How To Be An Effective Board Member

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How To Be An Effective Board Member

• Leon Younger
• February 8, 2003

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Role Classification
Effective productive meetings are important to
board service.
Dont spend time discussing irrelevant business
or things that were the Directors responsibility.
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Your Director is your In-House Consultant

• Through education, training and experience he/she
  can answer questions about the budget, ordinance
  or law that could impact your organization.
• The director is hired to manage the organization
  on a daily basis. He needs to be close to the
  needs and wants of his/her team.
• The director is a key player on the Boards team.
  Include the director and all members at all
  meetings.

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The Role of the Board President

• Manage citizens non-board members.
• Acknowledge visitors speakers.
• Monitor the performance of all board members
  based on best interest of the board the
  organization.
• Work closely with the director

• Planning meeting agendas with director.
• Start end meetings on time.
• Keep discussions limited to agenda topics.
• Keep meeting on track.
• Encourage members to speak their opinions.
• Assign board members tasks.
• Build consensus among board members when
  disagreements arise

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The Board Members Role

• Most Important Participate actively at meetings!

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Additional Board Members Roles

• 1st step in being effective in the boardroom
  Know the key documents, services and people
  connected to your organization.
• Read the Vision Statement and Vision
  Strategies.

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Board Members Role

• Review the job descriptions in the Strategic
  Plan.
• Know the history of the agency.
• Read the past meeting minutes.
• Know your Agencies recent changes, future plans
  and offerings.

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Board Members Role

• Know the financial picture.
• Effective members listen and ask questions at
  meetings.
• Congratulate each other for work, birthdays, life
  events.

• Know what makes other board peers tick
• Communicate on a regular basis.
• Make the most of board retreats.
• Attend board socials.

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Board Members Role

• Understand parliamentary procedures. Use Roberts
  Role of Order!

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Items the board should react to in a public
session

• A. Focus agenda items on issues that promote
  the organizations vision and mission, not day to
  day operations.
• Long range planning
• Land acquisition
• Partnership agreements
• Legal contracts
• The budget
• Board policy
• Design approval
• Financial issues

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Items the board should react to in a public
session
B. Get involved to find the right process for
determining the board agenda.

• Two agendas could be mailed to board members.
• 1st agenda mail one week prior to meeting
• 2nd revised agenda day of the meeting

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Items the board should react to in a public
session
The board meeting packet should include
Support Materials
The Agenda
Meeting Minutes
Directors Report
Financial Report
Committee Reports
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How the Board Should Operate

• Call to order
• Call the roll
• Recognize visitors
• Approve the agenda
• Previous meeting minutes
• Good news report
• Approval of financial report

• Hear the directors report
• Hear committee reports
• Unfinished business
• New Business
• Announcements
• Public comments
• Adjourn

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Reminders !

• Draft your motion before the meeting
• Repeat the motion before voting
• Seek legal advice for wording of a motion
• Voice your vote

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Media Rules !
Rule 1 Anything said in an open forum can be
quoted by the media!
Rule 2 The Board President should be the
only individual addressing the media!
Rule 3 The Director can speak with the media
regarding operational issues programs!
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Issues Before The Board

• Development of the laws
• Evaluation of the director and the process
• to use
• Committees of the board
• Stages of growth in the organization
• The science of chaos

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Conduct a Self ExaminationAre you the ?

• Antagonist
• Bleeding Heart
• Power Maniac
• Non-Contributor
• Questioner
• Tabler
• Wannabe Politician
• Keeper of the Purse

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Goal Objectives Setting
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Goals Objectives Setting
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Questions?