MCB Thrift Stores, Inc.

Transcription

1 MCB Thrift Stores, Inc N Kansas Expressway, Springfield, MO (417) Phone (417) Fax (417) Donation Call Center Dear applicant, We are honored that you are interested in serving as a member of the board of Directors of the Missouri Council of the Blind Thrift Stores, Inc. Our mission is dedicated to serving individuals living with blindness throughout Missouri. This mission can only be accomplished by building and operating strong fund generators such as our thrift store in Springfield, Missouri. For this reason, we are seeking a broad-based Board that includes members of the Missouri Council of the Blind, those with business expertise (including: financial services), individuals with marketing experience, and those with a solid background in retail. Creating a Board of this nature will help to ensure that we have a strong knowledge and experience base suitable for operating and guiding our thrift store. Board members are critical to developing our organization s policies and ensuring that the organization is working toward accomplishing its mission. We would like to thank you for your interest in serving on the Board of Directors of the Missouri Council of the Blind Thrift Stores, Inc. Please review the attached application packet for further information and details regarding our Board, organization, and our thrift store. Sincerely, Michael Keller MCB Thrift Stores, Inc. President

2 MCB Thrift Stores, Inc N Kansas Expressway, Springfield, MO (417) Phone (417) Fax (417) Donation Call Center WHO WE ARE: MCB Thrift Stores, Inc. is a fund generator for Missouri Council of the Blind. While MCB Thrift Stores, Inc. is listed underneath a separate FEIN, our responsibilities remain to the Missouri Council of the Blind. The Missouri Council of the Blind (MCB) is the largest blind-consumer organization in the state of Missouri. MCB is a not-for-profit agency which was established in 1956 to provide assistance in the form of services and advocacy for people living with blindness across the state of Missouri. We have 23 affiliate branches across Missouri that provide support to visually impaired persons of our state. In addition, MCB s 4 Special Interest affiliates provide blind and legally blind individuals with a variety of ways to learn to communicate and become more involved with the organization. These affiliates are: Adaptive Technology Division (AT) Braille Revival League of Missouri Library Users of Missouri Missouri Guide Dog Users WHO WE SERVE: Legally blind residents of Missouri. OUR MISSION: The purpose of the Missouri Council of the Blind (MCB) shall be to promote the general well-being of our members and blind or legally blind individuals in Missouri, and to support or participate in other programs promoting the best interest of blind or legally blind individuals everywhere.

3 SERVICES WE PROVIDE TO INDIVIDUALS: MCB plays a vital role in assisting blind and newly blind individuals as they learn to live/cope with vision loss. MCB currently offers 7 major programs to blind or legally blind individuals in Missouri. These programs are: Special Services: MCB provides financial assistance during emergency situations. Health benefits: Our organization provides a small yearly stipend to those who have experienced surgery or illness. Adaptive Technology: MCB offers legally blind or blind Missourians the opportunity to be able to purchase adaptive equipment through a 50/50 matching grant. Scholarships: We offer scholarships to visually impaired students who are pursuing a degree. This program is very valuable as blind students have added expenses when attending college and graduate school. This is also very important as college tuition continues to increase across the nation. Youth Services: MCB provides an opportunity for legally blind or blind young adults to become involved with a consumer organization as they learn to advocate for themselves and others who are visually impaired. This program also provides equipment to visually impaired children enabling them to participate and compete on an equal level with their sighted peers. Summer Camp: Over the summer, our organization fills a very important socialization need for blind and visually impaired Missourians of all ages along with their families. Held at Cobblestone Lodge, the Summer Camp Program provides fun, recreating, and relaxation while helping to build a strong, supportive community that adds to the quality of life for hundreds of Missourians living with vision impairments. Legislative Training: Members of the blind and visually impaired community are affected by legislation and public policy each and every day. We provide a forum to discuss current issues while providing the training and opportunities needed to enable our members to confidently work with elected officials and take an active role in the democratic process.

4 MCB THRIFT STORES, INC.: As is the case with many not-for-profit agencies, fund generators are vital to our success. Located in Springfield, Missouri, the MCB (Missouri Council of the Blind) Thrift Store began operation on December 8 th, 2011 and is our only thrift store that funds our programs. As a 17,500 square foot operation, our thrift store operates an onsite call center, drive team, onsite and offsite warehouses, sales floor, and meeting space. Since the success of our thrift store greatly depends on the quality and quantity of donations it receives, much focus is geared toward community outreach and partnerships. This includes working with: neighborhood associations, churches, schools/colleges, businesses, government entities, other not-forprofits, and more. While our mission is to support our programs and services, we must also integrate our thrift store with the community such that we can provide assistance to those in need in our area. It is also worth noting that if it were not for our community, we would not receive the necessary donations to operate a successful thrift store. This means that we must also find ways to give back to the community(s) that have, and continue to, give to our thrift store.

