On November 8th at 10:00 a.m. CST, the NFCA is hosting a one-hour webinar, A Board's Role & Responsibilities - From Passive Stewardship to Active Leadership* and we urge you and your board members to participate. Presenter Todd Martin serves as general counsel to the NFCA and is uniquely qualified to advise NFCA member-societies on governance issues.

Participating in a webinar is VERY easy. All you need is basic Internet service (although dial-up will not work) to see the visuals and a regular phone to hear the conference. The cost to participate is $10 per computer/telephone line. This is the first of many educational programs designed to ensure the survival of and to strengthen the fraternal benefit system.

Click Here to Register

If your board is uninvolved in the activities below, then you need this webinar*!

Ten Basic Responsibilities of Nonprofit Boards

1. Determine the organization's mission and purpose.
2. Select the chief executive.
3. Provide proper financial oversight.
4. Ensure adequate resources.
5. Ensure legal and ethical integrity and maintain accountability.
6. Ensure effective organizational planning.
7. Recruit and orient new board members and assess board performance.
8. Enhance the organization's public standing. The board should clearly articulate the organization's mission, accomplishments, and goals to the public and garner support from the community.
9. Determine, monitor, and strengthen the organization's programs and services.
10. Support the chief executive and assess his or her performance.

*Attending this webinar will satisfy the NFCA Accreditation Program Key Element Seven – NFCA Participation.  What attendees learn will help them satisfy Key Standard Five – Governance.

For questions, please contact Allison Koppel, Director, Membership & Fraternal Services.

Todd W. Martin, Attorney, Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren, s.c.

Todd Martin served seven years on the legal counsel of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, including his work on the merger team. His inside understanding of the fraternal mission underpins his credibility in advising in all areas including governance, insurance regulatory matters, lodge activities and requirements, dispute resolution, membership, product distribution, contracting and mergers and acquisitions. He currently serves as general counsel to the NFCA. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the American Health Lawyers Association, the Worldwide Employee Benefits Network, and Madison Pension Council and is chair of the State of Wisconsin Insurance Committee. Martin is a management and finance graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran colleges, summa cum laude, and received his law degree, cum laude, from the University of Wisconsin Law School. In his community he has served on the boards of the Forward Service Corporation, the Boys and Girls Club-Fox Valley and chair and secretary of Aid Association for Lutherans Branch 3850.