VTLA Board of Governors
all one-year terms

Executive Council
President
President-Elect
4 Vice Presidents
Treasurer
Parliamentarian
Immediate Past President

Governors At Large
16 maximum
limit of 4 consecutive one-year terms

District Governors
elected by their districts
13 districts, 16 governors

Sections Chairs
12 Sections

Young Trial Lawyers
Chair, Chair-Elect and Immediate Past Chair

Women’s Caucus
Chair, Chair-Elect and Immediate Past Chair

Past Presidents

Ex Officio Members (non voting)
committee chairs, presidential appointments

Board Secretary
Executive Director

 

Board member responsibilities

The VTLA Board of Governors (the Board) holds ultimate responsibility and accountability to the membership for fulfillment of the Association’s mission and legal accountability for its operations. The Board is responsible for establishing and approving broad policies to guide the Association.  The Board is responsible for identifying and deliberating key strategic issues that will impact the profession, the membership and the Association and assuring that this information is considered in policy development.

This work is best achieved by regular attendance at the quarterly meetings.

More specifically, the Board’s basic responsibilities are to:

1. Establish the broad legislative goals and objectives of the Association.
2. Actively participate in fundraising for the political, educational, operational and charitable needs, projects and programs of the Association.
3. Actively represent, inform, educate, energize and mobilize the trial lawyer communities and organizations whom the Governors represent.
4. Actively stimulate the membership’s participation in the Association’s key programs.
5. Directly assist in membership development, including acquisition and retention.
6. Approve broad financial policies and the Association’s annual budget.

The Board shall also approve the hiring of an Executive Director (the CEO) of the Association and shall approve the term and conditions of that person’s initial employment.  The Board shall also ensure adequate supervision of and support to that person with such supervision delegated to the Executive Council.  Otherwise, neither the Board, the officers nor the Executive Council shall be involved in any hiring, firing, promoting, disciplinary or compensation decisions with respect to staff members unless such advice is sought by the Executive Director.

The Executive Council consists of the officers for the Association and is responsible for ensuring that the Association is operationally governed and managed effectively, legally and ethically.  The Executive Council oversees management of the Association through the Executive Director, who is exclusively responsible and accountable for managing daily operations.  The Executive Council is responsible for assuring that the Board is kept informed of its actions.  Both the Board and Executive Council are responsible for assuring open and timely communication with the membership on matters of policy and governance.  The Executive Council is responsible for ensuring that VTLA’s volunteers, staff and financial resources are managed effectively.

Attendance at all Executive Council meetings is expected.

More specifically, the Executive Council’s basic responsibilities are to:

1. Maintain oversight of the Executive Director by assuring understanding of authority, responsibility and accountability and nurturing open, frequent and honest communication between the Executive Director, the Executive Council and the Board.
2. Implement the directives of the Board.
3. Make the specific decisions required to assure the implementation of the legislative goals and objectives established by the Board.
4. Make the specific decisions and provide the leadership and the labor to do whatever is necessary to successfully conduct fundraising for the political, educational, operational and charitable needs or projects of VTLA and its Foundation.
5. Make the specific decisions and provide the leadership and labor required in order to increase membership in all categories of membership of the Association.
6. Regularly evaluate operational policies relating to the management of the Association.
7. Ensure the financial integrity of VTLA by monitoring financial outcomes and performance.
8. Work to assure that all committees, task forces and other member working groups are operating effectively and efficiently.