Board Recruitment and Diversity

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Board Recruitment and Diversity

• Adopted from MACD.org
• By Judith Lindenau, CAE
• September 2008

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Three Take-Aways

• Ideas and methods to recruit District board
  members.
• How the District decides what it needs in a new
  board member.
• Why stronger boards strive for maximum diversity
  to achieve successful program development.

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Why Recruit ?

• Programs Reflect Participants Effective
  Conservation District programs are built with
  outstanding, and qualified District board
  members.
• Diverse Skills Produce Credible Programs A
  District board whose members exhibit a diverse
  combination of skills will be better able to gain
  community support for District and local
  conservation efforts.
• Diversity Mirrors the Local Population A boards
  diversity should reflect, to the extent possible,
  the population that it serves.

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Recruitment Basics

• Identify the qualities needed.
• Define the roles (job descriptions).
• Develop and Use Recruitment Strategies
• Integrate and continuously train board members.

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Needed Qualities, not Available Friends

• YES

• NO

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Desirable Qualities

• Open Minded and Innovative
• Willing to Learn
• Available Time
• Fundraising
• Community Stature and Respect
• Understands and Supports Conservation Issues

• Leadership Skills
• Works well with Others
• Communication Ability
• Legal Understanding
• Business Skills/Financial Management Awareness

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From AWebsite

• . Prospective members should have
  skills/experience in one or more of the following
  areasorganizational development
• public relations/marketing
• volunteer management
• financial management
• non-profit boards
• trusts/estate planning
• It is our hope that prospective members are
  passionate about our mission to inspire
  exploration, appreciation, and conservation of
  our natural world and are willing to act as
  advocates for the work of the District within the
  community.

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Your Districts Strategic Planthe Big Wish List

• What programs and activities would you like to do
  but because of the lack of resources (human and
  other) have been unable to accomplish?

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Whats Your Big Wish?

• What knowledge, skills and resources are needed
  to reach this goal?
• What skills/resources are you missing on your
  current Board to achieve your Big Wish?
• Who are your clients for this Big Wish?
• What types of new members do you need to better
  serve/relate to these clients?

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Tip 1

• Write a Job Description

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Contents of District Board Member Job Description

• Responsibilities
• Duties
• Obligations of District board members

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Tip 2

• WRITE A PROSPECTUS

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Prospectus Table of Contents

• Mission and vision statements
• Your Districts primary goals and objectives
• Major current issues
• Major programs and activities
• Funding sources
• Expectations of District board members
• Benefits of being a Director

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Tip 3

• Train!

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From Training Module 12

• New board members needs specific information to
  help
• them get orientated quickly. A variety of
  tools
• currently exist to help them in this learning
  process.
• They are
• District Directors Handbook
• District Operations Handbook
• District Training Modules
• Your Guide to Michigans Conservation Districts
  pocket guide
• New Director and Staff Workshops - held each year
  

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And Others?

• Other ideas each Conservation District can do to
  help
• new directors get started on the right foot
  include
• Partner a new director with a veteran director.
  This type of mentoring is very beneficial to both
  directors.
• Provide the new director with individual training
  with the District Administrator/Executive
  Director or Chair
• Develop an orientation manual specifically for
  your District.

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Resource Available Where to Find It
Conservation District Directors Handbook Located in each District office. Each Director should have a copy for personal use.
Conservation District Operations Handbook Located in each District office
Your Guide to Michigans Conservation Districts Pocket guidebook Located online at www.macd.org
Conservation District Training Modules Located online at www.macd.org
Proud to Serve Conservation District Board Members Recruitment Reference Book Available through the National Association of Conservation Districts. Order online at www.nacdnet.org
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In Conclusion.

• Recruitment begins with qualities desired
• Find someone representative of your constituents
• Provide a job description of a Board Member
• Have training and materials ready immediately!

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www.judithlindenau.com