JOIN THE BOARD

ISPA Board of Directors Application 

Are you ready to step forward as a leader in the spa industry and serve on the ISPA Board of Directors? 

The ISPA Nominations Committee is seeking qualified and committed candidates to be considered for board service. If you have a commitment to the association, spa industry and are willing to invest time and energy in helping to make a difference, please complete the following application and submit it to ISPA headquarters by 11:59 pm EDT, March 13, 2012. Late applications will not be accepted. 

How to Submit Your Application

• Click on the APPLY button at the bottom of this page. You must be logged into the ISPA website to access the application.

• Fill out the online application. You can save and come back to your responses at any time or you can download the document in Microsoft Word and copy/paste your answers into the online application when you are ready to complete the application.

• On the final page you will also be asked to upload a professional headshot as well as your professional resume, so have those documents ready to submit.

• Once your application has been received by ISPA, you will receive a confirmation via email.

• The application deadline is 11:59 pm EDT, March 13, 2012. Late applications will not be accepted.

• If you experience any technical complications or do not receive a confirmation, please notify ISPA staff immediately at samantha.smith@ispastaff.com or 1.888.651.4772.

Responsibilities and Commitments

The primary responsibility of the board is to take a leadership role representing the membership and ensuring its voice is heard. Members of the ISPA Board of Directors should not just be involved but engaged. Involvement such as reading board materials thoroughly, having tasks completed and actively participating in board discussions is essential, and demands commitment, integrity and the ability to make nimble decisions. Being engaged in board service is what makes our association strong and makes a difference in the lives of your professional industry peers. 

Director's responsibilities include:

• An average of two hours per week that may include committee and or task force participation. Directors should also volunteer to serve in leadership positions and undertake special assignments willingly and enthusiastically. 

• Up to four in-person board meetings per year which will require you to be away from your business for approximately two to four days.  

• Participate in all meetings and conference calls providing constructive ideas, alternatives and strategies for achieving results. Also, notifying staff in advance if you are unable to participate.

• Reading all ISPA Board communications and materials in advance of meetings to allow for informed discussion and action during meetings.

• Act in accordance with the ISPA Bylaws and all legal requirements associated with board service.

• Set strategic direction and policy for ISPA.

• Fully support all board decisions. Disagreements may only take place in the board room. Once a decision is made by the board, all directors are expected to respect the decision and support it publicly, whether they voted for it or not.

• Always act in the best interest of ISPA, not in your own interest presenting the positive public image of the association.

• Respect and support the ISPA staff.  Directors lead, manage themselves, and let staff manage the organization.

Application and Selection Process

Once the application deadline closes, candidates are screened for eligibility according to the association bylaws. Applications are reviewed by the Nominations Committee based on numerous criteria including skill sets that are needed to maintain a well-balanced board. After reviewing all application data and board skill sets, applicants will be invited to participate in an interview. After the first interview, the committee will evaluate the candidates based on their applications and interview and determine who will be selected for a second interview. The Nominations Committee meets in-person during the month of May to conduct the second interviews in which the applicant will have the opportunity to speak with the entire committee [via telephone]. During that time, the committee also has lengthy discussions surrounding each candidate and who will best round out the skill set of the board. In July, the Nominations Committee presents a slate of candidates to the ISPA membership for approval. New directors of the ISPA Board take office at the 2012 Conference and Expo in Kissimmee, Florida.

Election Facts

Directors of the ISPA Board are elected to serve a three-year term and may serve two consecutive terms. After two consecutive terms have been served a one-year hiatus must be observed before being eligible to re-apply. According to the ISPA Bylaws, Article III - Membership, Section 3 - Associate Members, "3.2 Associate Members [Auxiliary, General and Honorary] shall not be entitled to vote on any matters coming before the meetings of The Corporation, nor shall they have any right or interest of any kind in the property or assets of The Corporation or to have their legislative interests represented by The Corporation." In other words, only primary and secondary members are eligible to vote on issues of the association, such as the Board of Directors election. For more information, please refer to the ISPA Bylaws. 

Meeting Facts

If you are elected to serve on the ISPA Board of Directors, the first meeting will be held during the final day of the annual ISPA Conference & Expo to provide a walk-through of suggested improvements to the event. As a member of the board, you receive complimentary registration to the annual ISPA Conference & Expo. Each board meeting is held in conjunction with a networking event and is tentatively held on Monday and Tuesday. Travel expenses and reimbursements are evaluated on an annual basis. The ISPA Bylaws state, "Any elected Director who shall have been absent for two regular meetings shall automatically vacate his or her seat on the Board of Directors." In 2011, a policy change was made to this bylaw to evaluate this policy on an annual basis, based on the number of in-person meetings.

If you have the experience and desire to help lead the future of ISPA and the spa industry, you are encouraged to apply for board service and share your expertise. The time and energy you give supporting the association comes back to you in a multitude of ways. You will meet and network with a new group of industry peers as you give and receive inspiration for the future of the spa industry.