NORWICH – Opportunities For Chenango has two board seat openings for residents who can voice the concerns of the county’s low-income population.
OFC is a private non-profit community action agency committed to helping families and county residents become successful, self-sufficient members of the community. It relies on its board to play an active role in program review and service provision, and to be responsible for the oversight of the agency’s financial health.
“The board plays a critical role in guiding the agency through this tough (economic) time,” said OFC Director Wayne Viera.
Agency bylaws mandate that one-third of OFC’s board 15 members is represented by low-income individuals. A full board consists of five members who represent the county’s public sector; five members from the private sector; and five members from the low-income sector.
There’s no personal income criteria that candidates must meet, but each should be able to substantiate that they represent the low-income population to be on the ballot, explained Viera. In order to conduct an election, OFC needs nominations of potential candidates from county residents.
“In all sectors of the board, it’s the board that maps out the strategies of our agency to meet the needs of the community,” he said. “The board is important to ensure that the community understands what we do ... We encourage the general public to get involved with the nomination process. That’s an important part of what we do.”
Board members serve a five-year term with no limit to the number of terms that can be served. Unlike other board positions, members of the low-income sector are also eligible for travel and child expense vouchers to attend monthly board meetings.
Though not a requirement, participation among other community organizations is also strongly encouraged.
“As a board of directors, we need board members who are involved in the community,” Viera noted, adding that broader community involvement also helps with other networks, which helps with meeting peoples’ needs and push for self-sufficiency.
In addition, all board nominees must be willing to serve on at least one of OFC’s 11 different committees.
“We try to place each board member in the subcommittee that they are best fit. For instance, if they are good with finances, they may be placed on the finance committee,” explained Viera.
OFC’s request for nominees was made earlier this year, but a lack of nominations forced the agency to postpone elections for new board members until June 4-8. Elections will he held at the agency’s central office on 44 W. Main St. in Norwich and at its Head Start centers in Norwich, Greene, Oxford, Bainbridge, Guilford, New Berlin and North Norwich.
Nomination forms can picked up at the OFC central office or found online at ofcinc.org.