Better Nature Solutions is seeking board members with multiple skills and a passion for economic equity, gardening, and environmental conservation.

Better Nature Solutions (BNS) will educate the future of the arboriculture and landscape industries and increase the diversity of who works in and runs business within these industries. Paid interns and employees will receive an education in plant sciences and ecology, the basics, through online training to support skill development and their educational outreach duties. By focusing on women from the refugee and formerly incarcerated members of the community in the Knoxville area, we will change the face of the industry locally, increasing diversity. Interns will be paid a living wage of $15 per hour with cost-of-living increase reviewed annually. By creating a horizontal (as opposed to top-heavy) pay-schedule, BNS will be able to offer competitive prices to customers along with competitive wages. Long-term employees (>3 years) will have the option to move into a new entrepreneurial education tract. These are the business owners of the future.

BNS serves the community as a gardening and tree-care service provider. Our list of services will foster utilization of sustainable gardening and landscape practices and include education outreach to the Knoxville and surrounding communities.

Longer-term goals will be to develop a training pipeline for green urban planning and employment adjacent to the horticultural and arboriculture industries. Helping our students through internships with city planning commission offices (in and around Knoxville), landscape architectural firms, and more, will increase the diversity of representation in city design and spread the utilization of ecological sciences in green, softscape design and management.

Responsibilities and Expectations of Individual Board Members:

• Know BNS mission, policies, programs, and needs,
• Faithfully read and understand the organization’s financial statements when they become available (ETA April 2021),
• Serve as an active advocate and ambassador for BNS and fully engage in identifying and securing the financial resources and partnerships necessary for BNC to advance its mission,
• Leverage connections, networks, and other resources to develop collective action to fully achieve the BNS mission,
• Help identify personal connections benefiting the BNS’ fundraising, volunteer programs, and reputational standing (minimum of five contacts per year), Ensure diversity of representation on the Board exists and is maintained, Prepare for, attend, and conscientiously participate in Board Meetings,
• Sell tickets to organization fundraising events of BNS (you may want to specify how many tickets and which events),
• Recruit sponsors if possible,
• Identify and cultivate potential donors,
• Participate fully in at least one committee when formed,
• Evaluate Board efficacy on an annual basis,
• Develop and implement policies and procedures to ensure/increase Board and organizational efficacy,
• Review Form 990 for BNS before its submission to the IRS.

Time and Financial Commitments:

• Give a personal financial donation or work contribution worth a minimum of $300 annually (or a mix of financial donation w/work contribution; $30/hour work contribution),
• Attend and substantively participate in at least 75% of board meetings,
• Commit to three years of board membership (exceptions granted).

Expectations of the Board as a Whole:

• Identifying and helping navigate changes in the mission/vision/goalsof BNS as deemed appropriate to reaching initial Mission goals,
• Evaluate the performance of the Executive Director on an annual basis, Contribute to strategic and organizational planning,
• Ensure strong fiduciary oversight and financial management, Help develop and ensure fiduciary transparency,
• Monitor, assess, improve, and approve of BNS organizational programs and services, Sign an annual conflict-of-interest disclosure and update intra-annually, when necessary,
• Maintain confidentiality about all internal matters of BNS necessary to mission achievement and continued success.

Your Return on Investment?

Better Nature Solutions is seeking board members passionate about building the local economy especially for women and increasing the sustainability practices used within the landscape, gardening, and arboriculture industries. In return for Board commitment, BNS will provide liability insurance to protect Board members, make public your contribution to BNS, and help facilitate respect for your time and other contributions to BNS.

For more information and to apply contact (email or text preferred):

Dr. C Elizabeth Hamilton

Better Nature Solutions

865-518-9052

hamiltoncyd@gmail.com

www.betternature.solutions