You don't need to be an expert, a professor, or a professional to make an impact on the cultural life of Alaska. If you cherish the richness that history, literature, and lifelong learning have added to your life and feel moved to help create an Alaska where the humanities inspire citizens to engage with ideas and one another, you can make a difference.

The Alaska Humanities Forum seeks active change-makers and community leaders, listeners and storytellers, fund raisers and friend raisers from across the state to join its board of directors. Board members can offer diverse perspectives, but are all committed to encouraging dialogue and sharing the stories that move us and make us Alaskans.

The board sets the Alaska Humanities Forum's policy and direction, and board members raise funds and strengthen the organization's statewide network of partners. The board meets quarterly (with additional committee work conducted via conference call or in person), and members serve a three-year term with the possibility of reelection to a second term.

To nominate a board member, please fill out the form here. Self-nominations are accepted. 

Once elected, Board Members are expected to:  

Mission

• Determine,      understand, and support the organization’s mission.
• Be knowledgeable      about the organization’s major programs.
• Convene and participate      in long range visioning and strategic planning to ensure the organization’s      future ability to carry out its mission.

Financial

• Establish fiscal      policy and boundaries, including budgets and financial controls.
• Make a      meaningful annual gift commensurate with personal ability.
• Assist in      fundraising by, for example, identifying prospective donors, personally      asking others to make a contribution, signing thank you notes, or making      thank you phone calls to contributors.

Management

• Set policies for      the organization’s operation and guide its general course from year to      year.
• Select,      evaluate and, if necessary, terminate the appointment of the chief      executive.
• Ensure that the      provisions of the organization’s charter and the law are being followed.
• Attend      meetings in person or via      teleconference.
• Serve on at      least one committee of the board.
• Recommend      qualified individuals with relevant skills and experience as possible      nominees for the board.

Important as it is to understand what the duties of directors include, it is equally important to understand what they do not include.

Directors should not:

• Engage in the      day-to-day operation of the organization.
• Hire staff other      than the chief executive.
• Make detailed programmatic decisions more appropriately left to staff.

Please be sure to inform the candidate that the selection process involves several stages and is affected by a number of factors that do not in any way reflect on the quality of his or her candidacy. These qualifying factors vary from year to year, and candidates who are not selected for this year’s slate may be invited to remain in the pool for future consideration.