Critical Language Scholarship Alumni Society

General Responsibilities

While the weekly time commitment of these roles is variable, CLSAS Leadership Board (LB) members should expect to spend an average of 2 to 10 hours per week on CLSAS-related work, which includes time spent planning and in meetings. In addition to the specific portfolios below, all CLSAS LB members are expected to:

• Communicate with the CLSAS LB via Slack, email, and phone calls in a timely and professional fashion. We recognize CLSAS is an all-volunteer organization and accommodate requests for absences and periods of limited communication.

• Virtually attend monthly board meetings and provide regular updates on their committee work to fellow board members and volunteers. Attend an in-person annual conference (funding provided by CLSAS).

• Review and vote on Leadership Board business, including bylaw amendments, requests for funding, and approval of board partnerships.

• Provide feedback on a range of official board documents, including for meetings with external organizations including American Councils for International Education (AC).

 

Board Structure

The CLSAS Leadership Board is made up of at least seven roles:

• Executive Committee roles: President, Vice President(s), and Secretary

• Non-Executive roles: Three or more (3+) General Leadership Board Members (At-Large)

​

Executive Role 1: President (Incumbent running)

• Manages the Leadership Board’s general strategic direction, distribution of tasks, and boar responsibilities (in collaboration with the Vice President and Secretary)to external audiences

• Represents the society’s viewpoints and initiatives in meetings, phone calls, and presentations

• Coordinates Leadership Board meetings and decision-making with input from current and former board members, including overseeing official board votes and bylaw amendments

• Represents the society and leverages connections in the international education space to collaborate with other organizations and groups, including other alumni organizations

​

Executive Role 2: Vice President 1 (Incumbent running)

• Oversees CLSAS committees, in conjunction with the President

• Oversees CLSAS-affiliated activities

• Plans the CLSAS Annual Conference

• Assists in CLSAS membership recruitment and application approvals

• Connects volunteers to relevant committees and board activities and funding opportunities

• Acts as defacto Treasurer for the organization’s financial management, including by identifying grant opportunities

• Focuses on partnership-related tasks

 

Executive Role 3: Vice President 2 (Incumbent running) 

• Oversees CLSAS committees, in conjunction with the President

• Oversees CLSAS-affiliated activities

• Plans the CLSAS Annual Conference

• Assists in CLSAS membership recruitment and application approvals

• Connects volunteers to relevant committees and board activities and funding opportunities

• Manages CLSAS website, media, newsletter, and other productions of the organization

• Focuses on communications-related tasks

​

Executive Role 4: Secretary (Incumbent running)

• Manages financial policies and banking matter

• Presents quarterly financial reports to the leadership board

• Ensures that CLSAS maintains its nonprofit 501c3 status federally and with the District of Columbia

• Maintains records of financial transactions, including membership dues and organizational expense reimbursements

• Identifies new funding opportunities for the organization

​

At-Large Leadership Board Member Roles (Three or more open positions) 

• Support Newsletter production

• Develop relationships with other organizations

• Works directly with other board members to brainstorm events, opportunities, collaborations, and funding allocations

• Engage with CLSAS members to learn about their community engagement and volunteer interests

• Identifies grant and other funding opportunities for the CLSAS

• Participate in CLSAS events and the development of the CLSAS Annual Conference

• Brainstorm and plan meaningful professional development and networking opportunities for CLSAS members with Alumni Ambassadors/CLS alums 

• Assist with execution of virtual and in-person events whenever possible

• Organize and advance relationships with governmental offices, NGOs, universities and private sector businesses that would be beneficial to CLS alumni

• Abide by guidelines set forth in the CLSAS bylaws in the conduct of these relationships

• Identify opportunities to align CLSAS and partner organizations around common goals, particularly to provide linguistic, academic and/or professional opportunities to CLS alumni

​