Roles and Responsibilities

IDSA Board of Directors (overall roles and responsibilities)

The Board of Directors shall direct the affairs of the Society, shall determine its policies or changes therein within the limits of the Bylaws, shall actively prosecute its purposes and shall approve the annual budget of the Society. It may adopt such rules and regulations for the conduct of its business as shall be deemed advisable, and may, in the execution of the powers granted, appoint such agents as it may consider necessary. The Board shall also prepare rules for the orderly conduct and procedure of business meetings of the Society’s membership, which rules shall not conflict with the provisions of these Bylaws. IDSA Bylaws 2010, Article VI: Section 1. Click here to link to the full bylaws.

It is typical practice that the Board of Directors meets face-to-face four times a year, one of which may be held in conjunction with the International Conference. Each member of the board is expected to help raise funds, increase membership, support the development of programs and services that members find relevant, and build awareness of the value of IDSA to the membership, the design community at-large and business.

Board of Directors Job Descriptions

Chairman – in describing the role of the chairman, it is important to show the differences between this position and that of the CEO.

Chairman, Overall Responsibility*
Ensure board sets and implements organization’s direction and strategy effectively

Specific Responsibilities

Provides leadership to the board
Presides at all meetings of the IDSA Board of Directors
Ensures the board is properly informed on the conditions and operations of the Society
Ensures that all directors contribute
Ensures that basic policies and programs designed to further IDSA’s goals are properly planned, formulated and presented to the Board of Directors
Annually reviews IDSA’s organizational structure and policies with the CEO
Appoints all IDSA committees and task forces, receiving approval from the Board of Directors where necessary, outlines the purpose and duties of these committees and task forces, and monitors their progress
Serves as an ex-officio member of IDSA committees, except the Fellowship and Nomination and Election Committees
Presents an annual report to the membership at the IDSA national conference
Following this two-year term, serves one additional year on the board as the chief advisory officer to the Society

CEO, Overall Responsibility *
Responsible for performance of organization as dictated by board's overall strategy

CEO, Specific Duties*

Develop, implement strategy reflecting long-term objectives, priorities established by board
Assume full accountability to board for all aspects of organization operations, performance
Maintain ongoing dialogue with board chairman
Build, maintain effective executive team
Put adequate operational-planning, financial-control systems in place
Closely monitor operation, financial results in accordance with plans, budgets
Represent organization to sponsors and customers, professional associations

Chairman - Desirable Personal Traits

Understands IDSA’s organization
Has prior board level experience with IDSA or other
Understands and accepts the distinction between the Chairman and CEO
Understands the relationship of budget to operations.
Articulate and effective public communicator capable of communicating information such as policy skillfully
Able to communicate effectively person to person
Skilled at delegating authority
Efficient and reliable in meeting deadlines, including committee appointments, in order to keep up-to-date on IDSA business matters
Able to maintain consistency of direction where necessary but not afraid to challenge the orthodoxy in pursuit of new directions
Has flexibility in current employment and personal life in order to contribute an average of eight hours per week (with seasonal variances)
Able to handle the out of pocket expenses of the job.
Strength in electronic and technical dimension of design practice

Chairman-Elect

Basic Function
The IDSA Chairman-Elect assumes the responsibilities of the Chairman in his or her absence and is responsible for chairing strategic planning and/or monitoring for the Society. The Chairman-Elect shall automatically assume the office of Chairman upon completion of his or her term.

Specific Responsibilities

Presides at meetings of the IDSA Board of Directors when the president is absent
Performs specific duties as delegated by the president
Chairs the Society’s strategic planning
Serves as ex-officio chair of the Chapter Council, in the absence of the Chapter VP

Desirable Personal Traits (same as for Chairman)

Understands IDSA’s organization
Has prior board level experience with IDSA or other
Understands and accepts the distinction between the Chairman and CEO
Understands the relationship of budget to operations.
Articulate and effective public communicator capable of communicating information such as policy skillfully
Able to communicate effectively person to person
Skilled at delegating authority
Efficient and reliable in meeting deadlines, including committee appointments, in order to keep up-to-date on IDSA business matters
Able to maintain consistency of direction where necessary but not afraid to challenge the orthodoxy in pursuit of new directions
Has flexibility in current employment and personal life in order to contribute an average of eight hours per week (with seasonal variances)
Able to handle the out of pocket expenses of the job
Strength in electronic and technical dimension of design practice

Secretary/Treasurer

Basic Function
The Secretary/Treasurer shall be in charge of the Society’s funds and records. As Treasurer, this Officer shall cause to be collected all member dues and assessments, shall have established proper accounting procedures for the handling of the Society’s funds, shall be responsible for the keeping of the funds in banks and/or other depositories and shall have the power to disburse such funds of the Society as may be designated by the Board of Directors.

