Board members are usually committed to the organizations they serve. They are eager to fulfill their legal obligations to advocate for the work of your organization and to embody the mission of the organization and be faithful ambassadors. However, there are several other obligations they need to be aware of.
They should be open to different opinions and be able to engage in productive discussions. This is important to ensure that the board can reach its goals in a cohesive manner. The board is a team and the chair is responsible for keeping everyone on track with their duties.
The board’s job is to actively seek out and select new members. The most qualified candidates are those with additional skills, talents and experience. Boards should also be sure that their position listings reflect the necessary qualifications.
The board should also assist new members in getting up to speed quickly. This can be achieved by providing orientation materials and advanced preparation for meetings, and clear communications.
The last but not least, boards should establish term limits. This will prevent members who are unhappy from feeling overwhelmed or overwhelmed by the demands. The majority of the work done by your board must be accomplished through committees. It is essential that board members know how committees operate and how they feed into the board in general.
The board should be knowledgeable of legal responsibilities and regulations. This includes laws that govern how non-profits conduct business and make decisions, as well as “Sunshine Laws” which are state-level laws. Boards should be educated on these issues to avoid costly legal problems.
