KIUC Linemen All Geared Up - Kauai Island Utility Cooperative

Directors are the connection between you, the
member/owners of KIUC, and the management
and staff, who operate KIUC.
Q. How do you become a director/board member
of KIUC?
A. Directors are elected by you, the
member/owners of KIUC.
Q. Are there any qualifications required to
become a director?
A. Yes. Each prospective board member must be a
member of the co­op, and is required to attend
a seminar that outlines the duties and
responsibilities of the board of directors before
being eligible to stand for election.
Q. Is there any specific education required once
elected to the board?
A. Yes. Each director is required to obtain
certification as a credentialed cooperative
director by passing five courses taught by the
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
Continuing education courses also may be
taken to obtain a board leadership certificate.
Q. What do board members do?
A. Board members are responsible for the overall
direction of the cooperative.
By Kathryn Wiliams
The Director Connection
Directors direct the cooperative.
CEOs make executive decisions.
Managers manage the staff and projects.
Staff climb the poles, answer the phones, pay the bills, run the programs,
fix the wires, run the generators and publish this magazine.
Q. What are some of their duties?
A. They have high level oversight of management,
do financial and strategic planning, and review
the performance of the co­op.
Q. What are the board members’ legal
responsibilities?
A. They have to “prudently” represent the
interests of the co­op and its members as a
whole, not just a small group. They also must
follow the law in directing the business and
affairs of the co­op.
Q. May the directors get involved in the specifics
of daily operations?
A. No. Day­to­day operations are the
responsibility of management, not directors.
Q. Do directors oversee the hiring of employees?
A. Only KIUC’s CEO is hired by the board of
directors.
Q. May members get involved in operational
decisions?
A. No. You have elected the board of directors
to be your advocates. Once elected, their
decisions must reflect the interests, needs
and concerns of the majority of KIUC’s
membership.
The KIUC Board
is Going Mobile!
In accordance with
the Board’s decision
to hold two monthly
meetings a year at
another location,
the 10/25/11 Board
meeting will be held
at the Hanapepe
Library Conference
Room. Please mark
your calendars. See
you there!
OCTOBER 2011 43