By Amanda Brandon, NRWA Newsletter Editor
I recently sat down (on Zoom) with our NRWA board president Kathi Fuller and president-elect Sara Timm to discuss the upcoming elections and how our board serves the NRWA membership.
What does the NRWA board do?
First of all, every member of our board is a volunteer because the NRWA is the only nonprofit resume writers’ association in the world! And they work hard to make this organization a productive investment of your time and money through education, certification, and representation. Secondly, our board positions its resume writers and career professionals as experts in our field. For example, the NCRW is the most stringent accreditation in the industry (we’re featuring an in-depth look at this certification in the June issue).
Who serves on the board?
The board is divided into two parts – elected and appointed governance. The three executive positions are President, Treasurer, and Secretary. The six Directors of Member Support are also elected, and we have four membership segments: college career centers, military/workforce development centers, experienced business owners, and new business owners.
Appointed positions include program chairs covering certification, education, marketing, sponsor relations, membership, written communication, and conference planning. These set program chairs are supported by committees and/or specific program direct reports working alongside them to meet different NRWA missions.
Click the above thumbnail to see the full Organizational Chart.
How long do elected board members serve?
Each elected board member serves for one full year beginning in August after elections are certified by the current board. The Treasurer serves a two-year term because the role requires specialized training.
The President has the support of the Immediate Past President throughout their term. They also serve for a full year as President-Elect and Ethics Chair to learn the ropes before stepping into their leadership position. The Secretary and Directors of Member Support each serve for one year.
What does each of the elected leaders do?
The President and President-Elect split duties related to the operations of the organization. The President handles communications and operations with the Advisory Board, Association Management, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committees. The President-Elect directs the Public Image and Ethics committees.
The Treasurer handles the financials of the organization. The Secretary serves in a support role to the entire board – taking minutes, examining communications, and facilitating administrative functions. The Membership Chair leads a team of elected program managers in supporting different representations of our membership, including new business owners, experienced business owners, college career centers, and military/workforce centers.
What do the appointed board members do?
Each of the appointed board members is responsible for a tactical mission – marketing the organization, establishing world-class education programs, facilitating the industry’s best certification process, organizing our annual conference, and overseeing the content and quality of all print and electronic communications.
How can I serve on the NRWA board?
Great question! You can run for an elected seat! Elections are coming up in July. We’ll have more communications coming out in May and June Midweek Memos on how to run for an elected seat. One thing to note – you have to serve on the board for a year to run for President-Elect, Treasurer, or Secretary.
You can also volunteer on a committee if you don’t want to serve in a leadership role. See the board’s Help Wanted page here.
(P.S. I’m always in search of contributors for the newsletter! Email me to discuss what we’re looking for.)
What makes a good NRWA board member?
Kathi and Sara both offered the following board member profile:
- Know that this is a working board. Expect to be hands-on in your contributions to the board. The NRWA expects you to show up as an active volunteer.
- We are looking for diversity in our board. Diversity and inclusion are major focuses for the future of the NRWA. We need broader representation in experience and background.
- We need a great Secretary! Kathi and Sara both suggested that our two greatest needs for the upcoming election are a Secretary who can roll up their sleeves and get stuff done. Our beloved Donna Tucker has served in this role for many years and is looking to retire.
- Are you a sales or sponsorship pro? We need a rock-star salesperson and negotiator to handle affiliate partnerships and sponsorships. We need someone who can form partnerships with compatible companies and organizations and obtain sponsors to support our conference and other programs.
What’s in it for you to serve?
This was the best part of our conversation. The bottom line is that serving on the board solidifies your investment in your professional affiliation with the NRWA. It opens doors for you to excel in your field. Here are just a few of the benefits we discussed:
- Networking. The networking that happens via the NRWA board is career-boosting. I can tell you from personal experience that I found mentorship in pursuing my NCRW. I’ve been talking about it for a while. But now, I’m taking steps toward making it happen this year.
- Free webinars and half-price conference tuition. We don’t pay for service, but we reward our leaders and volunteers with reduced pricing on NRWA events.
- Community. I’m not on the board, but I do get to interact with the board. Since I decided to volunteer, I can tell you that I feel like a part of a bigger community. Kathi and Sara reflected the same sentiment in our discussion.
- It looks great on your resume! We encourage our clients to diversify their experience to build a solid personal brand. Serving with the NRWA builds trust and credibility. And it elevates your business.
