2025 BG Board Structure Revision

Ahead of the 2025/26 season, Boston Gooners is pleased to share the following update regarding how our Board of Directors is structured. As before, the Board consists of four officers elected by our supporters, and three members elected by the outgoing Board of Directors.

On the officer side, changes include the nature of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman's responsibilities, the addition of some administrative duties to the Treasurer's portfolio, and the re-imagining of the former Manager position into a Communications Officer in charge of the group's social media, web presence, and general messaging. Going forward, the Chairman will serve more of a CEO-style role while the Vice-Chairman will focus more on day-to-day operational matters.

Whereas the board was formerly rounded out by three Members At-Large, only one remains, while the other two have been assigned new, specific portfolios: Community Outreach and Merchandise.

How did we get here? Early incarnations of the BG board in the first five or so years of the group's existence had an overly-rigid, bloated structure that robbed the group of much-needed operational flexibility. Over the next decade, the pendulum then swung way too far in the other direction, with poorly delineated roles regularly a contributing factor to things not getting done as intended. We believe this new structure is the happy medium between these extremes, setting us up for years to come by addressing the needs the group faces in a far more responsive way.

The revised BG Board roles and responsibilities are as follows:

• Officers (two-year terms; two elected per AGM by supporter vote)

  • Chairman (focus: organizational oversight)

    • Keep organization on track relative to established goals

    • Regularly communicate with and offer support to Board members to facilitate progress with new and ongoing projects

    • Handle ad hoc issues raised by Board members, supporters, or bar staff

    • Represent BG as primary face and spokesperson, in person and digitally

    • Primary representative to Arsenal America

    • Preside over Board meetings

    • Preside over (Annual/Extraordinary) General Meetings

  • Vice-Chairman (focus: matchday operations)

    • Ongoing communication with Dillon’s regarding attendance/expectations

    • Manage match setup/teardown using remainder of Board and volunteers

    • Manage keys and holders

    • Manage AV setup when in attendance; ensure remainder of Board can do so when necessary

    • Keep decoration/supply bin orderly and stocked with appropriate items such as batteries, suction hooks, Command strips, etc.

    • Secondary representative to Arsenal America

    • Preside over Executive Board meetings

  • Treasury and Administration Officer

    • Manage day-to-day finances including cash box

    • Make bank deposits and pay bills/invoices as needed

    • Make required government filings if/when BG incorporates as 501(c)7

    • Maintain Board meeting schedule

    • Keep meeting minutes; maintain/organize records for sharing as needed

    • Serve as Chief Election Officer as needed

  • Communications Officer

    • Oversee social media presence with contributions from remainder of Board, volunteers on a future Comms committee, and supporters-at-large

    • Publish all match invites (website, IG and BlueSky only)

    • Update BG website as needed

    • Create official BG responses, statements, or positions on relevant matters promptly as needed with support from Chairman

    • Design visual collateral (or work with designer) for invites and other media

• Members With Portfolio (One-year terms; elected by vote of outgoing board)

  • Community Outreach Manager

    • Plan one non-match event per quarter

    • Manage annual holiday drive and holiday party

    • Investigate Boston youth soccer team/organization to sponsor

    • Communicate with supporters to identify organizations/charities/non-profits/events BG can support

  • Merchandise Manager

    • Keep inventory of all merchandise and update after each match day

    • Work with designer to maintain existing designs and add new ones

    • Manage in-season supporter gift(s)

    • Lead distribution of new items on and around release days

    • Liaise with Chairman to keep inventory of items intended for raffles

• Member At Large (One year term; elected by vote of outgoing board)

  • No specific portfolio, serve as group ambassador and assist other Board members as needed

• Ongoing responsibilities for all Board members

  • Facilitate introduction of new supporters to the group and fellow supporters

  • Interact with new and existing supporters on match days

  • Availability for board meetings and regular check-ins with Chairman as needed

  • Assist with setup/teardown duties as often as needed per the Vice-Chairman

  • Assist with merchandise sales as needed per the Merchandise Manager

  • Assist with social media content as needed per the Communications Officer

  • Assist with additional tasks as needed per all board members

While we consider this to be fairly straightforward, BG will be glad to answer any questions our supporters may have via the contact form.

VCC

UTA

KEEP THE FAITH ✊