Board members are usually passionate about the organizations they work for. They are eager to meet their legal obligations to be your advocate to live your mission, and be faithful advocates. There are also other responsibilities they must consider.
They should welcome different viewpoints and participate in discussions constructively. This is crucial to ensure that the board is able to achieve its goals in a unified manner. The board is a team, and it is the chair’s responsibility to keep everyone on track.
It is the duty of the board to actively seek out and select new members. The best candidates are those that will bring additional talents, skills and background experience to the table. Boards should also make sure that their job descriptions reflect here are the findings the required qualifications.
The board should also help new members to get acquainted quickly. This can be done by providing orientation materials, advanced preparation for meetings and clear communication.
In the end, boards should decide on term limits. This will help prevent members who are unhappy from feeling overwhelmed or overburdened by the workload. The majority of the work on your board should be done in committees. It is essential that board members know the way committees function and how they are connected to the whole board.
Additionally, the board should be aware of legal obligations and regulations. This includes state-level “Sunshine Laws” and laws governing how non-profits conduct business and make decisions. Boards must be educated on these issues to avoid costly legal issues.