Board of Directors

A truly innovative and unique organization, DREAM is run by passionate people dedicated to the welfare of their friends, neighbors, and Vermont community. Following the Village Mentoring Model, DREAM is now represented by six Local Programs around the state. These local programs are supported by a tireless and energetic staff, a strong network of sympathetic individuals and institutions, and a fiercely dedicated alumni organization.

As one of the first DREAMers in the Dartmouth Local Program, I know what DREAM does for people. It opens up previously unknown worlds of opportunity for all involved (myself included), and it does it in such a way that spreads hope and energy around Vermont.

Behind the scenes, DREAM has an all-star Board of Directors. The Board possesses a strong understanding of the communities DREAM serves and a passion for DREAM’s mission. The members love kids and are open minded, talented, and hardworking.

The organization is founded on the pillars of six Core Values. Under these guiding values, DREAM’s Board of Directors represents and speaks for DREAM’s membership (mentors, families, children, housing authorities, and other stakeholders).

The purpose of the Board of Directors is to govern DREAM and to represent this membership in that governance. The Board follows a model of Policy Governance and manages the organization through its Policy Documents.

Governing a new organization takes diligence, and the Board has been hard at work this year forming policy, recruiting members, educating itself, and performing evaluations. This coming year promises to be an exciting year for development and growth.

I wish you all the very best this year, and don't forget to dream!

Mike Foote
President, Board of Directors

P.S. If DREAM is your passion and you are interested in investing yourself in the governance of the organization, you should consider applying for Board Membership.

Board Policy

The Policy Governance Model
(Board Leadership: Policy Governance in Action, John Carver ed., No. 52)

Board leadership requires, above all, that the board provide vision. To do so, the board must first have an adequate vision of its own job. That role is best conceived neither as volunteer-helper nor as watchdog but as trustee-owner. Policy Governance is an approach to the job of governing that emphasizes values, vision, empowerment of both board and staff, and the strategic ability to lead leaders.

Observing the principles of the Policy Governance model, a board crafts its values into policies of the four types below. Policies written this way enable the board to focus its wisdom into one central, brief, document (to learn more about Policy Governance, please click here).

Ends
The Board defines which human needs are to be met, for whom, and at what cost. Written with a long-term perspective, these mission-related policies embody most of the board's part of long-range planning.

Executive Limitations
The board establishes the boundaries of acceptability within which staff methods and activities can responsibly be left to staff. These limiting policies, therefore, apply to staff means rather than to ends.

Board-Executive Linkage
The board clarifies the manner in which it delegates authority to staff as well as how it evaluates staff performance on provisions of the Ends and Executive Limitations policies.

Board Governance
The Board determines its philosophy, its accountability, and specifics of its own job.

Articles of Incorporation
DREAM ’s Articles of Incorporation establish it as a legal entity.

Bylaws
DREAM ’s Bylaws place board members into the corporation’s legal concept.

Vermont Statutes
Vermont law governing non-profit corporations can be found under Title 11B.

Core Values
DREAM’s Core Values are the philosophical cornerstones that steer the organization towards its mission. They are not unilateral. They are used together, as a unified whole, to guide actions and visions.

Board In Action

Annual Calendars
The Annual Calendar (created every September) guides the Board’s annual meetings, in conjunction with more close and ongoing monitoring of its policies.

Executive Reports
DREAM's Executive Director submits bi-monthly reports to the Board.

Agendas and Meeting Minutes
Every bi-montly Board meeting is preceded by an agenda, with minutes written up afterwards to document what occurred.

Monthly Program Reports
Monthly reports are compiled by staff for interested parties and sponsors concerning the incredible work each of our Local Programs are doing.

Applying

We encourage all those interested in the governance of DREAM to apply to become a member of the Board. After reading the job description, please submit the application along with a letter of interest to:

Board of Directors
The DREAM Program
P.O. Box 361
Winooski, VT 05404

Questions may be directed over email to or by calling the DREAM Office at (802) 655-9015.

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