Tools For the Board

1
Tools For the Board

• Toolkit assembled by
• Joe McLennan
• McLennan Partners

2
Board Member Success Framework
Successful relationships are the result of a
positive relationship between the needs and
offers of each entity. The Board Member Success
Framework is a tool to help you, as Board member,
better understand your own needs/motivations in
serving on the Board, what you offer (in the way
of talents and experience) to the Chamber and
what you and the Chamber can expect from the
relationship.By carefully looking at each
section of the framework, you can put together
thoughts and plans to help you to be successful
on the Board now and in the future. Is there a
good fit/alignment?When this document is
completed it can serve as a discussion starter in
a conversation with you, your Board Chair and the
chief executive on what needs to be done to help
bring the mutual needs and offer into
alignment/balance and to make your time on the
board as successful as possible.
3
Program/Product/Service Evaluation Form (adapted
from ACCE form)
Product/program___________________ Proposed
by_________________Date____________ Evaluated
by ________________
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A New Event/Program Decision Tree (adapted from
Peter Brinckerhoffs Nonprofit Stewardship)

• Does the event/program support our mission?a.
  Does it improve the quality of our service?b.
  Does it strengthen the Chamber?c. Can we measure
  the outcome?
• Does the event/program keep us focused on
  priorities?a. Is it specifically included in our
  strategic plan?b. Does it involve current core
  competencies?c. Does it develop a new core
  competence?
• Do we have adequate information to decide?a.
  Impact on other programs?b. Impact on our
  finances?c. Impact on staff time?d. legal
  impact?
• Have we applied appropriate business analyses?a.
  Is there a feasibility study and/or business
  plan?b. What is the cash impact?c. What is the
  budget impact?
• Have we consulted appropriately with
  stakeholders?a. Board?b. Funders? (will we be
  penalized if we are successful?)c. Members?
  (will they attend?)d. Community members?e.
  Consultants in this area?

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Recruitment Readiness Checklist
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Chamber of Commerce Dashboards(Membership by
Categories)
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Chamber Dashboard
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End of Term Conversation Topics

• What additional information and training would
  help you be more effective and informed on this
  Board?
• Where has the Board been most effective?
• Where is the Board least effective?
• What are these Boards strengths?
• What are these Boards challenges?
• Where have your skills abilities been best
  utilized?
• What have been your greatest contributions?
• What would you like to do next on this Board?
• What is missing on this Board? characteristics?
  experience?
• Who would serve this Board well?