YPW Board Placement Program

This program serves as a new opportunity for non-profit organizations to obtain access to Wichita’s up and coming young professionals who are seeking to volunteer on boards of Wichita’s non-profit organizations.

The Board Placement program will operate by accepting board/committee position openings from area organizations and, thereafter, providing an advertisement of the opening to the members of YPW. YPW members will then be invited to submit applications for the particular positions through YPW website. YPW will then provide a list of applicants and their respective applications to the organization for review. YPW cannot guarantee placement or selection.

Helpful Hints

Want to maximize your chances for selection for a non-profit board or committee?  These helpful hints can help you to become more marketable to non-profits.

  • Start volunteering for the organization if you aren’t already - this helps you to get more familiar with the organization, lets them get more familiar with you, and shows that you are truly dedicated to the organization
  • Do your research on the board/committee. Know their goals and visions so if/when you get an interview you will be prepared to talk about why you would be a good fit.
  • Know what you can bring to the table in a board or committee - Point out if you are a great salesperson, if you are a CPA/CFO, if you have HR experience, if you are a computer/technology genius. Be prepared to share specifically what an asset you will be.
  • Be prepared to wait for an answer. Have patience with non-profits. They tend to move slower than for-profit companies because many only bring on new board/committee members once a year. Most boards vote to bring on a new member, and if their meetings are infrequent, you will be waiting until a decision can be reached.
  • Get connected. Boards often expect that board members bring more than just their own personal strengths. They want the added benefit of social and financial networks. Expanding your social networks not only gives you a great opportunity to meet and learn from new people, it also gives you the added benefit of being able to bring those connections to the table in the board.
  • Find out how long the organization has been around - that will give you more insight on what to expect from the experience. A fledgling organization might not have guidelines yet and you could get in on the ground floor and help mold that organization. A more established organization will most likely have a more structured approach.

Get Connected

If you are a YPW member and would like to get more information about a posted board position, send an e-mail to Corie Holbrook.

Wichita Public Library- The Friends of the Wichita Public Library
Available till: 12-31-2010   link
Description of Committee

The Friends of the Wichita Public Library Board of Governors manages the duties of the organization, a non-profit that promotes the public support and use of the Library, informs members and the public of issues concerning the Library, and provides assistance to the Library's collections and programs.

Description of Responsibilities

The responsibilities will be dependent upon the individual talents of the chosen applicant and special projects; however, some representative projects from 2007 include a book sale during the Kansas Book Festival, promotional activities during National Friends of Libraries Week, and informational booths during author visits.

Terms & Length of Commitment

The Board meets monthly on second Thursdays at 1:30 p.m. for approximately 1-1.5 hours at the Central Library. Most Board members also volunteer in the Friends Used Book Store; volunteering is encouraged in order to be familiar with its operations, but a commitment to work shifts is not required.

Time and Investment Schedule

Membership in the Friends begins at $10 per year.

Desired Experience

No specific experience is required, but a belief in the importance of public libraries and willingness to be an advocate for libraries is important. A Wichita Public Library cardholder is preferred. Good communication and organization skills, excellent work habits and a sense of humor are also preferred. (We're not kidding about the sense of humor. Please submit one letter of reference and answer the following questions: a) What do you think of when you hear Wichita Public Library? b) Why do you want to share your talents with the Friends? c) What is the biggest misconception your generation has about libraries? d) What is the biggest misconception libraries have about your generation? e) Do you prefer working directly with the public or behind the scenes? Why? f) What do you think is the biggest challenge facing the Wichita Public Library? g) What is your vision for the future of Wichita libraries?

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If you are an organization that would like to find YP members to join your board, please fill out this application and e-mail it to CHolbrook@wichitachamber.org.

 

Young Professionals of Wichita reserves the right to refuse access to any person or entity to the Board Placement Program at its sole discretion.

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