MSA membership goes beyond the benefits to your store and profits; it also opens an opportunity to fully immerse yourself in the industry alongside your peers. As an MSA volunteer, you guide the strategic direction for the association and have an influential role in many programs, such as the Annual Retail Conference and Expo, Museum Store Sunday, education, and more.

MSA offers year-round volunteer opportunities through board, committee and chapter involvement. 

Committees

Finance Committee – Work directly with MSA finances to determine how to best allocate expenses for projects both big and small that advance the association and membership experience.

Governance Committee – Advocate for nonprofit retail industry professionals and the future of the profession. Prove the value of your profession alongside other MSA members.

Marketing and Communications Committee – Ensure all communications and marketing efforts are consistent with MSA branding and communicate the proper information to our membership. Committee members are influential in website and blog direction.

Membership Committee – Work hand-in-hand with fellow MSA members to ensure we are providing the best possible membership experience to both our institution and vendor members.

Memorial Scholarship Awards Committee – Determine the winners of our MSA Memorial Scholarship from a selection of qualified candidates.

MSA FORWARD Conference Committee – Assist with the planning and logistical details related the MSA FORWARD Retail Conference & Expo. Brainstorm and execute new and innovative ideas that nonprofit retail professionals want to experience.

MSA NEXT Committee – Are you a young professional in the nonprofit retail industry? This committee is for you! Connect with other young professionals and plan events that will further your career and your involvement within MSA.

Museum Store Sunday Committee – Continue to raise awareness of MSA’s initiative to bring more attention to the nonprofit retail. Museum Store Sunday is continuing to grow year after year, with the goal to make these events bigger and more prevalent each year. Discuss ways to improve Museum Store Sunday events and welcome feedback from participants to improve the event in the future.

Education Advisory Group (EAG) – The EAG provides strategic guidance for MSA members’ educational needs including selecting speakers and sessions for MSA FORWARD, advising on webinars and other educational content.  The EAG is also instrumental in selecting winners for the MSA Recognition Awards.

Contact MSA if you are interested in volunteering for any of the above committees.

Chapters

Chapter Leaders – As an MSA member, you can participate in chapter meetings. We rely on dedicated members to volunteer as chapter leaders. Leaders keep their chapters informed about the association and can plan events and education for their chapters to enjoy.

MSA Board of Directors - Position Descriptions

President - President is responsible for providing insight and input to the Board from the membership as a whole, and to take on responsibilities within the activities of the Museum Store Association as needed and deemed necessary. The President is the chief elected officer and will preside over Board meetings.

• Term: The office of President is a three-year progression, beginning by being appointed Second Vice President; year two becomes First Vice President, and year three assumes the role of President. The President takes office at the business meeting of the national Museum Store Association conference following progression and terminates at the conference one year from that date.
• This office may require 12-25 hours per month in addition to business meetings with duration of two travel and two meeting days. The President’s position may require a total 12 –15 days away from the job including travel time. Duties of the President include attendance at the annual meeting, all Board meetings, several regional meetings, and representing the MSA at other national meetings.
• The President shall write article(s) and report(s) for the Museum Store magazine and for the website.
• The President will appoint committee chairs.
• The President will attend additional conferences and workshops as recommended by the Executive Director.
• The President will initiate conference calls with the Board as needed.

First Vice President - First Vice President provides insight and input to the Board from the membership as a whole, and takes on responsibilities within the activities of the Museum Store Association as needed and deemed necessary by the President of the Board. This position offers training for eventual presidency.

• Term: The First Vice President is step two in the Presidential progression, having been appointed as Second Vice President the prior year; year two becomes First Vice President, and year three assumes the role of President. The First Vice President takes office at the business meeting of the national Museum Store Association conference following progression and terminates at the conference two years from that date.
• This office will usually requires 12 hours per month in addition to business meetings with duration of two travel and two meeting days. As well as the Board meetings, the First Vice President will participate in conference calls and other events as requested by the President. The minimum time away from the job per year is 9 days including travel time. The average time on the job which might need to be devoted to MSA-related work is 5 hours per week.
•  The First Vice President will, in the absence or inability of the President to exercise the office, become Acting President of the organization with all rights and privileges and powers of the President.
• Participates closely with the President to develop and implement officer transition.
•  First Vice President will participate in the planning and facilitating of Board meetings.
• Supports and implements association initiatives.

Second Vice President - Second Vice President is responsible for providing insight and input to the Board from the membership as a whole, and to take on responsibilities within the activities of the Museum Store Association as needed and deemed necessary by the President of the Board. This position offers training for eventual Presidency

• Term: The Second Vice President is the first step of a three-year progression to Presidency. The Second Vice President is appointed by the Board of Directors. In year two, the Second Vice President becomes First Vice President, and in year three assumes the role of President. The Second Vice President takes office at the business meeting of the national Museum Store Association conference following appointment and terminates at the conference three years from that date.
• This office will require 6–12 hours per month in addition to business meetings with duration of two travel and two meeting days. As well as the Board meetings, the Second Vice President will participate in conference calls and other events as requested by the President. The minimum time away from the job per year is 9 days including travel time. The average time on the job which might need to be devoted to MSA-related work is 5 hours per week.

