Fulfilling a Role or Just Filling a Seat?

Developing your Board's Capital in Challenging TimesInstructor: Anne

AckersonTHIS PROGRAM IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDS FROM THE NEW YORK STATE COUNCIL ON THE ARTS, A STATE AGENCY

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What we’ll cover today:Building a board to meet your organization’s

challengesStrategies to blend and build competenciesThe role of the Board Development

Committee

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It’s Tough Out There!competitiontoo few resourceshigh expectationskeeping audiences engaged, growing and coming

backwhat else is making you want to tear your hair

out?

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Are Our Boards Up to the Task?right skills?right attributes?right support?right culture?

How many of you feel you’ve got the right mix of talent and systems and environment in place for your board to do its best work?

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Board Development CommitteeNeeds Assessment

  Ongoing Training

  Identification

Evaluation

   Rotation

Cultivation 

   Training

Recruitment  

Engagement 

Orientation

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Board Development CommitteeWhat is its role?

What are its specific tasks?

Who needs to be on it?

How often will it meet?

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Needs Assessment: Right Skills and AttributesIdentifying Your Board’s Current

Strengths and Future Leadership Needs SWOTVision-Values Discussion: Vision and Mission Statements, Strategic or Long Range PlanSkills/Experience Inventory of Current Board

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Skills/Experience Inventory of Current BoardBoard Member Name

DiversityM/F Ethnic/Racial Age

Profession/Avocation

Areas of Expertise

Active with our organization in the following ways…

Has ability to help our organization do….

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Talent Identification

Matching skills and attributes to potential candidates

Characteristics to think about: forward-looking, optimistic, comfortable

with risk or uncertainty

Using existing and new networks to identify potential candidates

Image from: www.managerfactory.com/.../social_network.jpg

How can you identify new and different board members for your organization?

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Cultivation

Multiple conversations by phone and in person

A tour of the facilities and meeting of staff

Sitting in on a board meetingMeeting board membersAttending an event

A PROCESS THAT MAY REQUIRE SEVERAL INTERACTIONS OVER VARYING LENGTHS OF TIME Tailored to individualCould include

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Recruitment

Based on your researchDescribe why a prospect is wanted and

neededExplain expectations and responsibilitiesIs the prospect interested and ready to serve?Does the prospect need more cultivation?What if the prospect says “no”?

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Orientation Make orientation of new board members (or prospects) a formal activity

Orientation should include:Overview of the organization Tour of facilitiesObservation of programsOverview of the board and staff Board Member Handbook – a handy reference

for new and veteran board members

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Engagement

Pair up newbies and veterans  Involve all board members in committees or

task forces right away Ask for one-on-one help; opinions Hold them accountable  Thank them often

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Checklist of Items to Include in aBoard Member’s Orientation Packet/Handbook

Section I:  Organizational Background

Section II:  Governance

Section III:  Finance

Section IV:  Policies

Section V:  Staff /Key Volunteers

Section VI:  Program

Board Member’s Bookshelf Bibliography

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Training

Formal

Conferences, seminars or workshops

In-house speakers Field trips RetreatsJoint meetings with

other cultural organizations

Short “tutorials”

Informal

Distribute mission/issue-related articles

Post-board meeting get-togethers

Drop-in opportunities to observe programming

Website area just for board members

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EvaluationWho and What Needs to be Evaluated?The board as a whole Committees Individual board members

What are the tools?Assessment formsStrategic or Long-range PlanAnnual workplansBoard member job description

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Two Words About Board Member Rotation DO IT!

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Questions?Comments?

Session 2 | Webinar Wednesday, June 30, 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

Getting Beyond the "Bored" Meeting You've probably been there: the report-driven board meeting that keeps you

looking at your watch or stealing glances at your smart phone; or the board meeting that is so over-the-top with ideas that you leave it dazed and confused. These are two ends of one continuum known as the board meeting.

Where does your organization fit?

This webinar will look at some basics, like what board meetings should accomplish, building meaningful agendas and dashboards, and using breakouts, facilitator and conversation recorders.