Join Our Board

Effective and stable leadership is vital to our organization’s future. Volunteer board members are engaged and play a key role in SSHSA’s continued and future success.

New board members are brought forth by a nominating committee and elected by the membership. Board members have no financial commitment to SSHSA and do not receive compensation.

Click here for a full list of board member roles and responsibilities

Steamship Historical Society of America meeting at Peabody Museum in Salem, Massachusetts in 1947. Edward O. Clark Collection, SSHSA Archives.

​BOARD RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Fiscal oversight – provide insight and guidance on the organizational budget, fundraising, grants, finances, capital campaigns, etc.
  • Governance – oversee and evaluate the Executive Director, ensure SSHSA’s activities conform to our mission, oversee strategic planning and visioning, recruit and vote on new trustees and officers, develop policies, maintain bylaws, attend board training, serve on committees, etc.
  • Community outreach – promote and represent SSHSA in public by sharing online content, attending and promoting public events, representing SSHSA at community events, etc.

ACTIVITIES

  • Attend all scheduled board meetings, which are held quarterly in person and/or via Zoom.  Be prepared for those meetings and be willing to contribute
  • Active participation on at least one board committee
  • Be well informed about SSHSA’s mission and strategies, policies, programs, strength, and needs and be willing to communicate those attributes to others
  • Answer emails and collaborate with fellow members on board projects
  • Attend SSHSA hosted events and other related events as a representative of SSHSA

ELIGIBILITY

  • Applicant must complete an application and submit with a resume
  • Applicant must be able to commit to serving a 3-year term

TIME COMMITMENT

  • Trustees should be able to commit to 5-10 hours per month spent in meetings and board projects

SSHSA welcomes all candidates who believe they can further our mission and contribute to the success of our programs. We know that a balance of tenure, skills, diversity and experience is key to effective leadership and we encourage application from members of the public who come from diverse backgrounds, including diversity of gender, race, ability, sexual orientation and gender identity.

The composition of our board should reflect our community’s diversity of thought, culture, expertise and experience, particularly in the following areas:

  • Accounting/Bookkeeping
  • Communications/Marketing
  • Grant Writing/Fundraising
  • Community Organizing
  • Legal
  • Strategic Planning/Policy Development
  • Real Estate Strategy
  • Insurance
  • Small Business Management

To apply to become a member of SSHSA’s Board of Directors, please complete the application below. If you would like to nominate someone you know (with their permission), please let us know and we can reach out to them. Our recruitment process is always active, so feel free to submit an application at any time.

Board Application