We believe that physical and emotional punishment - including spanking - are violations of basic human rights and are violent and harmful to children, families and communities. Our mission is to create a local, national and global movement for the acceptance and practice of non-violent education and parenting. The Center's goal is to teach effective non-violent alternatives to parents, teachers and children in order to deepen adult-child relationships and create healthier children, families and communities.

Board Member Skills Needed: Board Governance/Fundraising, Resource Development, Public Relations; Relationships with and knowledge of grant-making foundations, corporations and individuals.

Responsibilities/Special Requirements: One monthly meeting; one full-day weekend retreat twice a year; to give a thoughtful annual donation; fundraising activity; attend two center events during the year.

Other Information: We seek board members who are committed to the beliefs and works of the Center—willing to learn about the philosophy and able to seek funds.

  To provide the most cutting edge and effective preventive health services to at-risk youth and families, while developing a habit of public service in future healthcare professionals and enabling win-win partnerships with other providers in our communities.

Board Member Skills Needed: Resource Development, Marketing, Financial Planning, Attorneys—specifically with experience in tax law, corporate contracting, labor practices, etc.

Responsibilities/Special Requirements: Board meetings are quarterly on a Tuesday evening for 1 ½ hours.  Each board member is also required to serve on at least one committee, which may meet monthly, every two months, or quarterly, as the committee sees fit.  Participation in “getting the work out” and fund development are crucial at this stage.

Other Information: COPE is a vibrant and exciting organization, with a wealth of diversity within its staff and students.  Over 1000 students are able to have unparalleled healthcare experiences each year through COPE’s hospital and community-based internships.  COPE also provides direct preventive health services to over 2000 children and families each year, and is now taking lead on an exciting frequent-user project with LAC+USC Medical Center.

  Foothill Vocational Opportunities, a nonprofit organization, maximizes the personal and economic potential of disabled individuals by creating meaningful employment opportunities.

Board Member Skills Needed: Resource Development, Marketing, Personnel Management; Business Development, Attorney—Estate Planning, Personnel Law; Perspective as an individual with a disability; Vocational Rehabilitation.

Responsibilities/Special Requirements: One board meeting every two months (now held at noon) and one committee meeting per month.

  To mitigate the unintended consequences of incarceration for children and families, inmates, released inmates, and society.

Board Member Skills Needed: Resource Development, Marketing, Public Relations.

Responsibilities/Special Requirements: Attend monthly board meeting.  Participate on one committee which meets as needed and on a schedule that is determined by the committee.  Attendance at any fundraiser (1—2 year), Annual Holiday Party, and the Annual Board Retreat.  Annual contribution of $300.

  To assist grandparents and other caregivers raising relative children to provide safe, stable and nurturing family environments.

Board Member Skills Needed: Program Evaluation, Resource Development, Marketing, Public Relations, Community Relations.

Responsibilities/Special Requirements: Must make a two-year commitment, raise or generate at least $2000 a year.

Other Information: We are poised now to broaden our outreach into under-served areas of the community, and into strategic alliances that will enable us to grow the organization.  Our appeal is broad-based, inter-generational, inter-racial and includes all socio-economic levels.  Our missions is timely, in that the number of children being cared for by a grandparent or relative caregiver grows daily, as the most current consequence of this country’s ongoing war with a widespread drug epidemic.

  To provide counseling and support services for at-risk and high-risk youth and their families.  Focus on violence prevention.

Board Member Skills Needed: Program Evaluation, Resource Development, Marketing, Public Relations, Personnel Management, Community Relations, Bilingual.

Responsibilities/Special Requirements: Board meetings are currently held once a month on Friday mornings for 1 to 1 ½ hours.  Committee responsibilities vary.

Other Information: The agency has embarked on a five-year strategic planning process.

  Through visual and performing arts workshops, performances and festivals, our mission is to give youth from all backgrounds the tools, confidence and inspiration to make a positive difference in their communities and world now from the inside out.

Board Member Skills Needed: Board Governance/Fundraising, Resource Development, Marketing, Financial Planning, Public Relations, Long- and Short-Range Planning.

Responsibilities/Special Requirements: Meetings every six to eight weeks, annual retreat (2 days), chair committees, assist, co-chair fundraising events.

  To use its resources and collections of antique machines for education, to impact students and others regarding the importance of the printed work, literacy and invention.

Board Member Skills Needed: Board Governance/Fundraising, Resource Development, Marketing, Financial Planning, Public Relations, Community Relations.  Computer skills in web design, graphic design; legal background.

Responsibilities/Special Requirements: The board meets once a month, usually on the third Tuesday from noon to 1:30 PM; each board member is expected to serve on one committee, which will also meet during the month.

  To provide the community with end-of-life specialists who provide spiritual care and guidance to the dying and their families.

Board Member Skills Needed: Board Governance/Fundraising, Resource Development, Marketing, Public Relations, Long- and Short-Range Planning, Community Relations.  Accountant with nonprofit experience.

