Replied by <four years> on topic RE: Treasure
we have 2 yr term for all officers including treasurer, can be relected once. after 4 years, you are out. but can run for another position.
is often the case.
Our group allows a person to be elected to no more than 2 consecutive 2-year terms, which is a little longer than Critters 3 year recommendation, which is an excellent summary of the risks/rewards of long-term tenure in a board position.
again...I'm going to second Critter. She is so awesome!
And really those guidlines go for any office. I have caught myself forgetting that change can be good!
Yes, Critter! You're absolutely right, as ever. Thanks for always bringing logic and clarity to the threads. I've learned a lot from you.
My own response was unclear. We do have term limits of three consecutive years for any one position. The eight year limit is the total combined time as an executive board member(pres, vp, sec, treas).
Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same."
"The ultimate aim of karate lies not in victory or defeat but in the true perfection of one's character."
If you can't find the bylaws (and heck, even if you can), I recommend a 2 or 3 year term limit for all officers, but especially treasurer. Bad habits can form over time that can go unchecked, policies and financial controls can slip, and procedures can become too internalized when a treasurer is allowed to get too comfortable in the job. An inappropriate sense of personal ownership ("I make the spending decisions around here") can also set in. It's also nearly impossible to successfully transition from a legacy treasurer (5+ years) to a new person because the "oldie" has internalized so much of the job and has probably not referred to any written procedures for years. The "oldie" does it all on autopilot, which is really hard to explain to a new person. There's also the risk that a new volunteer will be reluctant to question the "oldie's" practices, even if they seem too loose, since she was the expert for so long. And then the new treasurer is stuck trying to tighten up financial controls and she looks like a pain in the neck or over zealous when she is really doing the right thing.
A fresh set of eyes every couple of years keeps it all sharp, above-board, and scrutinized.
Allow at least 2 years consective because there is a definite learning curve with the job of treasurer and the work is much easier for the person the second year. But after 3, it's time for new blood.
Sorry, that's a long answer to a short question, but I anticipated you might need some ammo to justify term limits.
