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How Pasadena Village Works

How Pasadena Village Operates and Meets Community Needs

Pasadena Village is a uniquely structured, member-driven and member-run nonprofit organization, designed to reflect the values of shared responsibility, collaboration, and mutual care. Chartered as a 501(c)(3) corporation, it operates with transparency, inclusiveness, and a commitment to empowering older adults to shape and sustain their own community.

Governance: The Role of the Board of Directors

At the top of the organizational structure is the Board of Directors, which defines the mission and values of Pasadena Village, ensures the organization has sufficient resources to carry out its mission, and oversees all activities to confirm they are conducted responsibly and effectively. The Board accomplishes this by:

Preparing and updating bylaws
Creating a strategic plan, reviewed annually
Establishing and maintaining policies governing operations
Reviewing and approving the annual budget
Defining the management structure and providing oversight of the Executive Director and the Village

Board decisions are made collaboratively during meetings that require a quorum, a motion, a second, discussion, and a vote. With 19 members currently serving, the Board emphasizes collective decision-making in the best interest of the Village. All decisions and the documents listed above are available for member review on the Village website.

To ensure oversight is comprehensive, operational teams carry out the work of Pasadena Village across eight functional areas: leadership, membership, communications, partnerships, development, finance, support, and programs. Each of these functional areas has an oversight group on the Board consisting of three or more Board members who specifically monitor these areas. This structure balances accountability with the Village’s deeply member-driven approach.

The Board also maintains transparency by inviting members to attend Board meetings as observers. Time permitting, members may be invited to speak, and all members are welcome to share comments or questions with any Board member or the Executive Director outside the meeting. Minutes of the Board meetings are published on the website.

Executive Committee: Board Leadership

The Executive Committee is made up of the officers of the Board—President, two Vice Presidents, Treasurer, and Secretary. This group provides leadership to the Board and is empowered to act on its behalf in situations where a response is required but there is not sufficient time to convene a full Board meeting. The Executive Director routinely meets with the Executive Committee to ensure smooth coordination and timely decision-making.

Committees: Specialized Oversight and Support

To ensure smooth governance, the Board has three standing committees, each with clearly defined responsibilities:

Development Committee – ensures the Village has the resources necessary to operate by raising funds and building community relationships.
Finance Committee – manages the Village’s financial resources and prepares the annual operating budget for Board approval.
Governance Committee – sustains leadership by identifying, recruiting, and nominating new Board members and officers.
These committees allow the Board to focus on strategy and oversight while delegating specific, ongoing responsibilities.

Executive Director: Operational Leadership

Day-to-day operations of Pasadena Village are entrusted to the Executive Director, who has full authority to make operational decisions within the framework established by the Board. The Executive Director supervises staff, coordinates volunteer contributions, and assigns responsibilities to the Village’s operational teams. The Executive Director collaborates and participates actively with all the committees and the Board.

While the Board provides oversight, operational teams are staffed by member volunteers and report directly to the Executive Director, since their work involves operational duties. Teams are not managed by the Board but function under the Executive Director’s direction to ensure efficiency and accountability. This arrangement reinforces the Village’s member-driven character while providing professional oversight.

Teams: Member-Driven Operations

Teams are central to how Pasadena Village functions. They are essentially committees staffed by members who carry out the operational work of the organization. These teams handle day-to-day matters under the direction of the Executive Director, to whom they report.

This structure reflects the Village’s unique character: members themselves take on assigned responsibilities and do the hands-on work of the organization, while staff provide coordination and oversight. Teams are therefore both practical—ensuring essential functions are carried out—and deeply community-driven, as they embody members’ commitment to supporting one another.

Most teams are staffed by Village members, but they may occasionally include nonmember volunteers who contribute their time and skills. This openness allows Pasadena Village to broaden its reach while maintaining its member-led spirit.

Operational teams cover a wide variety of functions. Examples include:

Villager Engagement Team – helps members understand how the Village works and encourages active participation.
Cultural Team – identifies cultural events of interest to villagers.
Education Team – develops educational programming on issues relevant to older adults.
Volunteer Team – organizes the activities of all volunteers, whether members or nonmembers.
Care & Support Team – reaches out to members who may be experiencing challenges, offering resources and connection.
Communications Team – manages communication within the Village; its specific scope is evolving.
Newsletter Editorial Team – produces the monthly newsletter and coordinates website content.
Outreach Team – connects Pasadena Village with the broader community, raising awareness about its values and benefits for those over 55.

Additional teams may be created by the Executive Director as needs arise, reflecting Pasadena Village’s flexible and responsive approach.

Member-Led Special Interest Groups

A hallmark of Pasadena Village is its special interest groups, which form around the passions and needs of members themselves. These groups are self-organized, member-led, and fluid—new ones arise as interests emerge, while others fade as needs change. Leaders facilitate meetings, coordinate with staff on scheduling and website postings, and guide activities.

These groups cover a wide range of interests—social, cultural, educational, and supportive—and are central to combating isolation, strengthening friendships, and enhancing quality of life.

Communication and Member Involvement

Members are notified about programs, teams, and special interest group activities through the Village’s online events calendar, newsletters, weekly bulletins and notices, and direct communication from group facilitators. This keeps the community informed and engaged.

Pasadena Village ensures that members always have pathways to influence and participate: from observing Board meetings to leading special interest groups, volunteering on teams, or joining a committee. Every member has the opportunity to shape the Village and ensure it continues to meet evolving community needs.