Duties of Board Members

The work of board members is vital to the operation of SABEW, whose programs and services are largely formulated and carried out by members of the Board of Governors. The Board works in close cooperation with the executive director, officers and the Phoenix headquarters staff.

Here is a summary of the general duties and obligations of SABEW board members.

Board members are:

• required to attend all board and general membership meetings. The board meets twice at year, at the annual SABEW conference in the spring and during the fall workshop(s).
• encouraged to contribute articles and story ideas to the website and the twice-annual The Business Journalist, and to ask colleagues for contributions.
• asked to participate actively in at least one SABEW committee; many serve on several committees.
• expected to adhere to and to promote SABEW’s Code of Ethics. SABEW is committed to promoting the highest professional standards of business journalism through its Code of Ethics. To that end, SABEW board members must exemplify those standards.
• expected to become familiar with SABEW’s bylaws, programs, services and budget.
• expected to support SABEW’s fund-raising efforts by working with SABEW staff and fellow governors, and making and encouraging personal giving.
• encouraged to recruit new members. Expanding SABEW’s membership base to include all segments of the business media, including magazines, broadcast, and online outlets, is an urgent priority.
• counted on to promote attendance at SABEW’s annual conference and specialized meetings by encouraging colleagues and other business journalists to attend. Among those actions: sending blast emails to colleagues, calling them on the phone and communicating by email. Board members are expected to attend and participate in special SABEW meetings and events held in their area.
• asked to communicate ideas and availability to help the SABEW president, members of the Executive Committee, or the various SABEW committees.
• asked to keep an eye out for issues and trends that should be addressed by the SABEW board or the website or that might make for a good topic for discussion at the annual conference or specialty meetings.

— Warren Watson (Updated December 2010)