PRESIDENT Christy Knight- We can consider Christy Knight a 2003 founding member and the driving force and inspiration behind the Down Syndrome Association of Brazos Valley. She is responsible for growing our board and the mastermind behind all of the group’s programs, activities, workshops and fundraisers. Christy works for Texas A&M’s Department of Agricultural Economics. She is married to Joe, who also devotes a lot of time, energy and talent to the association. The Knights have five children: James, Krista, Jessica Jones, Justin and six-year-old Colton, who has Down syndrome. e-mail -  president@downsyndromeofbcs.com  VICE PRESIDENT  Darla Dyke - The Dyke family has been part of our group since its inception. The Dykes and the Knights organized the first Buddy Walk and have been active in the group and with each Buddy Walk since. Darla works as bakery manager for Kroger. Her husband, Shane, is a Kroger store manager. They have two daughters, two sons and three granddaughters. Their youngest, Dillon, now 15 years old, has Down syndrome.  Because of the Dyke’s and their generous coworkers at Kroger, that store has donated thousands of dollars worth of products to the group and to Buddy Walk for many years. e-mail - vicepresident@downsyndromeofbcs.com TREASURER Mandy Hooks- The Hooks family became members of the association in March 2009.  Mandy is married to Scott Hooks and they have 3 children, Ashley, Paige and 8 month old Ava, who has Down syndrome.  Mandy is a part-time stay at home mom and also works with her husband, Scott at Shooks Cabling.   After the birth of Ava they have dived into helping promote acceptance and inclusion for people with Down syndrome. e-mail treasurer@downsyndromeofbcs.com Secretary Sondra White - Sondra, Sam and Quentin White joined the group in 2005 after moving back to Bryan-College Station from Boerne, Texas. Before that they lived on the island of Guam, where 11-year-old Quentin was born. They were active board members of the Guam Down Syndrome Support Group, where they helped organize two Buddy Walks, and were members of the Down syndrome support group in Boerne. Sondra joined the board in 2006. A class of  ’87Aggie, she works in marketing and communications for the Texas A&M Foundation. Sam is a realtor and new-media activist. She loves to write and edit, and enjoys publicizing the good news about the association and Buddy Walk through articles and advertisements. She hopes to help Christy with a regular association newsletter and to enhance the group’s social-media presence. e-mail  secretary@downsyndromeofbcs.com  FIRST MEMBER AT LARGE     Katie Marino-                 Long-time member Katie Marino, 29, lives in College Station and works at Texas A&M’s Duncan Dining Hall.  She attends most of the group’s events and workshops.   She is participates with the Aggie Bombers in Special Olympics. e-mail -  1member@downsyndromeofbcs.com SECOND MEMBER AT LARGE Jessica Mikulin- Bryan residents Jessica and Troy Mikulin, are parents to Makenna, age 4, who has Down syndrome, and Addison, age 2.  Jessica is a licensed massage therapist at Galleria Day Spa. The Mikulins joined the association in 2005. e-mail  -  2member@downsyndromeofbcs.com THIRD MEMBER AT LARGE Heather Rutledge - Heather and Robert Rutledge grew up on Bryan but live in College Station with their two boys, Robert (5) and Bode (6), who has Down syndrome. Heather has been secretary of the association’s board for the last three years. The Rutledges joined the group six years ago and her parents have also been active in the group, serving on the board and donation all the barbecue for Buddy Walk. Heather is an emergency room registered nurse at St. Joseph Regional Health Center. e-mail   3member@downsyndromeofbcs.com Position Descriptions President - direct and oversee all operations and activities of the group   Vice President - The duties for this position include: • Assist with all association operations and activities. • Assist the president with all duties as needed and serve as president when he or she is unable. • Serve a three-year term. • Attend and contribute to all board meetings, which are held on the third Monday of each month. • Pay $30 annual association dues before Jan. 31, 2010. • We encourage you to make an annual $100 donation during your term. • Serve as chairperson of the Education Committee: o Recruit at least two committee members. o Keep up with the latest research on Down syndrome and find creative ways to communicate this information to association membership and to our community. o With your committee, organize association’s annual workshop/ conference, delegating various tasks as necessary. o Duties include planning and directing existing educational activities the board decides to continue, such as Handwriting Without Tears Treasurer - The duties for this position include: • Assist with all association operations and activities. • Work in tandem with president to set and stay within annual association budget. • Learn and maintain association’s financial management software in conjunction with president. • Manage expenditures and income with president. This includes maintaining check-signing authority with president, and