All HFES elected positions are non-paid volunteer positions. Those elected must be able to attend two in-person meetings of the Executive Council annually and participate in periodic teleconferences – generally one time per month for one hour for each meeting. Failure to attend at least part of two consecutive face-to-face Executive Council meetings for other than good cause shall be sufficient cause to consider that an incumbent may be failing to perform the duties of office. Officers and at-large Executive Council members must abide by the HFES Code of Ethics.
Officers and Executive Council members at-large are reimbursed for travel and lodging related to their participation at the in-person meetings. Registration fees are waived for the annual meeting. All other meeting-related expenses are the responsibility of the individual.
Position Descriptions
Executive Council Member - Term of Office is Three Years
- Attends all Executive Council meetings
- Adheres to the Society's program's mission, bylaws, and operating rules
- Assists the Executive Council in carrying out its fiduciary responsibilities
- Ensures legal and ethical integrity and maintain accountability
- Ensures effective organizational planning
- Actively participates in the annual planning process and assist in implementing and monitoring the plan's goals and results
- Manages Society resources effectively
- Informs others about the benefits of membership in HFES
- Reviews agendas and supporting materials prior to Executive Council meetings
President-Elect – Commitment is Three Years (including President and Immediate Past President positions)
- As a member of the Executive Council, acts as understudy to the president in preparation for assuming the duties of the presidency (Bylaws, Article II, Section 2)
- Member of Executive Committee (Bylaws, Article II, Section 6)
- Chair Policy and Planning Committee (Bylaws, Article II, Section 2) (OR 18.1)
- Appoints one member to Policy and Planning Committee; that member serves three-year term (OR 18.1)
- Chairs the HFES Representatives and Liaisons Committee
- Member of Finance and Budget Committee (OR 5.2.6)
- Chairs Strategic Planning Day at Midyear Meeting
- Serves as a member of the IEA Representatives Committee and attends IEA meetings
- Recruits and nominates chairs of committees for presidential year
- Chairs EC meetings in the absence of the President
- Reports on plans for the coming year at the Annual Business Meeting of the Society during the HFES Annual Meeting
- Serves on the Nominations and Elections Committee (OR 5.2.10; OR 10.5)
- Serves on Arnold M. Small and Betty M. Sanders President's Distinguished Service Award Committee (OR 12.3.2)
Secretary-Treasurer-Elect - Commitment is Three Years (including Secretary-Treasurer and Immediate Past Secretary-Treasurer positions)
- Understudy to the Secretary-Treasurer (Bylaws, Article II, Section 2)
- Chairs Nominations and Elections Committee (OR 10.5)
- Serves on Finance and Budget Committee (OR 5.2.6)
- Reports on upcoming year’s budget at the Annual Business Meeting (during the HFES Annual Meeting)
- Works with Executive Director to monitor the financial activities of the Society General duties of Executive Council
- Attends two in-person meetings of the Executive Council each year; one in the spring and one in conjunction with the HFES Annual Meeting. Other meetings may be scheduled at the discretion of the President
- Along with fellow Executive Council members, Governs the affairs of the Society (Bylaws, Article II, Section 2)
Secretary-Treasurer
- Serves as a member of the Executive Council
- Chairs the Crisis Management Committee
- Chairs the Finance and Budget Committee
- Serves on the Nominations and Elections Committee
- Serves on the Executive Committee
- Works with the Executive Director to review and monitor the financial status of the Society
- Presents a financial report at the midyear Council meeting, at the annual council meeting, and at the business meeting at the Annual Meeting
- Provides advice and support to the Secretary-Treasurer and Secretary-Treasurer-Elect as needed
- Attends monthly virtual meetings of the Executive Council each
- Attends two in-person meetings of the Executive Council each year; one in the spring and one in conjunction with the HFES Annual Meeting
- Attends other meetings as scheduled at the discretion of the President
Immediate Past Secretary-Treasurer
- Serves as a member of the Executive Council
- Serves on the Finance and Budget Committee
- Serves on the Policy and Planning Committee
- Provides support to the Secretary-Treasurer and Secretary-Treasurer Elect as needed
- Attends monthly virtual meetings of the Executive Council
- Attends two in-person meetings of the Executive Council each year; one in the spring and one in conjunction with the HFES Annual Meeting
- Attends other meetings as scheduled at the discretion of the President
President
- Presides over all meetings of the Society and of the Executive Council, including but not limited to: monthly virtual Executive Council meetings, in-person midyear and annual Executive Council meetings, and the business meeting at the Annual Meeting
- Appoints or directs the appointment of all committee and task force chairs (or co-chairs) not otherwise specified in the Bylaws, with the advice and consent of the Executive Council
- Chairs the Executive Committee
- Chairs the IEA Representatives Committee
- Serves on the HFES Meetings Committee
- Serves on the Budget and Finance Committee
- Serves on the Policy and Planning Committee
- Serves on the Nominations and Elections Committee
- Chooses the President’s Distinguished Award Winner
- Presides over the Opening Ceremony of the Annual Meeting
Immediate Past-President
- Serves as a member of the Executive Council
- Serves on the IEA Representatives Committee
- Attends monthly virtual meetings of the Executive Council each year
- Attends two in-person meetings of the Executive Council each year; one in the spring and one in conjunction with the HFES Annual Meeting
- Provides support to the President and President-Elect as needed
Legal Responsibilities
Under well-established principles of nonprofit corporation law, an Executive Council member must meet certain standards of conduct and attention in carrying out their responsibilities to the organization. These standards are usually described as the duty of care, the duty of loyalty and the duty of obedience.
Duty of Care
The duty of care describes the level of competence that is expected of an Executive Council member, and is commonly expressed as the duty of "care that an ordinarily prudent person would exercise in a like position and under similar circumstances." This means that an Executive Council member owes the duty to exercise reasonable care when he or she makes a decision as a steward of the organization.
Duty of Loyalty
The duty of loyalty is a standard of faithfulness; an Executive Council member must give undivided allegiance when making decisions affecting the organization. This means that an Executive Council member can never use information obtained as a member for personal gain, and must act in the best interests of the organization.
Duty of Obedience
The duty of obedience requires Executive Council members to be faithful to the organization's mission. They are not permitted to act in a way that is inconsistent with the central goals of the organization. A basis for this rule lies in the public's trust that the organization will manage donated funds to fulfill the organization's mission.