an intentional approach to land trust board development
DESCRIPTION
An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development. Presented by Henrietta Jordan Trailmarker Associates. Imagine: - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
![Page 1: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Presented by Henrietta JordanTrailmarker Associates
![Page 2: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Imagine: What if the board you serve
on was THE board that transformed the
organization, that took it to a new level of effectiveness,
that future boards looked back on and said, “that was the board that made all the
difference”?
![Page 3: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
Board development = the creation of a highly effective
board of directors.
![Page 4: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
What are the attributes of a highly effective
board?
![Page 5: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
A highly effective land trust board understands that its role is to govern the organization through the creation and implementation of good policies and the making of sound decisions
that advance the land trust’s mission.
![Page 6: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Board members come to board meetings prepared to have substantive discussions
and make decisions in a thoughtful and deliberative
manner.
![Page 7: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
They are active between meetings
as committee members, task/project leaders, volunteers, fundraisers, and ambassadors
for their organizations.
![Page 8: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
If they have staff, they work in partnership
with the executive director, providing vision, guidance,
direction, and financial resources.
![Page 9: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
They recruit and engage new board members
who represent the community the land trust serves and provide them
with the training and experiences they need to
assume leadership roles in the organization.
![Page 10: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
They have outgrown their dependence on the founder and share responsibility for
building institutional knowledge, setting direction,
planning, and evaluating programs and their own performance as a board.
![Page 11: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
They operate with transparency and
scrupulously manage conflicts of interest and
conflicts of loyalty.
![Page 12: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
They are curious, open to challenges and
differences of opinion, flexible, and committed
to the well-being of the
organization and the achievement of its goals.
![Page 13: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
They are willing to risk trying new things and
things they didn’t think they’d want to do, like
fundraising, negotiating with landowners, public speaking, and writing
grant applications.
![Page 14: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
They understand that just as a land trust is a steward of land, they are stewards
of their organization. They plan for their own
succession and intentionally create a
foundation of effectiveness for future boards.
![Page 15: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
Other attributes?
![Page 16: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
Wow. How do we build a board
like that?
![Page 17: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
First things first.
![Page 18: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
Make building an effective board your top priority.
If you can accomplish this primary goal, realizing all your other ones will be a
piece of cake
![Page 19: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
Assess where you are now: board self-evaluation and
board member self-evaluation.
![Page 20: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
Plan! Set goals for board
development, just as you set goals for programs and
fundraising.
![Page 21: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
Assign responsibility for board development to a
committee—and don’t saddle its
members with too many other jobs.
![Page 22: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
Develop a board member job description that clearly states your expectations for engagement,
meeting attendance, committee work, training,
and financial support.
![Page 23: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
Develop a board manual with organizational history, board and staff
directory, bylaws, statement of vision & values, goals and plan, description of
programs and conserved lands, budget info, description of funding sources, minutes of
board meetings for the past 6 months or so, policies and procedures, information on Land
Trust Alliance, MLTN, and the Learning Center, and outreach info such as brochure,
newsletter, recent press articles, links to website and social media.
![Page 24: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
Prune dead wood. If they’re not accomplishing
anything, they’re probably looking for
an exit anyway.
![Page 25: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
Bring in new members who represent the
community you’re trying ‘to serve.
![Page 26: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
Other ideas?
![Page 27: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
Where do we find those
new board members?
![Page 28: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/28.jpg)
Ask: Why would they want to engage
with your organization?
![Page 29: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/29.jpg)
Young parents – activities for kids.
![Page 30: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/30.jpg)
Schoolteachers – educational programs.
![Page 31: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/31.jpg)
New residents – want to get involved in
the community and meet people.
![Page 32: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/32.jpg)
Hiking, birding, fishing, other outdoor groups who have a stake in what you’re doing.
![Page 33: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/33.jpg)
Environmentally conscious residents concerned about
saving open space/preserving community
character/protecting water quality/sequestering
carbon/promoting local foods and farms, etc.
![Page 34: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/34.jpg)
Church groups – people interested in
“creation care.”
![Page 35: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/35.jpg)
College and university instructors:
GIS mapping, community and urban
planning, environmental policy, natural resource planning and conservation, agriculture, etc.
![Page 36: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/36.jpg)
Singles – looking for a social outlet and
opportunities to meet people.
