Board of Directors Code of Ethics

As a member of the Board, I will:

• Listen carefully to my teammates
• Respect the opinion of my fellow board members
• Respect and support the majority decisions of the board
• Recognize that all authority is vested in the board when it meets in legal session and not with individual board members
• Keep well informed of developments that are relevant to issues that may come before the board
• Participate actively in board meetings and actions
• Call to the attention of the board any issues that I believe will have an adverse effect on the organization or those we serve
• Attempt to interpret the needs of those we represent to the organization and interpret the actions of the organization to those we represent
• Refer complaints to the proper level on the chain of comment
• Recognize that the board member’s job is to ensure that the organization is well managed, not to manage the organization
• Vote to hire the best possible person to manage the organization
• Represent all constituents and not a particular geographic area or special interest groups
• Consider myself a “trustee” of the organization and do my best to ensure that the organization is well maintained, financially secure, growing and always operating in the best interest of those we serve
• Always work to learn more about the board member’s job and how to do the job better
• Declare any conflicts of interest between my personal life and my position on the board, and avoid voting on issues that appear to be a conflict of interest

As a member of the board, I will not:

• Be critical, in or outside the board meeting, of fellow board members and/or their opinions
• Use the organization or any part of this corporation for my personal advantage or the personal advantage of my friends or relatives
• Discuss the confidential proceedings of the board outside the board meeting
• Promise prior to a meeting how I will vote on any issue in the meeting
• Interfere with the duties of the administrator or undermine the administrator’s authority
• Participate in false and/or misleading advertisement of the center’s services or products

Adopted 09/14/98
Reviewed/Revised 11/04