assisting with collection of money for all association events and activities. • Work with association president and CPA to ensure proper tax reporting. • Serve a three-year term. • Attend and present financial statements at all board meetings, which are held on the third Monday of each month. • Pay $30 annual association dues before Jan. 31, 2010. • We encourage you to make an annual $100 donation during your term. • Serve as chairperson of the Fundraising Committee: o Recruit at least five committee members. o Work closely with president on the Buddy Walk. o Plan and direct additional fundraising projects for the association. Secretary -   The duties for this position include: • Assist with all association operations and activities. • Record and archive minutes of each association meeting and distribute to all members in a timely manner. • Assist with all internal communication with members, including maintenance of association Web site. • Perform other recordkeeping duties as assigned by president or vice president. • Serve a three-year term. • Attend and contribute to all board meetings, which are held on the third Monday of each month. • Pay $30 annual association dues before Jan. 31, 2010. • We encourage you to make an annual $100 donation during your term. • Serve as chairperson of the Publicity Committee: o Recruit at least two committee members. o Promote the association’s mission, goals and activities through all regional media outlets, including Web sites. o Communicate news and information to association through a regular electronic newsletter. First member at large - The duties for this position include: • Assist with all association operations and activities. • Serve a three-year term. • Attend and contribute to all board meetings, which are held on the third Monday of each month. • Pay $30 annual association dues before Jan. 31, 2010. • We encourage you to make an annual $100 donation during your term. • Serve as chairperson of Advocacy Committee o Recruit at least two committee members and delegate tasks to them throughout your three-year term. o Research national and local issues that adults with Down syndrome face, and communicate regularly with association members and people in the community on these issues. o Work to find solutions to some of the issues facing adults with Down syndrome in our community. o Give presentations to at least two groups per year on the Down Syndrome Association and rights the importance of equal rights for people with Down syndrome in our community. o Work in tandem with Social Committee to plan and participate in regular educational and social activities for people with Down syndrome in our community. Second member at large - The duties for this position include: • Assist with all association operations and activities. • Serve a three-year term. • Attend and contribute to all board at meetings, which are held on the third Monday of each month. • Pay $30 annual association dues before Jan. 31, 2010. • We encourage you to make an annual $100 donation during your term. • Serve as chairperson of Social Committee. o Recruit at least two committee members. o Plan and direct regular social and recreational activities for the association.These will include planning and directing existing activities the board decides to continue, such as the GET MOVING fitness class. Third member at large - The duties for this position include: • Assist with all association operations and activities. • Serve a three-year term. • Attend and contribute to all board at meetings, which are held on the third Monday of each month. • Pay $30 annual association dues before Jan. 31, 2010. • We encourage you to make an annual $100 donation during your term. • Serve as chairperson of Volunteer Committee. o Recruit at least two committee members. o Recruit volunteers for all association activities where they are needed. o Maintain accurate database of volunteers. o Maintain regular communication with volunteer organizations to match their needs with those of the association. o Ensure that all volunteers understand their duties. o Find creative ways to thank our volunteers for their service to our organization.  Each board member is expected to attend all board meetings, all group meetings, all fundraisers and most social activities. Board members can be voted off the board if they miss more than two board meetings, with few exceptions. All board members are expected to share their ideas and opinions with the board, participate actively in decision-making through discussion and voting, and also to take on active leadership roles in all projects, activities and fundraisers, particularly the annual Buddy Walk. Each board member will be assigned specific duties by the president throughout the year, and they are encouraged to solicit the help of other members, form committees and work together toward our goals. Most important, all board members should represent the Down Syndrome Association in everything they do, and work for inclusion, acceptance and awareness of all people with Down syndrome in our community. Each person you meet, each life you touch, is another person who understands, and that understanding will slowly change the world.