The ISO Board of Trustees is made up of representatives from each geographical region of the fellowship. Members of the Board are elected for three-year terms by the delegates to the international convention meeting in regional caucuses. Additional at-large members may be authorized by the Board and elected by the delegate assembly.
The Board has the general powers granted non-profit corporations under the Minnesota statutes, where the ISO was originally incorporated. Among its primary duties, the Board establishes policy, sets operational guidelines and boundaries, and holds fiduciary responsibility for all ISO activities. In these roles,the Board is ultimately responsible for hiring and directing the staff of trusted servants who run the ISO office. The Board also convenes the annual international convention and meeting of delegates.
In addition to its internal committees, the Board has established standing committees of members of the fellowship to address defined areas of interest or concern. Each of these committees is assigned a member of the Board to act as liaison and serve as a means of bringing committee recommendations to the Board for consideration. The Board also appoints a liaison to the ISO Literature Committee.
Standing Board committee include the following:
- Fundraising Committee
- General Outreach Committee
- Inter-fellowship Relations Committee
- Intergroup Communications Committee
- International Development Committee
- Office Oversight Committee
- Online Presence Committee
- Prisoner Outreach Committee
- Women’s Outreach Committee
The Board also appoints ad hoc committees from time-to-time to address specific needs, issues, or concerns. Examples would include the Audit Committee, the Bylaws Committee and the Disclosure Advisory Committee.
Service on the Board of Trustees represents a major commitment of time and energy to the welfare of the fellowship. The Board meets for two days prior to the delegates meeting at the time of the international convention. In addition, regular meetings of the Board by teleconference are held monthly, and special meetings may be called between regular meetings to address urgent items of business.
The official statement establishing the Board of Trustees is given in the Bylaws of the ISO of SAA, Article IV. In addition, guidelines for service at the international level, adopted by the Board, are published annually in the Call to Convention.
