This year, new directors will take office in June 2016 as elected by eligible FSO members. The FSO needs highly qualified individuals with proven track records in financial, legal and developmental skills to serve on the board.

These 6 to 12 board directors will each hold office for one 2-year term. They should be able to devote 2 to 3 weeks per year to the FSO, including attending 12 2-hour board meetings per year, various standing committee meetings, concerts, community outreach, and fundraising. The board of directors controls the FSO’s business and has the authority to approve contracts, incur liabilities, expend funs, and attend to other orchestra matters. None of the directors receive compensation, but they are reimbursed for business-related expenses.

It’s especially important to remember that each director will represent the total orchestra, not a constituency. This means that the board of directors must refrain from activities that could be reasonably viewed as conflicting with or influencing the director’s judgment regarding his or her responsibilities to the FSO.

In mid-April, incumbent directors will select primary and alternate FSO representatives for election to a special nominating committee. The special nominating committee will then select the nominees who will best serve the interests of the FSO and its members for each vacancy. The special nominating committee’s slate of candidates will then be presented to the FSO members who are eligible to vote. Ballots will be given out on the first Thursday of May, and online voting will be offered. After the annual meeting on May 5, newly-elected directors will be installed.

If you are interested in being on the FSO’s board of directors, please download the application. It will ask for:

1. Basic information, including your contact information and employer
2. A list of your business, civic, and/or political service to the local community
3. Any education, training, certificates, skills, interests, awards and/or honors that you have
4. How you think the FSO would benefit from your involvement on the board of directors
5. A list of reliable references that must be received by April 18 by mail to Committee on Nominations, PO Box 1439 or by email to nominations@fredericksymphony.org.
6. Any further information you would like the FSO to know about you

   Your application and reference letters must be in loose-leaf form. Please do not bind or staple the package together unless you use paper clips. If you have any questions, please call 301-685-3585. If we do not answer, please leave a voicemail that includes the spelling of your first and last name and a telephone number.