The Board Building Cycle

8-1/2" x 11", softcover, 77 pages, BoardSource, $60.00. Table of Contents Read the Introduction Order Now

One of the most important responsibilities of a downtown association board is to ensure that it continuously adds qualified new members and keeps them productive and engaged. But board building shouldn’t just happen when it’s time to fill a vacancy, it should be a continuous process that includes year-round activities.

In The Board Building Cycle, the author provides a systematic process for building, strengthening and working with boards. The steps include:

• Identifying, cultivating, and recruiting prospective board members
• Orienting new board members
• Encouraging board members to become more active
• Educating the board about the organization’s work
• Rotating out board members to make room for new skills and insights
• Engaging the board in self-evaluation
• Celebrating the board’s victories and successes

The Board Building Cycle also includes helpful tips on what motivates people to join boards, how and where to find board members, ideas for conducting an orientation session, specific tasks for the board’s nominating committee, suggestions for involving former board members as advisors or committee members, and for removing difficult or ineffective board members.

The book comes with a valuable CD-ROM containing all of the forms, worksheets, and sample documents in the book. It also includes a PowerPoint presentation for orienting new board members to the important task they have undertaken.

Table of Contents

1. Identify

• Develop a board profile
• Expand board diversity, but limit board size
• Worksheet: Board profile

2. Cultivate

• Develop a pool of potential board members
• Cultivate relationships
• Checklist: How and where to find board members
• Worksheet: Prospective board member information sheet

3. Recruit

• Explore interest and mutual fit
• Evaluate prospects
• Prepare for nomination and election
• Beware of red flags
• Seal the deal
• Appointed and member-elected boards
• Formal nomination and election
• Checklist: Materials to share with potential board members
• Worksheet: Board candidate rating form
• Sample: Board member letter of agreement

4. Orient

• Prepare new members for active participation
• Conduct an orientation
• Checklist: Suggested contents for board of director’s handbook
• Checklist: Board orientation chart
• Checklist: Board member orientation

5. Involve

• Get everyone engaged with the work of the board
• Work to develop the board as an inclusive team
• Clarify responsibilities for involving board members
• Checklist: Involving board members

6. Educate

• Create regular opportunities for board education
• Strengthen from within
• Hands-on education
• Make the best use of technology
• Checklist: Board education activities and resources

7. Evaluate

• Assess the board’s performance
• Evaluate board meetings
• Conduct a board assessment
• Outcomes of the assessment process
• Measure individual board member performance
• Worksheet: Board meeting evaluation form
• Worksheet: Board self-assessment survey
• Worksheet: Individual board member self-evaluation form

8. Rotate

• Keep the board fresh
• Make regular room for new people
• Adopt term limits
• Step down and say good-bye
• Removing a difficult board member

9. Appreciate efforts and celebrate achievements

• Pick the style of recognition

 

CD-ROM

The CD-ROM includes documents featured in the book and a PowerPoint presentation called Presenting: Board Orientation.

The documents may be downloaded and customized or used as is. The documents include:

• Board meeting evaluation form
• Sample board member letter of agreement
• Board profile worksheet
• Individual board member self-evaluation form
• Mini board self-assessment survey
• Prospective board member information sheet
• Board candidate rating form
• Board member orientation checklist

Presenting: Board Orientation is a PowerPoint presentation that includes the following four sections. The slides in the PowerPoint presentation can be used as an on-screen presentation, printed as overhead transparency slides, or handed out to the board.

• Overview of the nonprofit sector
• About the organization
• About the board
• Board roles and responsibilities

Your Guarantee of Satisfaction

The Board Building Cycle is guaranteed. If you are not 100% satisfied, you may return it within 30 days for a full refund.

About the Author

During more than 30 years in consulting, training, communications, and nonprofit management, Berit M. Lakey, Ph.D. Has acquired unique insights into the complex nature of nonprofit organizations. Her diverse roles include that of teacher, trainer, staff administrator, author, executive director, and board member.

She holds a master’s degree in organizational development and a doctorate in human and organizational systems.

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