The Constitution and Voting

From Volunteer to Leader: How ICB Builds Community Leadership

The Executive Committee (EC) is responsible for leading, facilitating and executing the day-to-day operations of the Islamic Center of Boise (ICB) as outlined in the ICB Constitution (Article VI, Section 1).

A. Core Executive Committee (Core EC)

The Core EC consists of four elected officers:

President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer

These four positions are elected by the community. This structure is not unique to ICB—nonprofit law generally requires at least three officers: President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

B. Extended Executive Committee (Extended EC)

After each EC election, the newly elected President in consultation with the other Core EC officers and the Board of Trustees (BOT) appoints a minimum of three and a maximum of seven additional members from the ICB community to serve on the Extended EC. These individuals are not elected, but are nominated based on their qualifications, experience, and alignment with ICB’s mission. They take on program-specific leadership roles as assigned by EC.

How Are Extended EC Members Chosen?

Members of the Extended Executive Committee are carefully selected based on their demonstrated commitment, interest, and expertise in specific areas of ICB’s core departments—such as humanitarian aid, community outreach, education, and other key areas of operation. They are typically chosen from individuals who:

Have served previously as active volunteer leaders in relevant program areas
Have shown a consistent interest or skill set in a specific field (e.g., humanitarian work, youth engagement, office administration)
Have run for a Core EC position but were not elected, yet still wish to contribute meaningfully to the community

These individuals are not assigned roles arbitrarily. Instead, they are invited to serve and are typically given the opportunity to select the program officer role that best aligns with their skills, experience, and passion. This ensures that each program is led by someone who is not only capable but also genuinely motivated to serve in that capacity.

This approach fosters engagement, empowers capable individuals, and supports the long-term sustainability of ICB’s operations.

C. Volunteer Leadership Team

This team consists of individuals who have volunteered – are not elected – and are actively involved in supporting ICB operations and aspire to serve in the Extended EC or Core EC in the future. Their contributions include:

Assisting with major events ( e.g. Eid setup, prayer logistics, Ramadan programs)
Managing security, hospitality, and logistics
Working closely with EC members to learn the structure and responsibilities of nonprofit leadership

This tiered structure is intentionally designed to prepare future leaders by giving them hands-on experience and a realistic view of what it takes to manage a community organization.

D. Pathway to the Board of Trustees (BOT)

Serving in the Core or Extended EC—and particularly gaining experience over at least two terms—is often the foundation for future service on the Board of Trustees. The BOT is made up of long-standing community members who have demonstrated a consistent commitment to ICB through years of service. Their role requires not only strategic oversight but deep familiarity with the community and its evolving needs.

Structure, roles and governance of the Executive Committee

EC PRESIDENT

The EC president can serve for two consecutive (back to back) terms in a row. Each term is 2 years. Therefore, the president can serve for four continuous years
At the end of those 4 years, the individual is required to take a two-year break from the presidency but there is nothing stopping the individual from being a part of the BOT (if qualified) or taking on any other position in the EC during this two -year break (as long as re-elected in line with constitutional procedures)
After this two-year break, the individual can run for the position of EC President again, and as long as elected during each election cycle, the individual can continue to repeat these steps ( 4 years back to back as president, followed by a two-year break from the presidency)

EC OFFICERS

There are no term limits for EC officers. Each term is two years. This means that they can run for a position on the Core EC team repeatedly
Each officer is elected individually on his/her own merits by eligible ICB Community members

A. How the roles are assigned to the Executive EC officers

ICB’s election system, as outlined in the Constitution (Article IX: Elections and Article VI: Executive Committee), is structured to ensure a fair and transparent process in which eligible community members elect who will serve on the Executive Committee (EC).

Community members elect four individuals into the Executive Committee — not into specific roles
This process involves individual elections, not ‘slate’ or ‘block-style voting’ where officers are elected in teams. Each officer is elected on his or her own merits
Once elected, these officers are internally assessed and assigned roles (President, VP, Secretary, Treasurer) by a joint vote of current EC and BOT members
Role assignment is based on qualifications, experience, and community fit — ensuring the right person is placed in the right role
Following the election, the newly elected core EC team and the Board of Trustees (BOT), nominate a minimum of three and a maximum of seven additional ICB members to the Extended EC
- Under Article VI, Section 2.2(a), the Constitution explicitly outlines the process for assigning executive positions: “The elected EC members will be assigned their respective executive positions by a simple majority vote of the combined EC and BOT committees chaired by the BOT president.”

These nominated officers are assigned program director roles based on their skills, expertise or interest
The terms of all EC officers are coterminous (begin and end) with the elected EC that nominates them

B. Does electing EC members without assigning them to specific officer roles during the election reduce transparency or limit leadership change?

In principle, it may feel that way. But in a faith-based nonprofit like ICB, democracy is harmonized with consultation (shūrā), trust (amānah), and thoughtful decision making. The current structure — where the community elects a qualified team and the team then assigns roles internally — was intentionally designed to uphold these values:

Embody consultation (shūrā): Once elected, the Executive Committee engages in mutual consultation to determine which members are best suited for specific roles, considering each person’s skills, experience, and temperament
Uphold trust (amānah): The community places its trust in a team of capable individuals to make internal role assignments with sincerity, integrity, and a focus on what’s best for the organization, not individual ambition
Thoughtful decision making: This system prioritizes long-term stability, qualified governance, and thoughtful leadership over popularity. Direct voting for individual roles risks reducing critical leadership decisions to name recognition rather than merit

By design, this approach protects the integrity of leadership and aligns with both Islamic governance principles and sustainable nonprofit management.

Summary

The ICB Constitution empowers the community to elect qualified individuals to the Executive Committee. Once elected, the team members themselves (together with the BOT) determine their specific roles based on experience, skills, and the needs of the organization — not popularity. This structure ensures the right people are placed in the right positions to serve effectively, rather than risking leadership based solely on name recognition or public favor.