  purposes, and goals, representative of the general attitudes and values of the association.

  2. Active NHNPA member.

  3. Commitment to serve the full term of office.

  4. A resident of NH or work in NH.

  5. Access and comfortability with using Google Docs.

Responsibilities of the Member At Large


  1. Represents the NP community as a whole in Board discussions and decisions.

  2. To support the mission of the NHNPA to empower nurse practitioners and champion their practice

  3. To help lead, advocate for and represent NP as leaders in NH healthcare

  4. To actively demonstrate the values of the NHNPA of integrity, excellence, leadership, respect and service to NH NPs.

  5. Assist with Boad initiatives and serve on atleast one Board committee.

  6. Participate in regional marketing efforts to increase membership and engagement with NHNPA.

  7. Complete annual conflict of interest statement.

Non-Voting Members of Board of Directors: 

Past-President,  Co-chair of the Conference Committee, Chair of Special Events Committee, the Regional Coordinators and the AANP State Representative.

Regional Coordinators:  

1-year term appointed by the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors

Bylaws: Regional Coordinators shall be solicited from the membership and appointed by the President in consultation with the Executive Committee.  Their responsibilities include, but not limited to, seeking nominations from the membership for NHNPA Board positions.  The Regional Coordinators, together with the Vice President, will comprise the Nominating Committee for the elected officers of the Executive Committee.

Accountable to: Membership, President, and Board of Directors

Communicates with: 

Criteria for Office:

  1. Adherence to NHNPA’s mission,  purposes, and goals, representative of the general attitudes and values of the association.

  2. Active NHNPA member.

  3. Commitment to serve the full term of office.

  4. A resident of NH or work as a nurse practitioner in NH.

  5. Access and comfortability with using Google Docs.

Responsibilities of Regional Coordinators

  1. 1-2 Representatives from each Region

  2. Using resources provided by NHNPA and your own, coordinate regional meetings (4+ a year) to provide networking opportunities and support local NPs. 

  3. In advance of the regional meetings/events ensure NHNPA members are informed and invited.  Current procedures will include: emailing the details of the event and all supporting documentation to the special events coordinator and the executive director.  Tag NHNPA in social media posts promoting your event.  Utilize additional marketing channels as they are developed by NHNPA.

  4. After event, email brief summary of the event to the special events coordinator and executive director.  If you meet in person and have an opportunity to take photos, please share them with us or post to social media and tag NHNPA.

  5. Respond to inquires from Member-At-Large and ED to help keep a pulse on regional issues, ideas, topics and areas of interest.

  6. Support the mission of the NHNPA to empower nurse practitioners and champion their practice.

  7. Help lead, advocate for and represent NP as leaders in NH healthcare.

  8. Actively demonstrate the values of the NHNPA of integrity, excellence, leadership, respect and service to NH NPs.

  9. Participate in regional marketing efforts to add members

  10. Complete annual conflict of interest statement.

  11. Invited to attend and participate in monthly board meetings.

Co-chair of the Conference Committee:  

Two-year term appointed on even-numbered years.

The Co-chairperson of the Conference Committee will assist with coordination of the annual conference including operational activities, speakers, and sponsorships, and will work cooperatively with the Event Coordinator.

Criteria for Office:

  1. Adherence to NHNPA’s mission,  purposes, and goals, representative of the general attitudes and values of the association.

  2. Active NHNPA member.

  3. Commitment to serve the full term of office.

  4. A resident of NH or work in NH.

  5. Access and comfortability with using Google Docs.

Responsibilities of the Chair - Conference Committee

1. Will coordinate the annual conference including operational activities, speakers, and sponsorships.  

2. The Chairperson will work cooperatively with the Event Coordinator and Executive Director

3. To support the mission of the NHNPA to empower nurse practitioners and champion their practice

4. To help lead, advocate for and represent NP as leaders in NH healthcare

  1. To actively demonstrate the values of the NHNPA of integrity, excellence, leadership, respect and service to NH NPs.

  2. Participate in regional marketing efforts to add members

  3. Complete annual conflict of interest statement.

American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Representative: 

One year term appointed by AANP.

Bylaws: The AANP representative will act as liaison and representative of the NHNPA and APRNs in the state of NH.  The Representative is an appointed position that reports to the Executive Committee.

Election and Appointment of Board Members

Appointment of Committee Chairs, Committee Co-Chairs and Regional Coordinators

Shall be solicited from the membership and appointed by the President in consultation with the Executive Committee.  Appointments for positions will occur during or at the first meeting of the Board of Directors after the elections or when needed.

Terms 
The Secretary, Treasurer, and Member-At-Large shall serve for a term of two year term and not serve more than three (3) elected consecutive terms in the same position.  They may be re-elected after the lapse of one year.  

Committee chairs and non-voting members of the Board do not have term limits.

Terms for all positions will begin at the first meeting of the Board of Directors following elections.