Specific Responsibilities

Reviews IDSA’s financial status and related matters with the CEO on a regular basis
Authorizes distribution of minutes to Board members for vote
Serves as National Admissions Chair, reviewing membership applications and submitting to the board for approval
Performs specific duties as delegated by the Chairnan
Serves as an ex-officio member of the Section Council and acts as Chair in the absence of the Professional Interest Section VP

Desirable Personal Traits

Understands the relationship of budget to operations
Understands the basics of financial management
Articulate, capable of communicating policy, skilled at public speaking
Understands organizational structures
Able to communicate effectively person to person
Able to envision long-range goals
Able to contribute an average of two hours per week (with seasonal variances)
Able to handle the out of pocket expenses of the job

Chairman Emeritus (not elected)

Basic Function
The Chairman of the Society automatically becomes the Chairman-Emeritus at the completion of his/her term and serves for one year in this capacity. The Chairman-Emeritus serves as the chief advisory officer to the Society and functions as a member of the Board of Directors.

District VP

Basic Function
The five IDSA District VPs promote, monitor and nurture the effectiveness of the chapters within their respective districts as well as chair the annual spring Design Dialogue conferences.

Specific Responsibilities

Runs the annual spring Design Dialogue conference and presides at its district officers meeting
Motivates chapter chairs to conduct local meetings and other chapter events
Assists members seeking to develop new chapters
Serves one additional year after their terms in an advisory capacity to their successors on an as-needed basis
Performs specific duties as delegated by the Chairman

Desirable Personal Traits

Has chaired at least one chapter and is experienced in chapter organization
Able to motivate and communicate effectively person to person
Energetic and efficient
A get-it-done type, self-starter
Able to contribute several hours per week on average (with heavier load in the months prior to the district conference)
Able to cover the out of pocket expenses demanded of the job

Chapter VP

Basic Function
The chapter vice president promotes, monitors and nurtures chapters, and represents chapter concerns on the Board of Directors. This role is also responsible for the cultivating opportunities for relationships between chapters, professional interest sections, and education.

Specific Responsibilities

With the Professional Interest Section VP, monitors and reviews all funding proposals for chapters and sections
Presides over the Chapter Council and convenes its annual meeting at the national conference and other meetings and telephone conference calls as may be required
Motivates chapter chairs to conduct local meetings and other chapter programs
Assists members seeking to develop new chapters
Ensures that timely chapter nominations and elections are held
Performs specific duties as delegated by the Chairman.

Desirable Personal Traits

Has chaired at least one chapter and is experienced in the organization of chapters
Able to motivate and communicate effectively person to person
Energetic and efficient
A get-it-done type, self-starter
Able to contribute several hours per week on average (with heavier load in the final months of the year) and cover the out of pocket expenses demanded of the job

Professional Interest Section VP

Basic Functions
The chapter vice president promotes, monitors and nurtures professional interest sections (a.k.a. Sections), and represents section concerns on the Board of Directors. This role is also responsible for the cultivating opportunities for relationships between sections, chapters and education.

Specific Responsibilities

With the Chapter VP, monitors and reviews all funding proposals for chapters and sections
Presides over the Professional Interest Section Council and convenes its annual meeting at the national conference and other meetings and telephone conference calls as may be required
Motivates section chairs to conduct meetings, programs, events and activities
Works with the section chairs, district vice presidents, chapter chairs and national office staff to encourage the development of professional development seminars at local, regional and national events
Assists members seeking to develop new sections
Ensures that timely section chair appointments are held and encourages the appointment of vice chairs to whom the section chairs can delegate specific tasks
Performs specific duties are delegated by Chairman

Desirable Personal Traits

Has chaired at least one section and is experienced in the overall organization of sections
Able to motivate and communicate effectively person to person
Energetic and efficient
A get-it-done type, self-starter
Able to contribute several hours per week on average (with seasonal variances) and the out of pocket expenses demanded of the job

Education VP

Basic Function
Leads the education council in their efforts to develop and support the highest levels of undergraduate and graduate design education. This involves content review, development, and management for publications, conference and other events for the industrial design education community.

Specific Responsibilities

Presides over the Education Council in developing meetings, publications and other services for industrial design educators
Works with Education Council in promoting membership in IDSA among industrial design educators
Encourages the promotion and development of IDSA student chapters and activities.
Represents education concerns on the IDSA Board of Directors
Works in close concert with the Chairman and CEO as the official IDSA representative to NASAD
Performs specific duties as delegated by the Chairman

Desirable Personal Traits

Has held the office of District Education Representative
Team builder instead of self-starter
Able to motivate and communicate effectively person to person.
Energetic and efficient
Able to contribute several hours per week on average (with seasonal variances) and the out of pocket expenses demanded of the job
Goal oriented

At-Large Director

Basic Function
The two At-Large Directors shall represent the general interests of the Society and the membership at large. They shall consult, investigate and research such matters affecting the profession, and provide such information and reports to the Board of Directors as requested or as deemed advisable.