Steering Committee

The Steering Committee is KFTC’s statewide board and makes decisions about the organization’s budget, policies, strategy and long-term direction. The Steering Committee is made up of one representative from each chapter, plus five statewide officers who are elected by the full membership.

The Steering Committee meets six Saturdays a year in different locations around the state. The meetings in November and July include an overnight stay on Friday. Any member is welcome to attend Steering Committee meetings, but only the representative from each chapter may cast a vote.

Each chapter elects a Steering Committee Representative and Alternate at its annual chapter meeting in August. An individual may not serve more than three consecutive years in the same position.

Executive Committee

Five statewide officers make up KFTC’s Executive Committee. This group makes necessary decisions between Steering Committee meetings and provides leadership for the organization. Four members of the Executive Committee are elected at the Annual Membership Meeting in the fall. The fifth position is the immediate past chairperson. A description of the four elected positions is below:

The Chairperson is voting member of the KFTC Steering Committee and Executive Committee, as well as the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of KFTC and the Kentucky Coalition. He or she presides at all Annual Meetings, Steering Committee meetings, Executive Committee meetings, and Board of Directors meetings.

Vice-Chairperson
The Vice-Chairperson is voting member of the KFTC Steering Committee and Executive Committee, as well as the Vice-Chairperson of the Board of Directors of KFTC and the Kentucky Coalition. He or she presides in the absence of the Chairperson at all Annual Meetings, Steering Committee meetings, Executive Committee meetings, and Board of Directors meetings.

Serves as Secretary-Treasurer for KFTC and the Kentucky Coalition. She or he also serves as a voting member of the KFTC Steering Committee and Executive Committee, as well as the Board of Directors of KFTC and the Kentucky Coalition.

The At-Large Representative is a member elected from a county without a chapter. He or she serves as a voting member of the KFTC Steering Committee and Executive Committee, as well as the Board of Directors of KFTC and the Kentucky Coalition.
 

Each year the Leadership Development Committee reviews nominations for statewide officers (KFTC’s Executive Committee) and makes a recommendation based on the following:

1. A statewide officer must be a member of KFTC.
2. A statewide officer cannot be a paid employee of KFTC or Kentucky Coalition.
3. A statewide officer cannot serve in the same position for more than two consecutive years.  
4. A diverse committee is desired, including gender, age, race, income, place of residence, place of birth, level of involvement in local chapter and statewide organization, and issues of interest.

Once a recommended slate of officers is approved by the Steering Committee, a description of each candidate is printed in KFTC’s newsletter, balancing the scales. The candidates are then presented for a vote by the full membership at the Annual Meeting in October. Other candidates may be nominated from the floor at that time.

Nominations for the Executive Committee are reviewed each year at the end of August. If you would like to nominate yourself or another KFTC member for the Executive Committee, send an email to labbott@kih.net or mail a letter to KFTC, PO Box 1450, London, KY 40743. Tell us the name of the person you are nominating and why you think he or she would be a good choice for the position. You may nominate as many people as you like.

Chapter Leadership Positions

All KFTC chapters hold an annual business meeting in August to elect leadership and set goals for the year. At that time, chapters elect members for each of the following positions, and other positions as needed. Please volunteer to serve in your chapter!

Steering Committee Representative
Each chapter elects a Representative to serve on KFTC’s Steering Committee. This is the statewide board that makes decisions about KFTC’s budget, policies, strategy and long-term direction.

Each chapter also elects an Alternate to serve on the Steering Committee. This person receives all materials related to the Steering Committee meetings, and takes the place of the Representative when he or she is unable to participate.

As membership coordinator, you will receive a list of people each month who need to renew their memberships. It will be your job to call—or get volunteers to help you—and ask these folks to support KFTC for another year. The membership coordinator helps to call all members during KFTC’s fall fundraising campaign. This person also helps the chapter plan activities throughout the year to increase membership.

Each chapter must raise at least $500 a year for KFTC. The fundraising coordinator is responsible for making sure the chapter holds fundraising events to meet this goal. He or she can also help identify local donors who should be asked to support KFTC. The fundraising coordinator gets others excited about fundraising and helps to call all chapter members during KFTC’s fall fundraising campaign.

Chapter Publicity Coordinator
This person is responsible for sending frequent updates and photos about your chapter’s activities to be used in balancing the scales, KFTC’s publication, and on the website. He or she can also help members in the chapter make the best use of local media, publicity, email, and the website to get the word out about chapter meetings, issues and activities. KFTC’s organizers and Communications Team are available to help throughout the year.

Statewide Committees

Five statewide committees are responsible for developing KFTC’s issue campaigns and addressing organizational needs. These committees select their own chairperson and set their own meeting times. They make recommendations to KFTC’s Steering Committee. Statewide committees include:

Personnel Committee
Interviews candidates for new positions and participates in hiring decisions. Participates in annual staff performance evaluations. Provides guidance and makes recommendations about personnel policies and issues. Meets each December and as needed.

Finance Committee
Reviews and recommends budget and quarterly financial statements. Reviews major financial decisions. This committee also helps develop grassroots fundraising plans and coordinates key fundraising activities. Meets periodically in person and by conference call.

Nominates people to serve on statewide committees and offices. Develops, evaluates and helps to implement KFTC’s leadership programs, including workshops and leadership schools. Meets several times a year as needed.

Land Reform Committee
Develops KFTC’s statewide campaigns on issues connected to natural resources, including logging and other forestry issues, coal mining, oil and gas drilling, and industrial agriculture. Meets 3-6 times as needed.

Economic Justice Committee
Develops KFTC’s statewide campaigns on economic issues affecting low-income Kentuckians. Meets 2-6 times as needed, often by conference call.

High Road Strategy Team
Develops the strategy for KFTC’s campaign to reform economic development policies and promote local, sustainable economic development in Kentucky.

Any KFTC member is eligible to serve on these committees. Each chapter must nominate at least one person to serve on at least one statewide committee. Other nominations are welcome!

All nominations are considered by the Leadership Development Committee in October and new committee assignments are approved by the Steering Committee in November.

To nominate yourself or anyone else for a KFTC statewide committee, send an email or letter to the Leadership Development Committee by October 15. Tell us the name of the person and the committee you are nominating them for. Emails can be sent to labbott@kih.net. Mail should be sent to KFTC, PO Box 1450, London, KY 40743.

A nominations form may be downloaded here.