Board Job Description

Overview
The Recovery Dharma Global (RDG) Board of Directors works to ensure the safe, effective, and compassionate operation of the nonprofit in support of its mission. The Board also ensures the protection and management of the the assets of the organization.  Generally, the monthly rythm of the board is one board meeting, one committee meeting and committee projects in between. Approaching these activities as part of our practice is important for a healthy and effective sangha. See Documents and Resources for more details. 

Board Meeting
The monthly board meeting enables members to collectively review the activities of the organization and make policy-level decisions requested by committees.  This meeting usually lasts about two hours, with the last half hour reserved for reflection, training or personal updates. Board members spend about thirty minutes prior to the meeting reading reports from other committees. See Board Minutes for more details. 

Committees
Board committees do the work of the organization. Board members serve as volunteers and co-leaders for one of these service groups. Committees usually meet monthly where committee volunteers report on existing projects, and agree on new ones. Minutes from these meetings serve as the basis for the monthly report to the board.  See Volunteer with Board Committees for more details. 

Practice
This board is a sangha that is created by, for, and about Recovery Dharma members. As volunteers, it is important for us to intentionally include practice structures to integrate our activities with the rest of our practice. A few examples include:

• • Ensuring that all activities and decisions are consistent with our Core Intentions and Path of Recovery
  • Meditating for 1-3 minutes at the beginning of meetings to gather and settle
  • Incorporating a reflection, training, or personal update at the end of meetings to reconnect to this path and to each other
  • Approaching each other, recovery dharma members, and partner organizations as wise friends and fellow sangha members
  • Leaning into our practice during difficult discussions
  • Practicicing ethical action all of our business transactions
  • Collective practice and learning around IDEA and connecting with members.

These are the activities of Board Members. Most overlap and happen during the Board Meeting and Committee Work

• Meetings: Prepare for, attend, and participate in the monthly board meeting, and at least one committee. 
• Sound Management: Participate in the review of, and board-level decisions about, organizational activities including financial oversight, governance, and program work carried out by committees.
• Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA): Participate in training, and commit to practices that help to ensure individual and organizational commitments to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility.
• Transparency: Ensure that the decisions and actions of the board and committees are documented and available for community review.
• Ambassadorship: Cultivate wise friendships with community leaders, stakeholders, and members to ensure collaboration with the diverse members of the community.
• Fund Development: Contribute to the financial well-being of the organization through ambassadorship and supporting activities such as fundraising events, cultivating organizational friendships, and/or making a personally meaningful financial contribution.
• Inquiry and Investigation: Participate in Board training, study, and practice including board basics, fund development, and IDEA training.
• Ethical Action: Combine the personal practices of taking refuge in the Three Jewels, Four Noble Truths, and Eightfold Path with the legal and ethical behaviors of nonprofit management to promote the health, well-being, and recovery of the organization and our community.

These are the essential personal qualities that make all activities on the board possible.

• • Passion: Have a passion for the mission of Recovery Dharma Global.
  • Priority: Believe that RDG has an important role in manifesting RD’s Core Intentions.
  • Time: Have enough time and energy for Board commitments.
  • Sangha: Work collaboratively on projects and decision-making.
  • IDEA: Committed to the practice of  Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility
  • Ethical Action: Practice self-accountability through inquiry, investigation, and reporting back to the community.

If you possess any of these skills, experiences, or connections, please consider serving on the board. No single person will have all these skills. We are a sangha that brings together a diverse set of experiences to work, learn, and practice as a team.

• • Cultural Humility: A lifelong process of self-reflection and self-critique whereby the individual not only learns about another’s culture but starts with an examination of their own beliefs and cultural identities. This is a core skill to support our core intention to contribute towards the creation of diverse and safe recovery spaces.
  • Local Recovery Dharma Sangha Service: Direct experience with our community and our practices is an important experience for service on the Board.
  • Affinity Sangha: Members of affinity sanghas such as BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and others are encouraged to serve and help ensure the diversity and inclusivity of RDG.
  • Geographical Diversity: If no one from your geographic region has volunteered, consider stepping up! Global voices are an important aspect of this practice.
  • Professional Skills: These are not required skills. However, if you work as a professional in one of the areas covered by RDG committees, your assistance could be of great benefit to the whole community. 
    • Management of: Projects, Volunteers, Finance, Events, Databases, Mass Communications, Fund Development, Board Development, and Nonprofits.
    • Graphic design, video editing, social media posts, writing.
    • Organizational governance, law