NORTH AMERICAN LINEN ASSOCIATION

2025

If you are a flax fiber enthusiast, an organic or regenerative agriculture advocate, an interested farmer, or a sustainable material manufacturer – the North American Linen Association (NALA) would love to have your passion, knowledge and perspective on our team. We are accepting applications for board positions to take effect January 1, 2026 to serve a two-year 2026-2027 term. We encourage applications from all segments of the supply chain in order to create a diverse, dynamic, engaged board that will advance the mission of NALA.

The North American Linen Association is a Nonprofit Industry Trade Association founded and funded by individuals and businesses that operate in the developing flax fiber and linen industry in North America. 

MISSION: The North American Linen Association (NALA) was founded in September 2022 to lead the transition toward a resilient and sustainable flax fiber industry in North America rooted in environmentally responsible practices and focusing on the development of commercial flax fiber agriculture, flax fiber processing infrastructure, textile and industrial manufacturing, and flax fiber co-products. 

VISION: NALA brings together interest groups from all stages of the supply chain to revive the North American flax fiber industry, including linen, non-wovens, composites and co-products. 

VALUES: Growth, Stewardship, Reciprocity, Resilience, Education

BOARD ROLES & TERM

All board positions serve a two-year term with an option of renewal. To serve on the Board, you must be a member of NALA.

Officer positions serve on the Executive Committee and are made up of the President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. Officers attend monthly Executive Committee meetings, monthly Board of Directors meetings, and other meetings as necessary.

Board Directors attend all monthly board meetings and may also act as committee coordinators or working group leaders.

For the 2026-2027 term, NALA has the following officer positions open: Vice President and Treasurer. NALA is also seeking board directors with experience & enthusiasm to support membership, fundraising & development, communications & marketing, operations, and policy.

BOARD RESPONSIBILITIES

The NALA Board of Directors shall manage the affairs of the corporation. The Board shall have a fiduciary duty to oversee the NALA and:

1. Adopt the NALA budget and regularly review actual financial performance against the budget
2. Adopt appropriate policies, procedures, rules and regulations
3. Retain any necessary legal and other professional services
4. Select, supervise, and remove the Executive Director of NALA

In addition to the above responsibilities, we also expect directors of NALA to:

5. Actively participate in guiding the strategy, goals and operational planning of NALA
6. Prepare for, attend and actively participate in board meetings
7. Share expertise in working groups or committees 
8. Be an advocate and ambassador for the organization to enhance its public image; Actively promote NALA in their networks, industries, and communities
9. Leverage your connections to strengthen membership and fundraising goals; Actively support fundraising efforts and contribute to long-term financial sustainability through personal giving, making introductions, or creating sponsorship opportunities
10. Respect the experiences of all who bring their voices and lived experiences into the boardroom and organization; NALA is seeking directors who bring diverse expertise across agriculture, fashion, supply chains, sustainability, finance, and community engagement
11. Follow the organization’s bylaws, policies, and board resolutions

TIME COMMITMENT

Time commitments vary depending on board position and involvement. Additional time may be required for outreach, fundraising, and representing NALA at events. 

A board director without additional duties should expect to give about 4 hours/month to prepare for, participate in and contribute to NALA and the monthly board of directors meeting. 

A board director leading a committee or working group should expect to give about 6-8 hours/month.

An officer position also attends monthly Executive & Finance Committee meetings, and should expect to give 8-12 hours/month.  

PROCESS & TIMELINE

The application deadline is September 30, 2025.

To submit your application, please send an email with the following information to NALA Board President, Annette Herboth, at: annette@northamericanlinen.org

Please include the following information:

• name and contact information
• CV or Resume
• previous board positions held
• specific skills, knowledge, or experience you can bring to NALA’s board (e.g., finance, fundraising, marketing, governance)
• Why you are interested in joining NALA’s board and how you see yourself contributing to our mission?
• Is there a specific role you are most interested in? If applicable, note the specific role or committee you are most interested in.

Timeline:

• September 30^th – Application deadline
• Week of Oct 10 – Applicants are contacted with a status update and/or invited to an interview
• October 29th – All candidates are notified about the next steps
• November 18^th – Leading candidates meet with the NALA Board of Directors
• November 25^th – Candidates are notified of acceptance
• Dec 3–19^th – New board member training will be scheduled
• January 1, 2026 – Newly elected board members begin their positions

ROLE DESCRIPTIONS

OFFICERS: 

PRESIDENT: chief director and strategist of NALA; Presides over board meetings and executive committee meetings; Ensures that execution of the strategy, operations, finances and resources are conducted efficiently, communicated appropriately, and with all due diligence; Acts as spokesperson for NALA, along with other officers and positions, as needed

VICE PRESIDENT: acts as a partner to the President, stepping in as needed; Provides executive leadership to NALA, participates in succession planning, and supports key operational tasks

TREASURER: manages the NALA budget in QuickBooks, oversees membership dues, banking and taxes, and provides financial forecasting

SECRETARY: takes & distributes meeting minutes, provides administrative support for NALA, keeps NALA’s resources organized, and ensures the Committee’s information is visible and available to the board

COMMITTEE COORDINATORS: 

MEMBERSHIP: manages new members and provides onboarding (such as access to tools/lists), runs membership campaigns, and keeps member-related materials up to date

FUNDRAISING & DEVELOPMENT: leads campaigns to recruit founding members, sponsors, specialty fundraising, as well as identifying and applying for grants

MARKETING & COMMUNICATION: manages the newsletter and social media posts, and oversees annual report publishing

OPERATIONS: ensures NALA’s systems and tools stay updated, manages email and responds to inquiries, manages Mailchimp list, and keeps the website updated

POLICY: oversees NALA’s position regarding standards, agricultural best practices, as well as policy development and advocacy