Governance 

The organizational structure of the Our Futures Leadership Board is comprised of 19 key community leaders recruited by the Director/Coordinator. They are leaders of influence and provide credibility to Our Futures and its mission.

The Leadership Board meets quarterly. Its major role is to advise and evaluate the activities of the Operations Committee and use its influence to support and advance for Our Futures’ activities. The Leadership Board opted not to identify a chair. It operates utilizing discussion and consensus. This has proven to be a successful operational style for them as almost all of the membership is the leader of their respective organizations.

The Operations Committee of Our Futures, 31 members, meets monthly and is actively involved in the day to day operations of Our Futures. It is the “workhorse” of the coalition.

The membership is comprised of volunteer(s) from the organizations represented on the Leadership Board and are selected by the members of the Leadership Board. Operations Committee members so selected, report to the Leadership Board member that selected them. Other members of the Operations Committee are recruited as needed by the Director/Coordinator.

The Operations Committee has selected a chair and vice chair. The chair develops the agenda, with assistance from the Director/Coordinator, establishes meeting dates and times and conducts the meetings. The chair actively solicits input from the membership. Decisions are consensus based.

The Operations Committee created a number of sub-committees to address special topics or issues such as education, public relations, data analysis, youth, etc. The sub-committees select their own chairs, agenda items and direction. They operate by consensus.

The Director/Coordinator is the facilitator and functions at the direction of the coalition. He provides appropriate information and offers suggestions and recommendations. However, substantive decision making is in the hands of the coalition. The coalition operates very democratically. Members are heard. Consensus reigns.

Samples/types of decisions made by the coalition include what new activities/actions to address, what committees to create, what new members should be added, etc. The coalition is the decision maker. When a decision needs to be made the coalition makes the decision.

Selection of members to the Leadership Board and Operations Committee is made by the board/committee as need warrants. When they see a gap in representation, they fill it by discussing the needs and who can best fill that need. They identify a person and then recruit that person.

At the present time there are no office/role term limits. The Operations Committee has been functioning for a little more than a year. It wants time to best determine how to structure the coalition. The membership is in no hurry to make governance changes because, for the time being, the present structure is working extremely well.

To view a copy of the Our Futures in Licking County Table of Organization, click HERE