5 MCB THRIFT STORES, INC. AREA PARTNERS: Note: This list may not include every partner as this particular area grows every year. ARC of the Ozarks Easy Living Preferred Employment Services OACAC (Ozarks Area Community Action Corporation) SCIL (Southwest Center for Independent Living) Habitat for Humanity Missouri Career Center Missouri Red Cross Salvation Army Rare Breed Youth Services Jordan Valley Community Health Center Stepping Stones Springfield Host Lions Club CASP (Community Alternative Sentencing Program) Missouri Department of Corrections-Probation and Parole Greene County Jail Northside Betterment Association Willard Public Schools Springfield Public School Crosslines of Springfield Area clothing banks Area senior centers Area churches Recycle groups/organizations

6 MCB THRIFT STORES, INC. BOARD MEMBERS: The organization s Board of Directors shall consist of no fewer than three (3) and no more than nine (9) members. The initial Board shall have at least three (3) members whose terms shall be staggered. To the extent possible, there shall be, at all times, an odd number of members. Membership on the Organization s Board of Directors is open to natural persons who: Are over the age of eighteen (18); and, Have, through their education and training, efforts, experience, employment, volunteer participation, familial relations, and/or personal experience demonstrated a commitment to persons who are blind or have visual impairments or who are themselves blind or have a visual impairment; or, Have relevant and substantial business experience, retail employment, thrift store employment, accounting, and/or bookkeeping experience. FIVE FUNCTIONS OF A BOARD: Policy Administration Finance (Management and Development) Management ring compliance with tax and corporate law

7 Development Marketing and Community/Public Relations arkets are being reached and served Personnel Human Resources Management General Manager s job description General Manager General Manager as the head of staff for the organization and the person who is responsible for hiring and supervising all employees Program Development and Evaluation (Planning and Information Management) Planning beneficiaries, defines the general business the organization is in, and defines the end result sought from the organization s efforts -term and long-term goals

8 Information Management termining who needs the information compliance (grants or governmental funding)

9 MCB THRIFT STORES, INC. BOARD APPLICATION: MCB (Missouri Council of the Blind) Thrift Stores, Inc N. Kansas Expressway, Springfield, Missouri Phone: (417) Fax: (417) Name: Work Phone: Home Phone: Cell Phone: Home Address: City Zip Work Address: City Zip I prefer mail and phone contact to come to my: Work Home Type of disability (if applicable): Do you need special accommodations for meetings? If so, please specify: Large print materials Assistive listening device Braille materials Interpreter Other, please specify: Occupation and employer:

10 Why are you interested in joining our board? What personal skills or strengths do you think would benefit our organization? Other organization involvement (groups, boards, etc.): Have you served on other nonprofit organization boards? If so, please list them: Please Attach Resume

11 MCB THRIFT STORES, INC. BOARD MEMBERS CODE OF ETHICS Board members have an obligation to do more than just meet legal standards. Board members are expected to meet standards of conduct as well. As a member of this board I will: favor special interests inside or outside this non-for-profit. the advantage of my relatives, friends or business acquaintances. respect the opinions of my board colleagues, and ready to make the best decisions for every-one involved. nothing to violate the trust of those who elected or appointed me to the board or of those individuals who we serve. goals. except when acting in a meeting with the full board, or as the board delegates me. the board, and abstain from voting if appropriate. her authority with the nonprofit s employees. Signature Date / /

12 MCB THRIFT STORES, INC. CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY FOR BOARD MEMBERS The following Conflict of Interest Policy can help you avoid situations that can damage the public s trust in your organization. Business or professional interests. Board members have outside business and professional interests. Board members, however, may not make a profit in any way in their outside employment or business interests from their service on this organization s board of directors. During board meetings, board members shall disclose any conflict of interest involving an issue before the board. While they may participate in discussion of the issue, they shall not vote. Gifts and gratuities. Board members will not accept gifts, gratuities, trips, personal property or other items of value from an outside person or organization as an inducement to do business or provide services. Personal beliefs. Board members hold a wide range of personal beliefs, values and commitments. These can present a conflict of interest if they prevent board members from acting for the benefit of the full organization, from carrying out their responsibilities as board members, if board members attempt to use their board office to further their personal interests, or to convince other board members, the administrator or staff to act upon the board member s wishes. Abuse of the board office. Board members should not abuse their office by using this nonprofit s staff, services, equipment or property for their personal or family gain. This includes using their position on this board of directors to obtain employment at the organization for themselves, family members or friends. Signature Date / /