The Board of Directors of the Sunrise Beach VFD is elected by the citizens of Sunrise Beach Village via ballots distributed in March of each year. The exception is the position of Vice President, which is always held by the current Chief.
Current Board Officers
Don Black
PresidentDon was elected to the Board in 2018 and appointed President in 2020.
Dan Gower
Vice PresidentDan is Chief of the Department and Vice President since 2021.
Mike Crabil
Secretary
Lou Henson
TreasurerCurrent Directors
Brooks Frederick
Vice President
Bill Long
Director
Scott Olguin
DirectorOverall Responsibilities of the Sunrise Beach VFD Board
Determine mission and purpose.
It is the Board’s responsibility to establish and articulate the organization’s goals and the means by which we intend to meet those goals, always focusing on the needs of the community we serve.
Select, support, and evaluate Board Officers and the Chief.
The Board must reach consensus on the responsibilities of Board officers and the Chief of the Department, and select the most qualified individuals for the positions. The Board should provide all necessary support, and continuously evaluate and provide feedback on performance.
Ensure effective planning.
The Board must actively engage in an overall planning process, and assist in implementing and monitoring the plan’s goals.
Ensure and safeguard financial resources.
One of the Board’s foremost responsibilities is to secure adequate resources for the organization to fulfill its mission, and protect the assets of the VFD. Key to this developing the annual budget and ensuring that funds are properly used.
Build a competent board.
The Board have a responsibility to establish prerequisites for candidates, orient new members, and periodically and comprehensively evaluate their own performance.
Ensure legal and ethical integrity.
The Board is ultimately responsible for adherence to all legal standards and ethical norms for any nonprofit organization.
Enhance the organization’s public standing.
The Board should clearly publicize the VFD’s mission, accomplishments, and goals to the public in order to garner support from the community through advocacy.
Responsibilities of Sunrise Beach VFD Board Members
- Attend and actively participate in Board meetings.
- Be informed about the VFD’s mission, services, policies, and programs.
- Review agenda and supporting materials prior to meetings.
- Serve on committees or task forces and offer to take on special assignments.
- Inform others about the VFD and act as an advocate wherever possible.
- Suggest possible nominees to the Board who can make significant contributions.
- Keep up-to-date on developments in related to VFD planning and operations.
- Follow Board policies and procedures.
- Assist the Board in carrying out its fiduciary responsibilities.
Legal Responsibilities
Under well-established principles of nonprofit corporation law, Board member must meet certain standards of conduct and attention in carrying out their responsibilities to the organization. SBVFD Board members have the legal responsibility to meet the duty of care, the duty of loyalty, and the duty of obedience.
The duty of care describes the level of competence to exercise reasonable care when he or she makes a decision as a steward of the organization. It is commonly expressed as the “care that an ordinarily prudent person would exercise in a like position and under similar circumstances.”
The duty of loyalty is a standard of faithfulness which expects that a Board member will give undivided allegiance when making decisions affecting the organization. He or she will act in the best interest of the VFD, and can never use their position as a member for personal gain.
The duty of obedience requires board members to obey the law and the organization’s internal policies and regulations.. A basis for this rule lies in the public’s trust that the organization will manage donated funds to fulfill the organization’s mission.