Gary Wakely

Functions of the Vice President:

The Board vice president shares many of the leadership and procedural duties with the president, including assuming the leadership role when the president is unable to do so.  The vice president’s responsibilities include ensuring order is maintained during meetings and parliamentary procedures, ensuring a smooth flow of business and serving as an informed source about association rules, bylaws and governing documents.

The VP stands in for the president in meetings the president is unable to attend or duties he/she is unable to fulfill. On many boards, the president may assign the vice president a task or duty that doesn’t typically fall under the responsibilities of another officer. For example, they may preside over securing bids for maintenance projects or act as a liaison with the management company.

If you choose to organize your board into committees, the vice president might also serve as the chairman, liaison, or representative of the president to one or more of these committees. In small communities, the role of the vice president may seem redundant. However, larger boards and communities will appreciate having the position on their boards.

Having an extra hand to fill in when needed is extremely important when there are lots to do and not enough time to do it. An effective vice president is flexible. Much like the president, he/she should be a strong communicator and can manage multiple projects at once, but he/she should also be ready to pick up the slack as soon as the VP is needed.