Alignment

Today was a great day for DePelchin Children's Center. A Board Strategic Planning Retreat produced marvelous alignment in board and staff priorities.

Multiple constituents, much research and many internal and external experts were included in the process leading to today.  Passion, commitment and balancing resources drove the consensus for our strategic initiatives.

Alignment is a beautiful thing!

Board Engagement

We tried an experiment with a nonprofit board that I chair.  We conducted board orientation after we had included the new board members in two events:

• board reception for new, retiring and returning board members and senior staff 
• board meeting and state of the organization presentation

All three activities were held within a two week period.  Feedback was positive.  The new board members had a chance to visit socially in a lovely home with key staff, seasoned board members and one another before engaging in governance.  When they participated in board orientation, they already had a broader sense of the opportunities and challenges facing the organization and knew many of the other board and staff who were also committed to serving children and families in Texas.

There are many ways to foster engagement including shared vision, passion and camaraderie.

Volunteer Board Members

There are countless ways to volunteer and each has the opportunity to impact the life of the volunteer and those he or she serves.  I was asked recently how to become a board member of a volunteer organization since I am very active in the community.  There are many paths to board service including:

• establishing a stellar reputation with an organization as a committed volunteer
• providing a skill that is absent or under-represented on the board
• being nominated by a friend or colleague who knows what you can contribute
• responding to a solicitation for new board members
• making your specific interest known to current board members or staff
• achieving highly positive company, community and/or association visibility
• serving as a company or organization designated representative

 Board members are expected to bring 4 Ts to a non-profit:

• Time
• Talent
• Treasure
• Touch

The first 3 Ts are self-explanatory. Touch includes sharing the organization's mission and needs with your network.  It involves being an ambassador for the organization.

Those with a sincere interest in making an impact are far superior board members than those who are viewed as resume builders.  And, it would be rare for an organization to tap a board member who has not already been active in the community.  As with most other opportunities, a broad, diverse network helps connect the willing and able to the organizations that have expressed needs.

Board representation is gratifying work when you are engaged with an organization with a mission that matches your passion.  Without passion, it becomes just another task on a to-do list.