|
TERM LIMITS
Discussion
Term limits for members of the board should be outlined in the organization’s
bylaws. Regular turn over in board membership is healthy for every organization.
The infusion of new perspectives, ideas and energy are important to avoid
stagnation and to encourage evolution into a mature organization.
Term limits also help to diminish the concentration of power in a small number of individuals and to weed out inactive or difficult board members. Of course, NPC
boards have statutory members that must be on the board. These statutory members
are in the unique position of having an opportunity to wield significant power
because they have both senior VA positions and longevity on the board. However,
a good faith effort to serve the mutual interests of the nonprofit and VA, and
ongoing governance education can foster a smoothly functioning board.
Sample Bylaws Clause on Term Limits
Number and Term of Office. The number of Directors shall consist of not fewer
than seven (7) nor more than nine (9) members, the precise number to be
determined from time to time by the serving Directors.
The Board shall include the persons holding the positions of Medical Center Director, Chief of Staff, Associate Chief of Staff for Research and Associate Chief of Staff for Education at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, CITY, STATE, as required by 38 U.S.C.
Section 7163. Each such statutory Director shall serve until he or she no
longer holds the above-described position with the Veterans Affairs Medical
Center, CITY, STATE. No statutory Director may be represented on the Board by
a designee or assistant although any such person serving in an Acting status
as Medical Center Director, Chief of Staff or Associate Chief of Staff for
Research will serve as a Director until a permanent appointment is made to
that position wherein the permanent appointee will assume the role as
Director.
At least two Directors shall be persons who are not paid employees of the
federal government but who are familiar with issues involving medical and
scientific research and medical education and are referred to as "non-VA"
statutory directors.
Additional Directors may be persons who are paid employees of the federal government. These non-statutory Directors and non-VA statutory Directors shall serve for a renewable period of three years and may not be represented on the Board by a designee or assistant. Non-VA statutory and non-statutory Directors may serve two consecutive terms of office but must remain off the board for at least one year before participating as a director again. The terms of non-VA statutory and non-statutory Directors will be staggered so that all terms will not expire in the same year.
Back to
Board Composition >
|