![Page 37: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/37.jpg)
Other ideas?
![Page 38: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/38.jpg)
Board members want to feel that their
time is well-spent.
![Page 39: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/39.jpg)
The most important tool you can give them:
information necessary for good decision-making.
![Page 40: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/40.jpg)
The “how” as well as the “what”:
bylaws, board manual, policies, guidelines, etc.
![Page 41: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/41.jpg)
In the agenda: “Board action needed. . .
”
![Page 42: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/42.jpg)
Committee reports in writing.
![Page 43: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/43.jpg)
“What are you asking me to do?”
(i.e. review, comment, decide, advise?)
![Page 44: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/44.jpg)
In-service mini-trainings
![Page 45: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/45.jpg)
Opportunities to go to Rally
![Page 46: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/46.jpg)
Recognition
![Page 47: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/47.jpg)
Other ideas?
![Page 48: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/48.jpg)
Financial literacy:
All board members need to be able to read and understand the budget, the statement of activities (profit/loss) and the statement of financial position
(balance sheet).
![Page 49: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/49.jpg)
Assume they don’t know and provide an annual in-service on financial statements.
![Page 50: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/50.jpg)
Develop accounting procedures that
provide for sufficient segregation of duties—
and follow them.
![Page 51: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/51.jpg)
Review the audit (or financial review) and
Form 990 carefully and ask questions!
![Page 52: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/52.jpg)
Fiduciary responsibility means
YOU are the watchdog. If you don’t
understand, ask questions!
![Page 53: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/53.jpg)
Land conservation literacyAll board members need to
understand why and how they undertake conservation
projects and what the land trust’s ongoing stewardship
responsibilities are.
![Page 54: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/54.jpg)
Training (and policy): •Using project selection criteria•Exercising due diligence in investigating potential projects •Legally sound transactions•Recordkeeping•Understanding IRS and state requirements, stewardship and defense funding
![Page 55: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/55.jpg)
• Baseline documentation• Monitoring conservation
restrictions and preserves• Enforcing conservation restrictions• Amending conservation restrictions• Developing management plans for
fee properties• Resolving fee property issues such
as trespass, dumping, ATVs, etc.
![Page 56: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/56.jpg)
Personnel management literacy
![Page 57: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/57.jpg)
Job descriptions
![Page 58: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/58.jpg)
Workplans
![Page 59: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/59.jpg)
Personnel policies
![Page 60: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/60.jpg)
Supervision and evaluation of theexecutive director
![Page 61: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/61.jpg)
Understanding of federal and state
labor laws and fair employment
statutes
![Page 62: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/62.jpg)
Understanding of payroll taxes, unemployment compensation,
workers comp, & disability insurance requirements
![Page 63: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/63.jpg)
Establishing appropriate compensation
(salary, benefits, etc.)
![Page 64: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/64.jpg)
Planning literacyWhat do you need for a
strategic plan? A Cadillac or a Ford?
![Page 65: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/65.jpg)
Ford = 3-5 year plan with history of organization,
mission, vision, goals, and strategies. Action steps for each strategy with “point person” and timetable.
Budget.
![Page 66: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/66.jpg)
Annual workplans for board, committees, staff
![Page 67: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/67.jpg)
Process for evaluating, fine-tuning
![Page 68: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/68.jpg)
Managing conflict
![Page 69: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/69.jpg)
We all bring our “stuff” wherever we go.
![Page 70: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/70.jpg)
“Board members behaving badly” – an inevitable
growing pain of an organization.
![Page 71: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/71.jpg)
President or chair MUST intervene.
![Page 72: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/72.jpg)
“Let’s have lunch”
![Page 73: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/73.jpg)
Pay more attention to the folks who are pulling their weight and doing the work than to those who are only
complaining.
![Page 74: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/74.jpg)
What do your bylaws say?
![Page 75: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/75.jpg)
The process of “firing” a dysfunctional board member
will be painful but the sweet peace that follows
makes it all worth it.
![Page 76: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/76.jpg)
Now what?
![Page 77: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/77.jpg)
What will YOU do first to make your board more
effective?
![Page 78: An Intentional Approach to Land Trust Board Development](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062804/56814a86550346895db796af/html5/thumbnails/78.jpg)
You CAN have the board you would love
to be a member of!