(Bowling Green)—The Wood County Humane Society (WCHS) currently is seeking applications to its Board of Directors. The WCHS Board is a voluntary working Board of local leaders dedicated to providing direction and guidance to the non-profit organization.
The WCHS Board of Directors is comprised of between 11 and 15 members in good standing with the WCHS. Board members are elected annually for a term of two years. New Board members will be elected at the next annual meeting, to be held in January 2017. However, Board applications are welcomed year round and prospective Board members are encouraged to shadow current Board members prior to their election as a way to familiarize themselves with the kinds of work they would be expected to perform once elected.
Board responsibilities are four-fold. The unit sets overall policies and goals for the WCHS and ensures that established policies are followed by all volunteers and staff of the WCHS. The unit also secures and monitors financial resources and funding, establishes accountability for its volunteers and staff, and provides for the regular communication with the Shelter Manager and the community at large.
Although Board membership is a fairly significant time commitment, current Board members agree that the experience offers so many rewards. Building and Grounds Chair, John Aleksander, notes that “being a member of the Board of the WCHS provides an opportunity for you to share your personal knowledge, strengths and skills in the pursuit of humanitarian goals for our animals and our community.”Aleksander adds, “It gives me great pleasure and satisfaction to use my 30 years of knowledge and experience as head of the Buildings & Grounds department at Owens Community College to help improve the current on-site facilities and plan for the future of The WCHS.”
Board membership also allows WCHS volunteers to advocate for the homeless, abandoned, and abused animals of northwest Ohio, a passion that many current and past Board members share. Emily Keegan, Vice President of Administration, says that “our work supports an organization that serves a real, tangible need in our community. Serving animals, creatures that require the help of humans, makes you feel good.”
Heath A. Diehl, Board President, also cites his love of animals as one of the biggest motivators for him to join the Board. Diehl says, “Joining the Board is a very small way that I can give back to an organization that has given me so much joy and happiness through our rescue ‘kids.’”
Bethany DeLuca, who chairs the Fundraising Committee, says that helping animals in need “makes my heart happy,” but she also enjoys the connections that she has made within the community by serving the Board.
And Membership Chair, Shawna Leonard, appreciates the flexibility that Board membershipallows her. Leonard explains, “Beinga member of the board allows me to help the animals, despite a chaotic schedule.” Leonard adds, “I wanted to volunteer to make the lives of the animals better, but I couldn’t be at the shelter every day. Now I can do my own part help them every day, while still maintaining the rest of my responsibilities.”
The WCHS Board of Directors meets once monthly for two hours. Individual Board members also are expected to serve as Chair or Co-Chair one of the Board’s nine permanent committees. Permanent committees of the WCHS Board of Directors include: Budget and Finance; Building and Grounds; Education and Community Events; Fundraising; Membership and Contribution; Public Relations; Policy and Personnel; Spay/Neuter Initiative Program (or, SNIP); and Volunteer. Time commitments vary depending on the time of year, the specific committees in which a Board member is involved, and the make-up of the Board at any given time. However, volunteers typically devote between 8 and 16 hours per month to Board-related activities.
Individuals who are interested in applying to the WCHS Board of Directors should contact Board Member Jack Karsten at [email protected] for more information and an application.
The WCHS, located in Bowling Green, Ohio, is a private, non-profit managed admission shelter providing care for homeless and abused pets and investigating cruelty complaints in Wood County. The organization receives no funding from government organizations, The United Way, or national humane organizations, instead relying on earned revenue and the generosity of individual donors and businesses to fund our programs such as Safe Haven and food assistance programs, spay/neuter transport, and educational presentations. The WCHS provides care for hundreds of animals each year—from dogs and cats, to horses, goats, and pocket pets. All animals admitted into our adoption program are housed and cared for as long as it takes to find their fur-ever home. For more information on adopting and/or volunteering, see:
http://www.woodcountyhumanesociety.org.
