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Boards of Directors: Governing at a Distance?

Posted on 5 November 2007 by H. Roberts, PLNJ Inc., President, Keyport/NJ USA
A quick side note, I want to thank Susan for posting some truly fascinating hot topics of late. I've been playing the podcasts at Board meetings and our folks are enjoying the "conversation." New dialogues have taken place as a result of these lively podcasts. Thank you, Susan!

In the very beginning, our young & eager Board met six times a year to discuss "the big picture." Lots of enthusiasm but the gap between meetings resulted in lackluster follow through and we all were to blame for poor time management. Then a colleague from "my other job" asked me if we had a suggestion box. We didn't. Now we do at every meeting.

Here's how it works: At the beginning of every meeting Board members place three new ideas/suggestions into the box. We give the box a good shake and place it at the end of the refreshment table. Each Board member takes a turn picking ONE suggestion out of the box. Then we each read aloud that suggestion and it becomes our assignment for the next meeting. We must report back on the results of our hand picked suggestion in presentation and report form. Many of the ideas have resulted in new approaches to volunteer recruitment, program training, sponsorships, event planning, day to day operations and new even Board members. Suggestions have included bringing a sponsor to the office, volunteering during our vacation week, attending a workshop, visiting a client, reworking on our logo, answering phones, mailing out thank you notes, budget planning, visiting sister agencies, taking a class, teaching a class, etc. All of the ideas, big and small, have created an atmosphere of unity; learning and even nurturing the Board. We also invite volunteers to add to the suggestion box and sit in on meetings and recently we began inviting sponsors to do the same.

That priceless suggestion: the good 'ole suggestion box-has opened many doors for PLNJer's.

A small box, became a pretty BIG idea.

Submitted on 3 November 2007 by Anna, Alderson Australia
How great to read Susan's comments about a topic that's been troubling me for some time. I totally agree that the separation of boards from their constituencies has gone too far. The challenge is to find ways for board members to know more than just what the CEO can tell them - not through distrust of the CEO - but because it's simply not enough. How can staff and clients be confident in decisions made by people who don't really know what the organisation does? Thanks for the suggestions. Others are: attending agency functions, meeting at different venues (for multi-venue agencies), having different staff groups e.g. OSH committee address the board, setting up consumer groups for feedback. Look forward to reading others.

Submitted on 3 November 2007 by Catherine, Volunteer Coordinator, UK
But what if your Board is too involved? Won't leave / respect staff to get on with their roles? Confront staff without the presence of the CEO? Allow their personal interests in some parts of the charity to skew their input? How can we remind them where they should be?!

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