BOARD & COMMITTEES

The Board of Directors is made up of volunteers who donate their time and expertise to guide BRASS into the future. They meet monthly, usually the first Monday of the month, from 7pm to 9pm. The public is welcome to attend. Please contact BRASS to confirm meeting date and location.

Directors are elected by BRASS membership at the annual meeting. The five Town Representatives serve as liaisons between the Association and the watershed municipality.

Vic Putman
President

Robert (Bob) McGoldrick  Vice President Town of Westport Rep., Membership and Officers Comm., with Fishing and Grant Writing

Bob McGoldrick
Vice President

Lukas McNally
Secretary

Schelling (Schell) McKinley Treasurer Finance Comm., with Construction & Small Business

Schell McKinley
Treasurer

Tom Doolitte

Matthew (Matt) Foley with Hydropower

Matt Foley

Chris Fuller

Jess Grant

Kathy Linker Town of Lewis Rep., Facebook & friends Comm., with Master Gardener, & Bluebirds

Kathy Linker

Bruce Misarski with Housing, & Water Quality

Bruce Misarski

Laura Newmark Fund Raising Comm., with Artist & Community Connection

Laura Newmark

Colin Powers

Charlotte Staats

Alice Halloran ex officio Essex County Soil & Water Conservation District

Alice Halloran
ex officio
Essex County Soil & Water

Elizabeth Lee
ex officio
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Essex County

Anita Deming
Past President and Founding Member (1985)


The BRASS Board also has six sub-committees that meet, when needed, to address ongoing business.

Development Committee

  • To work with staff to establish and carry out a fundraising plan that incorporates a series of appropriate vehicles, such as annual appeals, special events, direct mail, etc.

  • To take the lead in establishing new fundraising efforts.

  • To be responsible for involvement of all board members in fundraising.

  • To monitor fundraising efforts to be sure that ethical practices are in place, that donors are acknowledged appropriately, and that fundraising efforts are cost-effective.

Nominating Committee

  • To meet with prospective board members and recommend candidates to the board.

  • To recommend a slate of officers to the board.

  • To recommend board development opportunities.

  • To review and update the organizational bylaws.

  • To suggest new, non-board individuals for committee membership.

Finance Committee/Grants Task Force

  • To review budgets initially prepared by staff, to help develop appropriate procedures for budget preparations and to evaluate consistency between the budget and the organization’s plans.

  • To report to the board any financial irregularities, concerns, or opportunities.

  • To recommend financial guidelines to the board (such as to establish a reserve fund or to obtain a line of credit for a specified amount).

  • To advise the executive director and other appropriate staff on grants.

Personnel Committee

  • To draft and/or revise personnel policies for board approval.

  • To review job descriptions.

  • To annually evaluate and review staff performance, salaries and benefits packages.

  • To evaluate prospective staff.

Projects Committee

  • To oversee new project development, and to monitor and assess existing projects (such as the newsletter, website, events and water quality projects).

  • To be actively involved in developing and carrying out projects/events.

  • To facilitate discussions about program priorities and initiate/guide program evaluations.

  • To be sure those successful project outcomes are publicized.

Strategic Planning Committee

  • To inform and guide the direction of the organization.

  • To work with the Projects Committee to see that new projects are in line with the Strategic Plan.

  • To bring in all stakeholders within the strategic planning process.


Contact BRASS at info@boquet-river.org if you are interested in serving on a committee.