The Penn Hills Community Development Corporation is seeking new board members!

[Admin]

The Penn Hills Community Development Corporation is seeking new board members!

If you are interested or know someone who might be good please pass this along. New faces are welcome!
Below you will find all you need to know about the process and more...

Penn Hills CDC 2011 Board Member Election Process:

On January 19th Penn Hills Community Development Corporation members will be electing new board members to head the Penn Hills CDC. This new board will be the first elected board of the CDC. This is an exciting opportunity for people who want to be part of creating a strategic plan for the CDC and shape its direction for the next few years. Please find information on being a board member and the election process below:

Who can be a board member?

Per the CDC by-laws: Section 5.1: The minimum qualifications, without limitation, to serve on the Board of Directors are: 1) that the candidate be at least 18 years of age; and 2) that the candidate be a resident of Penn Hills. Following the first Annual Meeting, no more than one person from the same household may serve concurrently on the Board of Directors.

How many people can serve on the board?

Per the CDC by-laws Section 5.1: The affairs of the Corporation shall be governed by a Board of Directors composed of not less than five (5) persons and not more than eleven (11) persons.

How long is a board member term?

Per the CDC by-laws Section 5.4: At the first Annual Meeting only, once the Directors have been elected, a lottery system shall be used in the following manner: a number representing a simple majority of the elected Directors shall be determined; that number of long straws shall be prepared, and a number, representing the remainder of the elected Directors, of short straws shall be prepared; each Director shall draw a straw; for each Director that draws a long straw, his/her term shall be
two years; for each Director that draws a short straw, his/her term shall be one year.

How are board members chosen?

Per the CDC by-laws Section 5.4: Directors shall be elected by a majority vote of the Members at the Annual Meeting. Each Director shall be elected to serve for a two-year term (except as otherwise described in this section) or until his/her successor is duly elected and qualified, unless the Director earlier dies, resigns or is removed. Once a Director has served for two (2) successive terms, that person is ineligible for re-election until one (1) year following the end of his/her second term.

What are some of the qualifications a board member should have?

• Strong commitment to the PHCDC. The PHCDC has many committees that work Strong work on projects ranging from economic development to housing to beautification. Board members should be committed to the organization and ensure the organization runs effectively. Desire to improve the community via committee work does not necessarily make a good board member; that energy is best used in committees. Board members must dedicate their time to ensuring that the organization as a whole functions and is successful. To that end, board members should be committed to following and maintaining and enforcing processes and protocols outlined in the bylaws and those determined by the board.

• Desire to reach out and get out to find out what the community desires and is in need of. Penn Hills is diverse – board members must be committed to representing all community interests from all 26 neighborhoods of Penn Hills as stated in the PHCDC mission.
• Ability to separate interest and involvement in other community groups, organizations and associations from the focus of the PHCDC.
• Time and support necessary to fulfill all duties of the office, including attending Board, General and Committee Meetings.
• Ability to work effectively toward goals outlined by the membership.
• Ability to be flexible and responsive to membership. Willing to give up one’s own goals for what the community wants.
• Demonstrated leadership abilities.

What are some of the duties of a PHCDC board member?
• Attend monthly board meetings
• Attend and plan general body meetings
• In between meetings, communicate with the board over relevant issues
• Secretary is responsible for keeping minutes
• Treasurer is responsible for keeping the books
• Stay in touch with committees to make sure they are doing their work and communicating effectively with the board
• Attend board trainings through CTAC
• Apply for grants for CDC projects

If I want to be on the board what do I do?

Submit a letter of intent by December 17, 2010. Letters of intent should include name, age, address, a short piece about why you would like to be a board member and a short piece about the strengths and qualifications you bring to the board.

Mail the letter of intent to:

The Penn Hills CDC
"Attention Election Committee"
P.O.Box 17730
Penn Hills, PA 15235

Who is on the election committee?

Alexandra Murphy, Denise Graham-Shealey, and Hope Vales

If I have questions about running or the elections who should I contact?

Email Alexandra Murphy at alex@pennhillscdc.org or call her at 412.335.2715


When will the election be held?

January 19th at 7:00PM at the Jefferson Road Senior Citizen Center. At this time, candidates will make a short speech on who they are, why they want to be on the board, and what qualifications they bring.