Treasurer - Treasurer is responsible for providing insight and input to the Board from the membership as a whole, and to take on responsibilities within the activities of the Museum Store Association as needed and deemed necessary by the President of the Board.

• Term: The Treasurer is elected for a two-year term by the general membership beginning by taking office at the business meeting of the national Museum Store Association conference following election and terminating at the conference two years from that date.
• This office requires about 6-12 hours per month in addition to business meetings with duration of two travel and two meeting days. As well as the Board meetings, the Treasurer will participate in conference calls and other events as requested by the President. The minimum time away from the job per year is 9 days including travel time. The average time on the job which might need to be devoted to MSA-related work is 5 hours per week.
• The Treasurer shall perform such tasks as assigned from time to time by the President and any tasks required of a Treasurer under law. The Treasurer shall review the year-end audit and confer with Executive Director and auditor as necessary.
• The Treasurer will write a narrative report to present at the annual meeting.
• The Treasurer should be comfortable understanding financial statements.

Secretary - Secretary is responsible for providing insight and input to the Board from the membership as a whole, and to take on responsibilities within the activities of the Museum Store Association as needed and deemed necessary by the President of the Board.

• Term: The Secretary is elected for a two-year term by the general membership beginning by taking office at the business meeting of the national Museum Store Association conference following election and terminating at the conference two years from that date.
• This office requires about 6-12 hours per month in addition to business meetings with duration of two travel and two meeting days. As well as the Board meetings, the Secretary will participate in conference calls and other events as requested by the President. The minimum time away from the job per year is 9 days including travel time. The average time on the job which might need to be devoted to MSA-related work is 5 hours per week.
• The Secretary shall actively participate in and take minutes at all Board meetings, conference calls, and other meetings as requested by the President.
• The Secretary will forward the minutes in a timely manner to the President and Executive Director for corrections and minor edits.

Director at Large - The Director at Large is responsible for providing insight and input to the Board from the membership as a whole, and to take on responsibilities within the activities of the Museum Store Association as needed and deemed necessary by the President of the Board.

• Two Directors at Large are elected by the membership.
• Term: Directors at Large serve a one year term beginning by taking office at the business meeting of the national Museum Store Association conference and terminating at the conference one year from that date.
• This office requires Board work of about 6-12 hours a month in addition to business meetings with duration of two travel and two meeting days. As well as the Board meetings, the Director at Large will participate in conference calls and participate in other events as requested by the President. The minimum time away from the job per year is 9 days including travel time. The average time on the job which might need to be devoted to MSA-related work is 5 hours per week.
• Projects and tasks are assigned by the Board President. These could be information gathering to contribute to a Board project, report writing and presenting, Board exercises, and other tasks as assigned.
• President may request Director at Large to participate in task forces or work groups developed by Board of Directors.

Vendor Member Advisors to the Board - The Vendor Member Advisor to the Board is responsible for providing insight and input to the Board from the affiliate community as a whole and to take on responsibilities within the activities of the Museum Store Association as needed and deemed necessary by the President of the Board. This is not a voting position. Two Vendor Member Advisors will be appointed by the Board.

• Term: The Vendor Member Advisor will serve a two-year term on rotating basis, beginning by taking office at the business meeting of the national Museum Store Association conference and terminating at the meeting two years following. This office may require Board work up to 6-12 hours a month in addition to business meetings.
•  In addition to Board meetings, the Vendor Member Advisor will participate in conference calls and other events as requested by the Board President.

Nominee Requirements

Institution Board Members

1. Member in good standing.
2. Served on an MSA committee or task force and/or served as a Chapter officer.
3. Must have attended a chapter meeting or the National Conference event within the last 3 years In addition to the qualifications listed above, any individual for appointment to the office of Second Vice President (in line to succeed to the presidency) must also have served previously on the Board of Directors (in either an elected or appointed capacity) within the last five years.

Vendor Advisors to the Board

1. Member in good standing for a minimum of 5 years.
2. Must have attended a National Conference event 3 out of the last 5 years.

• No nominee may accept nomination for more than one office.
• No board member may hold more than one national office during any single term, but any officer may be nominated to run for any other office in a following term.
• Additional nominations other than those made by the board development committee may be made by submitting at least 25 letters of support from voting members for the proposed candidate to the MSA office before November 30 of the year prior to the election year. Nominations so made must be accepted in writing by the nominee and the nominee must otherwise be qualified. The name shall then be placed on the official ballot. No member may submit a letter for more than one nominee per office.
• To ensure continuity of leadership and commitment to the association’s purpose and long-range goal, the chairperson of the board development committee will consult with the board regarding the list of perspective candidates.
• Nominees accepted as candidates will be required to complete a Conflict-of-Interest Disclosure Questionnaire.
• The nominee must provide a letter from the candidate's governing authority or superior granting permission to serve and carry out the duties of office including attendance of all Board of Directors meetings, the annual meeting and other meetings as appropriate. 30 If such a letter of consent is not received the candidate shall be regarded as not qualified for nomination.