Animal Welfare Professionals

I have searched the forum and have not seen this particular issue addressed.  We are a new small non-profit rescue with a Catio storefront.  We are just moving into bigger and better space, which is exciting.  We do have a Board with a President and Secretary, and an absence of Treasurer at the present moment.  Our president would like to eliminate titles, hire a Director over day to day operations, and assign duties to each Board member.  I honestly am fine with that and one other rescue in Nashville, TN  did the same thing because of conflict between members.  This resolved their issues.  Seems the State of TN accepted their roles on the annual report without a problem.  For example, I am assigned grants and fundraising and government reporting and advising on laws, rules, regulations.  

Just wondering what everyone thinks.

#OrganizationalManagement

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Cynthia Williams
Board Member
CATIO CAT LOUNGE INC
TN
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I would be careful with that.  I have worked in non-profits for the past 35 years and most states have requirements for # of board members.  Some also require that a treasurer be seated on the board in order to continue to operate.  I would not assume that everything is OK because the annual report was accepted or because another group did it.  The person processing the annual report is just an admin person and generally not someone tasked with "checking regulations."  The state of KY requires a minimum of 3 board members and also requires a treasurer.  We are a new nonprofit, just started in January, and what we have done is make the secretary and treasurer one position -- secretary/treasurer.  Of course, we are very small and the duties required for both those jobs for us are minimal.  For a larger group it might be very hard to have one person hold both jobs.  And, of course, you need to update your bylaws with any changes that you make to ensure you are operating within your legal framework, but I'm sure you know that.  I just searched and see that TN also requires a minimum of 3 directors: https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2019/title-48/nonprofit-corporations/chapter-58/part-1/section-48-58-103/ .

I am a member of American Society of Association Executives which has chapters.  Here is the Tennessee Group.  They may be able to provide you with the correct/legal answer: https://www.tnsae.org/

I am also a member of the Kentucky Nonprofit Network.  here is the Tennessee Group.  They also may be able to help you:  https://tnnonprofits.org/

I do certainly understand the line of thought though.  Good luck to you.

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Karen Kirsch
Founder
Spayed and Aid
KY
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