Board Roles & ResponsibilitiesMoving toward a more strategic and effective board

Marv Nelson

SCTE

SVP, Strategic Initiatives

Agenda

• The Role of a Board• The Role of a Board Member• What is a Strategic Board• Board / Committee Structure• Role of Parliamentary Procedure

The Role of a Board

What is a Board?

The board of directors is the governing body responsible for the ultimate direction of the organization

Legal Responsibilities

Duty of Care

• Association’s best interest

• Protect confidential information

Duty of Loyalty

• Undivided allegiance

• Avoid conflicts of interest

Duty of Obedience

• Bylaws compliance

• Aware of affairs of the chapter

Fiduciary Responsibility

Gotchas

Apparent Authority

Personal Liability Risk

Antitrust

Board Models

• Advisory Board model• Patron model• Co-operative model• Management Team model• Policy Board model

The Role of aBoard Member

Qualities of a GOOD

Board Member

• Integrity• Open mind• Competence• Sense of humor• Enthusiasm

Attributes NOT Desired

• Johnny-one-note• Devil’s advocate• Authority figure• Off-the-wall artist• Board hopper

Taken from Welcome to the Board, by Fisher Howe

Responsibilities of a

Board Member

• Attendance• Mission• Finances• Program oversight and support• Board effectiveness

Board Management

• Develop a list of specific qualities that should be contained collectively within the board

• Use elections to fill upcoming voids• Do a periodic self-evaluation of board performance

What is a Strategic Board?

Strategic PlanningMission & Objectives

Environmental Scan

Strategy Formulation

Strategy Implementation

Evaluation & Control

The Strategic Plan answers:

• What are we doing today as a chapter that we need to be doing different in the future to sustain success?

• What are we not doing today that we need to be doing in the future to sustain success?

Ponder This

If you say, “I’ll start on my big project after I get my desk all clean,” not only do you rarely get your desk clean, but afterward you’re no longer fresh and focused for your big project.

Key questions:•What’s on the agenda?•What should be on the agenda?•What are “Big Rocks”?

Characteristics of a

Strategic Board

• Right sizing of the Board• Strategic vs. Tactical• What’s on your agenda?

• Reports vs. discussion• Priority-based order of business• Use of the Consent agenda

Board / Committee Structure

Value of Committees

PROs• Can improve efficiency• Reduce frequency or time of board meetings

CONs• Arbitrarily establishing committees is a recipe for disaster• Committee structure must be tied to priorities of the board• Must have definitive goals and timelines

Committee Types and Alternatives

• Standing Committees• Ad-hoc Committees• Advisory Councils

Consider using a “Zero-based” approach to committee formation

Role of Parliamentary Procedure

Reason for Parliamentary Procedure

“Parliamentary procedure is not intended to intimidate anyone or stifle debate. Rather, its goal is to enable deliberative bodies to practice good governance. It ensures that the will of the majority is established and the voice of the minority is protected.”

(Leigh Wintz, Soroptimist International of the Americas)

Reason for Parliamentary Procedure

Don’t let it get in the way• Unnecessary motions• Unneeded seconds• Unclear motions• Ineffective use of time

Key Questions

Final Exam

• How is your board doing in carrying out their fiduciary responsibilities?

• What are you and your peer board members contributing to the board?

• How are you ensuring that the road you are on is the correct one?

• Are you leveraging the full value of the board members on your board?

• Have you made plans to implement an idea or concept you heard today?

Last Thoughts