C O U N T Y R O A D

A S S O C I A T I O N

S E L F - I N S U R A N C E

F U N D

101 S. Washington Sq.

1

1

Suite 720

Lansing MI 48933

PH: 517 . 371 . 7880

www. crasif. org

“ E mp l o y ee Sa f e t y a n d Wo r kers’ Co mp en sa t i o n Sp ecia l i s t s ”

May 15, 2024

RE: A Call for Board of Trustee Candidates

Dear CRASIF Members,

Our Bylaws require an annual call for Board of Trustee candidates. Candidates for the open board positions will be posted on a ballot sent out in July to the membership. The results of the election will be announced at the CRASIF Annual Meeting on Tuesday, September 24, 2024.

Every year we have at least three open trustee positions. The Bylaws have geographical requirements for the Board of Trustees. The nine (9) trustee positions shall be comprised of three (3) trustee positions at-large from the total membership of CRASIF and the remaining six trustees shall be comprised of two (2) trustees from each of the following regions:

1. The Upper Peninsula Road Builders Association region; and

2. The Northern Michigan Association of Road Commissions region; and

3. The Association of Southern Michigan Road Commissions region.

This year CRASIF will need to fill, one 3-year Northern term, one 3-year UP term and one 3-year at-large term. Road Commissioners and road commission staff are eligible to run.

The incumbent Trustees whose terms are expiring have indicated that they are willing to serve another term. They are:

• Darrell Cass, Engineer-Manager, Menominee

• Jesse Campbell, Managing Director, Alcona

• Lisa Kleeman, Finance Director, Emmet

The enclosed documents will help you to know Trustee expectations. Questions regarding the position can be directed to either Joyce Porter, CRASIF Administrator or myself.

Please send a letter indicating your interest and qualifications on road commission letterhead to the attention of the Board Secretary, Doris Baakko. Also include a recent picture to include on the ballot. The letter and the picture can be sent to CRASIF’s mailing address or electronically to dbaakko@crasif.org. The deadline is Friday, June 28, 2024.

Tom Doty, Chair, Mackinac

Ken Hulka, Vice Chair, Muskegon

Jesse Campbell, Alcona

B o a r d o f T r u s t e e s

Darrell Cass, Menominee Beth Hunt, Lenawee John M. Hunt, Huron

Deb Kestner, Saginaw Lisa Kleeman, Emmet Michael Scott, Montcalm

Letter to CRASIF Members Page 2

Respectfully,

Tom Doty Chair

CRASIF Board of Trustees

Enclosures:

1. An Overview of Expectations for Prospective Trustees

2. Trustee Code of Conduct

Distribution: Road Commissions and Commissioners

CRASIF Trustee Handbook

An Overview of Expectations for Prospective Trustees

Purpose: To advise, govern, oversee policy and direction, and assist with the leadership and general promotion of the County Road Association Self-Insurance Fund (CRASIF) so as to support the organization’s mission.

Mission Statement: Our mission is to reduce the potential for employee injury and to provide a comprehensive disability management program for employees eligible for workers' compensation.

*Major Responsibilities:

• Direct and protect the interests of the owner road commissions

• Support and act in accordance with the governance model of CRASIF

• Establish, monitor and enforce organizational results and performance

• Provide leadership while representing CRASIF

• Foster an effective team dynamic between the Board, Staff and the Membership

  
  

  *Members of the board share these responsibilities while acting in the interest of CRASIF. Each member is expected to make recommendations based on his or her experience and vantage point within the road commission community.

  
  

  Length of Term: Three years, which may be renewed at the end of each term by the membership. A position vacated prior to the end of the three-year term will be filled by appointment and subject to election at the next Annual Membership Meeting.

  
  

  Meetings and Time Commitment: The Board of Trustees meets at least six (6) times during a 12-month period. One meeting is the annual membership meeting normally held in either July or September. Another meeting is the strategic planning workshop that is usually held one or two days during the second full week in October. Meetings are located throughout the state. The starting time of all the meetings varies and priority is given to scheduling them around other road commission meetings or events to minimize travel and expense.

  
  

  Expectations of Board Members:

• Attend and participate in board meetings on a regular basis.

• Be alert to road commission concerns that can be addressed by CRASIF’s mission, objectives, and programs.

• Help communicate and promote CRASIF mission and programs.

• Become familiar with CRASIF finances, budget, and financial/resource needs.

• Support Board decisions even if disagree.

• Abide by the Board’s Trustee Code of Conduct, Conflict of Interest policy and the board’s governance model.

• Comfortable using technology such as email correspondence and tablets.

• Attend board related professional education programs.

• Open, honest and aboveboard at all times.

CRASIF Trustee Handbook Governance

Trustee Code of Conduct

The Board and its Trustees will conduct themselves lawfully, with integrity and high ethical standards, in order to model the behaviors expected of staff and to build member confidence and credibility.

1. To build trust among Trustees and to ensure an environment conducive to effective governance, Trustees will: focus on situations and behavior rather than the individual;

   1. exercise honesty in all written and interpersonal interaction, never intentionally misleading or misinforming each other;

   2. make every reasonable effort to protect the integrity and promote the positive image of the organization and one another;

   3. maintain confidentiality appropriate to sensitive issues and information that otherwise may tend to compromise the integrity or legal standing of the Board, especially those matters discussed in closed session.

      
      

2. Trustees will not attempt to exercise individual authority over the organization.

   1. Trustees will not attempt to assume personal responsibility for resolving operational problems or complaints;

   2. Trustees will not personally direct any part of the operational organization;

   3. Trustees will respect decisions of the Board and will not undermine those decisions;

   4. Trustees will not publicly express individual negative judgments about the Administrator or staff performance. Any such judgments of the Administrator or staff performance will be expressed in the appropriate forum;

   5. Trustees will refer any requests for access to CRASIF records to the Administrator.

      
      

3. Trustees will serve the interests of the entire organization. Trustees recognize this responsibility to the whole to be greater than:

   1. Any loyalty a Trustee may have as a member.

   2. Loyalty based upon membership on other boards or staffs.

Approved on July 17, 2012