Ten Vital Roles For Board Members: Your Job is to

Make a Difference

1. First, Know why we are here

• Why do we exist?

• Who created us when?

• History of Leadership

2. Leading is a Partnership.

• Board Members are Strategic Policy Advisors

• Executive & Staff are Operational Experts

• Together, they are advantage for organization and people served.

3. Serving people is our goal.

• Seek first to understand the program of service

• Give some time to people we serve

• Let them get to know you

4. We serve the residents by serving our staff.

• Seek first to understand staff roles

• Get to know our key staff• Observe/learn about our key

systems

5. We are effective managers.

• Review the Performance of Executive goals

• Review the Performance of Board goals

• Most importantly, hold yourselves and management staff accountable

6. We are ambassador’s for our organization.

• Represent your organization well in the community

• Give money and help to raise money

• We need to be socially accountable to our community.

7. We are fiscally responsible.

• Approve an annual budget• Review and accept Independent

annual auditor• Approve capital plan• Plan for a ‘rainy day” financial

reserve

8. Planning for tomorrow is not a luxury it’s a duty.

• Set aside time each year for “planning long term”

• Adopt long term goals annually

• Use them for board meeting discussions

9. Board Meetings Should Use the Talents in the

Room!• Meetings should be

engaging.• Staff reports read

before meeting.• Board members

lead the discussion.• Every voice needs

to be heard.

10. You leave the organization better off than

when you started• How can I

improve this organization?

• How can I improve this Board?

• What programs should we stop?

• What programs should we start?

Additional Resources

• Board Source: www.boardsource.org

• AAHSA: www.aahsa.org • KAHSA: www.kahsa.org• The Governance Institute

www.governanceinstitute.com