Apply to Join the Board

Help guide the future of New Vision

New Vision’s board of directors, a group of visionary volunteer leaders, come from different backgrounds and have different skills to offer. What brings the group together, above all else, is a desire to ensure the long-term success of New Vision for Independence in its leadership role to help people of all ages learn to adapt to and overcome visual impairment on their journeys toward independence. Are you interested in joining our team?

As a community organization, we strive to have the best possible representation of our community on our Board. If you have skills and experience that can help shape the future of New Vision, we encourage you to apply.

Please contact Chantel Buck at cbuck@newvisionfl.org or 352-607-7607 if you have any questions about this application.

Board Meetings

Board meetings take place every other month on the third Thursday from 10-11:30 a.m.: January, March, May, July, September, and November. The 2024 location is Ameriprise Financial/Blacksands Wealth, 8112 Centralia Ct., Leesburg. 

Committee meetings are every other month on non-board meeting months (i.e. February, April, June, August, October, December). The location is usually via Dialpad Meetings video conference.

There is a budget workshop scheduled in August.

Expectations of a New Vision Board Member

General Expectations:
  • Support New Vision for Independence’s mission, purposes, values, goals, policies, and programs, while knowing its strengths and needs.
  • Suggest possible nominees to the Board who are men or women of achievement who can make significant contributions to the work of the Board and the progress of New Vision.
  • Serve actively on committees as requested by the Chair.
  • Provide input and feedback to the Chair on performance of staff members.
  • Attend activities and events sponsored by New Vision whenever possible.
Meetings:
  • Prepare for and participate in Board and committee meetings, including appropriate organizational activities.
  • Ask timely and substantive questions at Board and committee meetings consistent with personal conscience and convictions, while supporting the majority decision on issues decided by the Board.
  • Maintain confidentiality of the Board’s executive sessions, and speak for the Board or New Vision only when authorized to do so.
  • Suggest agenda items periodically for Board and committee meetings to ensure that significant policy-related matters are addressed.
Avoiding Conflicts:
  • Serve New Vision as a whole rather than any special interest group or constituency.
  • Avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest that might embarrass the Board or New Vision, and disclose any possible conflicts to the Board in a timely fashion.
  • Never accept (or offer) personal favors or gifts from (or to) anyone who does business with New Vision.
Fiduciary Responsibility:
  • Exercise prudence with the Board in the control and transfer of funds.
  • Faithfully read and understand New Vision’s financial statements and otherwise help the Board fulfill its fiduciary responsibility.
Fundraising:
  • Make an annual gift to New Vision according to personal means, but no less than the minimum amount established by the Board for its members, and with the realization of the leadership role the Board must play in fund development.
  • Assist New Vision by implementing fundraising strategies through personal influence with others.
    Participate actively in New Vision fundraising special events, programs, and activities.
Outreach:
  • Participate in or conduct a minimal number of outreach activities as established by the Board for its members with the goal of disseminating New Vision’s mission to new/under accessed populations. The Board shall approve a list of recommended outreach activities.
Training and Planning:
  • Participate in annual Board orientation, retreat, and/or strategic planning session, as defined by the Board.
  • Be willing to serve as a new Board member mentor after one year of service on the Board.

Conflict of Interest Policy

Please review New Vision’s conflict of interest policy. In submitting your application, you confirm that you:

  • have received a copy of the Conflicts of Interest Policy,
  • have read and understand the policy,
  • agree to comply with the policy, and
  • understand that the Corporation is a charitable organization and that in order to maintain its federal tax exemption it must engage primarily in activities which accomplish one or more of its tax-exempt purposes.

Board Member Application