Holding a position on the SCCA® Board of Directors is not something to take lightly – but it’s also something you shouldn’t shy away from. The 13 Club members who hold positions on SCCA’s Board of Directors (BoD) have an important task of governing the Club, while at the same time allowing the Club’s staff and volunteers space to blaze trails. “We hire SCCA’s CEO and work with the CEO to set strategic direction for the Club,” Peter Jankovskis, Area 5 Director and Chairman of the Board, recently told us. “We monitor the performance of the CEO and program boards. We ensure compliance with laws and internal procedures. We also evaluate existing procedures and modify as needed to adapt to changes in the Club's operating environment.”
Now in his second three-year term, Jankovskis has ample experience on the SCCA Board of Directors. Obtaining that level of insight, however, is not something that can be expected of someone newly elected to the BoD, so we asked a couple first-term Board members what their expectations were, how that melded with reality, and when they finally felt like they had their feet under them.
Why Run, and Early Days on the Job
“Corny as it may sound, it’s true: The opportunity to serve,” Bob Crawford, who was elected in 2022 to represent SCCA’s Area 2 responded when asked why he ran for a seat on the BoD. “I wanted to be able to contribute toward making the organization better, stronger, and in line with the desires and needs of the membership of the entire SCCA.”
Crawford had previously volunteered as Washington DC Region’s program manager for road racing, so he had a good idea of how boards function. “Having participated in many board meetings in my Region as director of our largest program, I expected the SCCA BoD to operate in a similar manner,” he said.
For Clay Turner, who was elected in 2021 to represent Area 8, running for a position on the SCCA BoD was not something he’d considered. “It was not on my radar screen until a staffer approached me at the Tire Rack SCCA Solo Nationals,” he said. “He persuaded me that my particular skillset and other board experience could be valuable to the Club. SCCA has had a tremendous positive influence on my life. I was excited at the opportunity to return the favor.”
Some of Turner’s preconceived notions of the BoD’s roles turned out to be incorrect. “I expected our time to be dominated by conversations on technical matters – cars, setup, tires, rules, etc.,” he admitted, adding, “Our members possess a jaw-dropping amount of knowledge; I approached every meeting as a learning experience.”
He did discover, though, that he was very right in another aspect: “I also expected strong boundaries around roles and responsibilities. Staff, volunteers, and BoD members have distinct roles that must be understood and respected for the Club to function.”
Learning on the Job
Between regular BoD meetings, BoD members are also involved as liaisons to other boards. For Turner, one of his duties is as the SCCA BoD liaison to the Club Racing Board. “Even though the BoD doesn’t make the rules – that monumental task is done by sub-boards such as Club Racing, Solo, RallyCross, etc. – BoD members serve as liaisons to those boards that do, which means we still spend most of our time rulemaking. In my first meeting with the CRB, we had more than 100 letters to review.”
Turner also discovered the roles of members of the SCCA Staff differ from what he originally thought. “The other big realization is the enormous time commitment expected of the SCCA Staff,” he said. “After putting in a full day’s work, many are expected to attend Zoom committee meetings late into the evening, and travel extensively on weekends to events nationwide.”
Crawford was six months in as a BoD member before he felt he largely understood the role. “But I continue to learn every day about how the national organization functions, the amazing staff team, and how much they accomplish with limited resources,” Crawford added.
“Six months into the job, I wasn’t sure I was making a contribution,” admitted Turner. “Steve Strickland , reassured me that I was having more of an impact than I realized. I felt better when Bob Tunnell told me he, too, felt lost during his first year.”
Advice For Incoming Directors
While incoming SCCA BoD members should expect a learning curve, there is a planned education process for every new Board member. “We have spent time in recent years strengthening our new BoD member on-boarding process,” Strickland noted. “This includes a full day of orientation followed by sitting in on the last BoD meeting of the year to observe how the process works.”
Beyond that, asking questions as a new BoD member is encouraged. “There’s no such thing as a stupid question – believe me, I’ve tried,” Turner said. “At the one-year mark, I now have a level of trust with other members and staff that makes me a more effective partner to them. With every interaction, I learn something new; I will never know everything about SCCA, but I know who to ask.”
Crawford’s advice is knowing that being an effective BoD member takes time. “Be patient and do a lot of listening,” he concluded. “No matter how much experience you have with the SCCA and our programs, there is still a lot to learn. Give yourself the time to take in the national perspective, get to know your fellow BoD members, their experiences, and the Areas they represent.”
YOU Can Run for a position on the BoD
The first step in running for a position on the SCCA Board of Directors is being a member of the SCCA in good standing. From there, you must be a resident of the Area you seek to serve by April 30 of the election year, and there needs to be an election in your Area, as elections are staggered to manage turnover. Here's what the next three years hold in store:
- 2023 election: Areas 3, 4, 9, and 11
- 2024 election: Areas 1, 5, 7, 8, and 13
- 2025 election: Areas 2, 6, 10, and 12
The 2026 election will cycle back to Areas 3, 4, 9, and 11, continuing the cycle.
What SCCA Area do you belong to? The image below will give you an idea of the geography and who your current Area Director is. You can confirm your Area by checking your Region of Record once you log in to SCCA’s Member Account Portal.
You’ll need to gather 20 member signatures from your Area and submit them to the SCCA National Office prior to the Oct. 1 deadline. The “National BoD Election Nomination Form” is located under the “General Information” tab of SCCA’s Member Account Portal, alongside the “SCCA Election Procedures for the Board of Directors” document that covers all of the requirements in greater detail.
You should also familiarize yourself with SCCA’s governance documents like the SCCA ByLaws, Operations Manual, and BoD Handbook, located in the same location.
Have more questions? Contact the SCCA National Office or one of the existing Directors.
Photo by Andy Shultz
