This document discusses the importance of board transparency and accountability. It outlines three key areas of transparency for boards: organizational, programmatic, and financial. Organizational transparency involves identifying board members and their roles. Programmatic transparency means reporting on activities and their effectiveness. Financial transparency requires accurately reporting financial transactions and the organization's overall health. The document stresses that transparency is needed for compliance, goodwill, upholding standards, and demonstrating prudent use of resources. Boards should follow open meetings laws, have policies for documents and conflicts of interest, and publish annual reports. Transparency allows for proper public scrutiny of boards.

1. Board Transparency and AccountabilityBill TaylorNortheast Community Development EducatorUW Cooperative Extension ServiceThe University of Wyoming is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution.

2. Legal and Ethical Integrity“Since the board is ultimately responsible for ensuring adherence to legal standards and ethical norms, its members must collectively exhibit diligence, commitment, and vigilance to keep their house in order…The organization’s reputation and public standing require everyone to take three watchwords seriously: compliance, transparency, and accountability.” – Richard T. Ingram2UW Community Development Education

3. TransparencyThe need to provide accurate information about an organization’s activities and how they are carried out, and about the organization’s revenue and how it is expended.3UW Community Development Education

4. Why Transparency?Compliance with legal obligationsDemonstrate good willEstablish and maintain professional standards and ethicsThe board is what it is perceived to be in the eyes of the publicDemonstrate wise use of resourcesUphold the integrity of the board for the futureDemonstrate good board governanceDemonstrate prudent financial management4UW Community Development Education

5. Three AreasOrganizationalProgrammaticFinancial5UW Community Development Education

6. Organizational TransparencyProcess to identify who the board is and its purposeProcess to identify who the responsible officers are and what their individual responsibilities will be6UW Community Development Education

7. Programmatic TransparencyIdentifies the activities and services of the boardMeasures the effectiveness and/or efficiency of the board7UW Community Development Education

8. Financial TransparencyAccurately reporting the financial transactions and position of the boardAnalyze and report the general financial health of the organization in a manner that is easy to understand and will stand the test of accountability to the public8UW Community Development Education

9. Wyoming County/City/Board Financial Statuteshttp://legisweb.state.wy.us/titles/statutes.htmConstitution:97-16-006,007Statutes :6-5-101 to 6-5-1189-3-4279-4-806, 817, 83116-4-101 to 16-4-12438-2-1019UW Community Development Education

10. Boards should:Have clear policies and procedures to safeguard against premature destruction of documentsSee p. 6 of Board Member HandbookEnsure all records and documents (except those which would be properly handled in an executive session) are available for public reviewMinutesLegal documentsFinancial documentsTransactionsAudits10UW Community Development Education

11. Boards should (cont):Follow spirit and letter of the Open Meetings ActBoard Member Handbook – p. 31Use executive session only for reasons allowed in actLittle to no basis for advisory boards to use executive sessionEnact and enforce a conflict-of-interest policySigning of conflict-of-interest policy form by each member is a good ideaPublish annual public summary reports of their activities and finances11UW Community Development Education

12. ScrutinyPublic and legal scrutiny of all types of boards continues to increase, due to many legal and ethical infractions by appointed, elected, nonprofit, and corporate boardsConsequently, you must do everything possible to present your board to the public and legal authorities as being open to examination – examination which will prove you are properly executing your duties and upholding the public trust12UW Community Development Education