Responsibilities/Special Requirements: Board meetings are quarterly on Monday evenings.

Other Information: We have been working with ESC on board development for the past year and recently completed a three-year business plan.

  Los Angeles House of Ruth is an Emergency and Transitional shelter for homeless and bettered women and their children.  Our main focus is to transition our clients into safe and permanent housing.  We accomplish this through providing a complete program of case management to cover all aspects of the clients’ needs.

Board Member Skills Needed: Resource Development, Marketing, Financial Planning, Public Relations, Long- and Short-Range Planning.

Responsibilities/Special Requirements: Board meets six times per year with committee meetings sometimes once per month.  Ability to make a personal donation or to secure other donations to the organization is necessary.

Other Information: Fundraising is the weakness of the board and the area of greatest need for improvement.

  To nourish and enrich the lives of individuals of all ages through services that promote independent living and dignity.

Board Member Skills Needed: Resource Development, Marketing, Financial Planning, Public Relations, Personnel Management, Long- and Short-Range Planning, Community Relations.

Responsibilities/Special Requirements: Board meetings are on the third Thursday of every month.  Attend 75% of board meetings.  Committee participation; personal financial contribution; actively participate in special events; network/outreach on behalf of the program.

  To advocate for the improvement and stabilization of the health, social and economic conditions of the Pico Union/Westlake area.

Board Member Skills Needed: Board Governance/Fundraising, Financial Planning, Long- and Short-Range Planning.

Responsibilities/Special Requirements: Meet once a month, volunteer for one committee and seek out other potential board members.

  To challenge at-risk secondary students to experience the benefits of goal-setting, character development, adult mentoring and improved health by providing them with a truly life-changing experience: the training for and completion of The City of Los Angeles Marathon.

Board Member Skills Needed: Resource Development, Marketing, Financial Planning, Public Relations.

Responsibilities/Special Requirements: Four board meetings per year; subcommittee meetings; fundraising.

Other Information: It would be helpful to have an interest in youth development.

  Switzer Center, located in Torrance for 39 years, is a special education, nonpublic, K-12 school that helps students and their families find solutions to their severe learning and emotional disabilities.  An outpatient clinic also provides psychological, academic and clinical services for children, adolescents and adults.

Board Member Skills Needed: Resource Development, Marketing, Public Relations, Long-and Short-Range Planning, Community Relations.

Responsibilities/Special Requirements: Attend board and committee meetings scheduled monthly (except in August and December).  Give, raise, or assist in raising at least $2500 annually and make a personal donation to our capital campaign.  Assist or attend events, be a community ambassador, and recruit others to be involved.

Other Information: Switzer Center is just beginning the construction of a new school campus that will almost triple our size, allowing increase in the number of students enrolled, plus the provision of many more new services.  We are well on our way toward our capital campaign goal of $5,000,000.  We hope to move to the new campus in winter 2004.

  To foster the physical and mental well being of teenage girls through equestrian activities.  TTR uses horseback riding and the responsibilities that accompany it as a vehicle to encourage girls to assume leadership roles through mentoring, and to provide opportunities for exploring educational and cultural interests.

Board Member Skills Needed: Financial Planning, Community Relations.  Legal background.

Responsibilities/Special Requirements: Due to the newness of our board, we meet monthly, generally on Thursdays at 7:00 PM at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank.  We may have fewer meetings in the summertime.  We do not currently mandate minimum levels of financial commitment from the board members, but they are expected to support the organization financially.  Additionally, board members are expected to attend all fundraising events, share their mailing lists and suggest sponsors.  Out next major event is our annual family barbeque and auction to be held Sunday, October 10, 2004.

 To improve the health status of low-income, medically underserved workers in Los Angeles County.

Board Member Skills Needed: Resource Development, Financial Planning, Long-and Short-Range Planning.  Knowledgeable about how nonprofit organizations operate.

Responsibilities/Special Requirements: The board meets once a month and members are expected to attend these meetings as well as serve on one of the standing committees: Finance/Personnel; Program (No Cost and Fee-for-Service subcommittees; Marketing/Public Relations.  These committees’ meeting schedules vary.

  To foster the economic self-sufficiency, physical and emotional health of women and girls in a world of peace, freedom and racial justice.

Board Member Skills Needed: Resource Development, Marketing, Public Relations, Business Planning.

Responsibilities/Special Requirements: Currently, the board meets on the third Thursday of every month (occasionally skipping August).  The bard member must attend these meetings and be active on at least one of our committees which include: Public Relations, Resource Development, Facilities, Program, Finance.  All board members are active in representing YW to the community, in helping raise money and support for the organization.  Board members also attend events sponsored by the YW from time to time.

Other Information: Must be a woman and must be a member or be willing to join the YWCA of the Harbor Area (cost is $25).  We now have a board buddy system where new members are paired with women who have been on the board.  We have a yearly training for new board members and also training on special topics throughout the year.