Hooper Family Trust Board Responsibilities

🎯 Core Responsibilities:

• Fiduciary Duty:
• Always act in the Trust’s and all beneficiaries’ best interest – not in personal self-interest.
• Preserve and Protect Family Assets:
• Protect the property, maintain its condition, and ensure it stays within the family unless agreed otherwise by formal process.
• Participation:
• Attend board meetings regularly, review materials before meetings, and stay informed about trust matters.
• Respectful Debate and Unity:
• Share your opinions openly during discussions.
• Once the board votes, accept the majority decision gracefully and support it as a unified board.
• Transparency and Recordkeeping:
• Help ensure clear records are kept for decisions, votes, and actions taken. Honesty and accountability are expected at all times.
• Confidentiality:
• Trust matters and discussions stay within the Board unless public disclosure is agreed upon.
• Support Fundraising and Maintenance Efforts:
• Assist with projects, funding, and family communication to support the Trust’s long-term success when possible.

👥 Future Leadership and Legacy Planning:

• Cultivate Future Leaders:
• Board Members are responsible for preparing and mentoring future generations to eventually take our place when the time comes.
• Succession Planning:
• We must actively work on a plan for smooth leadership transitions to ensure the Hooper Family Trust remains strong for future generations.
• Heritage Education:
• It is our duty to ensure current and future generations understand the Hooper Family history, the sacrifices of our ancestors, and the importance of retaining and maintaining the Hooper Property and Heritage.
• Action Planning:
• Each board term must include setting goals, creating programs, or hosting events to support leadership training, education about family history, and property preservation efforts.

🔧 Proactive Property Care:

• Annual Property Inspections:
• Board Members are responsible for ensuring annual inspections of the family home and grounds. The goal is to identify and address maintenance issues early — preventing minor problems from becoming major, costly repairs.

📢 Fundraising and Marketing:

• Family Fundraising Campaigns:
• The Board is responsible for designing and running fundraising campaigns to support property maintenance, repairs, and family legacy programs.
• Marketing to Family Members:
• Board Members must actively help market and communicate fundraising efforts to family members — through phone calls, emails, social media, letters, and family gatherings.
• Accountability:
• Board fundraising efforts must be documented clearly, with transparent reporting back to the family on results and how funds are being used.

💛 Family Gatherings and Heritage Education:

• Family Reunions or Gatherings:
• The Board is encouraged to explore the possibility of hosting a family gathering or reunion approximately every two years, whenever feasible.
• Organizing Committee:
• The Board may recruit and organize additional family volunteers to serve on a Family Gathering Organizing Committee.
• Celebrating Our Heritage:
• All these organized family gatherings must include time specifically set aside for sharing family history, honoring ancestors, and educating future generations about the importance of maintaining and protecting the Hooper Family legacy.

🖋️ Upon Joining:

Each new Board Member will be asked to:

• Accept the Board Member Oath of Commitment
• Acknowledge understanding of these responsibilities

Together, we honor the work of those who came before us, and we safeguard the Hooper Family legacy for those who will follow.