Board Member Overview
An HFA Board member is a volunteer role that serves as a voting member of the HFA Board and a champion of the organization. A Board member is expected to keep themselves up-to-date on issues that affect the bleeding disorders community as well as be knowledgeable about HFAâs mission, services, policies and programs.
A Board member develops and approves policies and monitors and participates in the organizationâs fiscal health and fundraising. Working with the President/CEO, the Board also develops a plan that outlines the strategic, long-term future of the organization. A Board member is ultimately responsible for the overall performance to achieving its mission.
A Board member must be actively curious and interested in strategically contributing to the organization. The ability to work with others, actively listen to and thoughtfully gather and process the opinions and thoughts of others is extremely helpful.
Board Terms
As an HFA Board member, you serve in 2-year increments. Your Member Organizationâs Executive Director and/or Board can choose you to serve up to 3 terms consecutively (6 years).
Volunteer Board Member Role Description
Board Member Membership
Per Board Policy, each Board Member is required to become a personal member of HFA. There is a nominal fee for this membership. *If you have a financial limitation, this fee may be waived.  You can speak with the President/CEO privately for this waiver.
Board Meeting Preparation & Board Meetings
HFA generally relies on Roberts Rules of Order for meeting process/procedure.
If you have an item you wish to have on the Board Agenda for an upcoming meeting, please contact the Board Secretary, Board Chair, or President/CEO several weeks in advance of a Board meeting.
Relevant Board meeting documents are posted to HFA Board Portal about a week prior to meetings. You can view, download and/or print these documents. Please do maintain appropriate confidentiality for Board Materials of a sensitive nature.
Board Meeting Attendance
Attendance is required at Board meetings. We hold 4 meetings per year. Three (3) are by phone, one (1) is in person at our Annual Educational Symposium.
*If you are unable to attend a Board meeting, it is your responsibility to find an alternate to represent and vote on behalf of your member organization. You are not considered absent if you have an alternate in attendance. You cannot have more than two absences per year to remain on the Board.
Board Member Responsibility to Member Organization
You are on the HFA Board as a representative of your Member Organization and vote on their behalf. Please act in that capacity and represent the voice and the needs of your local community.
Donât forget to update your Member Organization on what HFA is doing! Are there new things HFA is doing that your local organization can utilize locally? It is appropriate to offer to report at your local Board Meetings in person or submit a report to them in writing to share with the local Board what HFA is currently doing.
It is also encouraged that you update HFA on interesting or important initiatives happening at your local member organization. Other Board Members enjoy and appreciate hearing what other local/state organizations are doing too!
HFA posts many of your local activities on our website. We receive regular outreach from new families looking for local connections and connect them to our member organizations for local support. Having your events on our website helps to encourage these new families to connect with you faster!
Speaking on Behalf of HFA as a Board Member
Only the Chair of the Board of Directors and the President/CEO have the authority to make statements of any type, written, oral, or video on behalf of HFA. Only the Chair and the President/CEO may act as spokespersons setting forth to the media and other organizations, public and private, the policies of and factual data about HFA.
The Board Chair or the President/CEO may delegate to one or more individuals the authority to speak on behalf of HFA regarding one or a small number of related issues and only if under the supervision and review of the Board Chair and the President/CEO.
Board Member Representing HFA at Public Functions
When a Board Member is representing Hemophilia Federation of America at a function, they are expected to wear:
- A Board of Directors name tag,
- Either appropriate apparel or an HFA shirt, and
- No other insignia on apparel referencing affiliation if employed by industry
The reason for the above is to avoid conflict of interest and/or confusion by the public.
Committees & Volunteering
There are numerous volunteer committees actively working at HFA. Each Board member is required to serve on a minimum of one HFA Committee or volunteer for a special project each year. Multiple areas of service are greatly appreciated as well. For special projects assignments, please connect with your Board Chair or President/CEO.
Your Role as a Champion
Your organization has chosen you to represent them at HFA. Be a good role model. Also, be a champion of HFA. It is a two-way street.
Confidentiality
Confidentiality is an important component of your role with HFA and you will be asked to sign a confidentiality agreement. You are required to not disclose any propriety information regarding the activities, plans, events, and public or private positions of HFA. You also should not disclose any personal information about patients with bleeding disorders and their families that you learn about during any HFA sessions, events and committee activities to community or providers. Failure to abide by the confidentiality policy may result in your removal as a volunteer Board Member and the inability to participate in future HFA events, or be associated with the organization in any capacity.
Transparency/Disclosure & Conflicts of Interest
You will be asked to disclose both your volunteer and paid activities that may constitute a conflict of interest. These disclosures include:
- Any organizations you are affiliated within bleeding disorders and the nature of the relationship you have (example: serve on Board)
- Any consulting/speaking/advisory type of activities engaged in which are Paid activities: (If you receive a 1099 from an organization in direct payment for services rendered.)
- Any consulting/speaking/advisory type of engaged in which are Unpaid activities: (If reimbursement on items such as travel to an advisory committee meeting.)
- If clinician â list of current research funded by pharma/other
- Any other items you wish to disclose
Note: Activities that could be considered a conflict to serving in this leadership position will be considered on a case by case basis by HFAâs Executive Committee acting as the Personnel Committee.