Message for board members

To the editor:
Are you a board member? If not, chances are you probably know someone who is. Is serving on a board a chore or a pleasure?
Most likely when you came “on board” it was to fill a vacant spot and no guidelines or training were provided on exactly what was expected of you in that role.
For those who missed the seminar on Oct. 4 on Indiana’s Public Access and Open Door Laws hosted by The Commercial Review at Arts Place and to all who may wonder about the workings of board members, perhaps the following will be of interest.
Here are three book titles that should be of interest to all board members as well as those in the position of appointing members to a board:
“Called to Serve: Creating and Nurturing the Effective Board Member” by Max DePree. The key word here is “effective.”
“The Ultimate Board Member’s Book: A 1-Hour Guide to Understanding and Fulfilling Your Role and Responsibilities” by Kay Sprinkel Grace. This title is clearly self-explanatory of its contents.
And “Board Member Orientation: The Concise and Complete Guide to Non-Profit Board Service” by Michael Batts. In just 85 quick-reading pages, the author delivers a short-enough book that most new board members will read it. It is a must-have tool for orientation sessions with new board members.
There are 10 chapters: The legal authority and responsibility of board members, the proper role of the board, board committees, the board’s role in risk management, the board’s role in financial matters, governing and policy documents, the liability of board members, understanding, evaluation and protecting mission, board meeting dynamics, and completing the orientation process.
The author says that effective boards focus on three areas: Strategy, oversight, and policy.
There are keys to effectiveness.
First is information. Boards work best when the directors or trustees come to board meetings well-informed because they were provided with the tools they need to engage in meaningful discussions.
Second is questions. Effective boards ask insightful questions during their meetings, questions that are based on the information they have received in advance, filtered through the context of each board member’s experience.
Third, and finally, is decisions.
Effective boards make decisions. The members are energized by the nature of the discussions and welcome the opportunity to contribute their knowledge, experience, and expertise to the deliberative process.
These three books should be of interest to all board members of any organization who want to make a true difference in taking their roles seriously.
Reading and activating the guidelines given in these books will make the difference from duty to delight.
Joyce Milligan
Portland

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