MHC Board Service
The board of the Missouri Humanities Council is composed of 24 adult residents of Missouri, 18 of whom are elected by the board on a rotating basis and 6 of whom are appointed by the Governor of Missouri. The normal term of an elected member is three years, which may be renewed once before mandatory rotation off the board. The term of an appointed member is "at the pleasure of the Governor," but may not continue longer than four years after the Governor leaves office. No member who has already served for six years in either capacity may be immediately re-elected or re-appointed.
The board seeks to achieve geographical, professional, gender, and ethnic diversity. The single characteristic of every person on the board is a deep interest in the humanities -- history, literature, philosophy, comparative religion, folklore, jurisprudence, etc. The humanities are the subjects that interpret the record of human experience.
Ideal candidates for board service know their own community and region of Missouri well, and are well-respected in the community. Beyond that, an ideal board member is experienced in working on a non-profit board, works well in cooperation with other board members, and is able to "see the big picture."
The board meets four times a year in Kansas City, Central Missouri, and St. Louis on a schedule that is prepared about a year in advance. Meetings generally include a cultural experience or committee meeting on a Friday mid-afternoon, an overnight stay, and a business meeting Saturday morning, concluding with lunch. To remain in good standing, a board member is expected to attend more than half the meetings each year. MHC reimburses the travel expenses of board members, but there is no compensation for board service.
A conflict-of-interest policy prohibits board members from receiving compensation while serving in some capacity within projects funded by or conducted by MHC, or from participating in discussions and votes on projects, grants, or programs that could benefit an institution with which they are affiliated.
Board members are expected to serve as advocates for MHC and to make annual financial contributions within their means. All members of the board shape strategy, programs, and resource development.
To self-nominate for an elected position on the board, or to be considered for future vacancies, please download the MHC candidate form and send it to Patricia Zahn, Associate Director at the address on the form. The Governor also invites Missouri residents to self-nominate for the appointed positions. The application can be download from the Governor's web page at
http://www.gov.mo.gov/boards/boardsapp.htm. and a copy should be forwarded to the Missouri Humanities Council.
Board Nomination Form (Word)
Board Nomination Form (PDF)
updated 10/05/07
