Board Café

The Electronic Newsletter Exclusively for Members of Nonprofit Boards of Directors

Short enough to read over a cup of coffee, the Board Café offers a menu of ideas, information, opinion, news, and resources to help board members give and get the most out of board service. Co-published by CompassPoint Nonprofit Services and the National Center for Nonprofit Boards. Executive Chef / Editor: Jan Masaoka. July 13, 1999. Vol. 3, No. 7

With this issue, the Board Café welcomes the National Center for Nonprofit Boards (NCNB) as a co-publisher. NCNB, a national organization dedicated to improving the effectiveness of nonprofits by strengthening their governing boards, will be contributing articles and items to the Board Café, as well as making it available to their 13,000 members around the world. We especially want to thank Rick Moyers, Betsy Rosenblatt and Janis Johnston for their collegial support in the past and generously bringing their resources and talent to the Board Café. Read on for ways to welcome new board members, ease out other members, and questions to ask yourself before YOU join your next board . . . Jan Masaoka

THREE WAYS TO WELCOME A NEW BOARD MEMBER

One: Before their first meeting, give new board members a tour of the agency's facility (if there is one) and lunch with the board president and executive director. If you haven't already done so, this is a good time to talk over the new person's "wish list" for service-what would the new person like to learn? Who would she like to meet? What experiences would he like to have? Two: At their first board meeting, pass out a resume or biography of the new member. It may have been passed out during nominations, but if board members have it in front of them at this meeting, they'll be more likely to find a way to draw out or involve the new board member. Three: The board president or other officer can call a new board member the day after his or her first board meeting, to solicit reactions to the meeting, discuss ways the new member can be involved, and simply make a personal connection.

A GRACEFUL WAY TO EASE OUT A BOARD MEMBER

From reader Georgia McDaniel, board member of the Daily Cal Education Foundation: "I got this great suggestion at a class I attended: If a board member is beginning to talk about a need to leave, offer them a one-time opportunity to do something nice for the organization as they bow out. It will keep them from feeling guilty as well as keep them on the good side of the organization. Examples: make a key introduction, make an exit gift, host a lunch or dinner, or something else that is do-able, and 'helps' the board member with their exit plan." Thanks, Georgia!

DOES YOUR BOARD MEET ON THE INTERNET?

The Board Café is looking for boards and board committees who meet via Internet chat rooms . . . are you one? Please let us know how you use the chat room environment, how it works, and what advice you'd give to others. Be sure to include your organization's name, your city and state, and how to contact you if we have more questions. Info to < boardcafe@compasspoint.org > or call Sonali Rammohan at 415-541-9000 x 301. Watch for an upcoming Board Café issue to see what we find out!

eBAY NOW FUNDING

We've all heard of eBay, the Internet auction/sales house, but we don't all realize that they recently launched their own foundation. The eBay Foundation makes grants to 501(c)(3) organizations for specific programs or projects that accomplish the following objectives: leverage existing resources, foster collaboration, make a significant positive, long-term impact on the people served. In less jargon-like language, eBay says that it's "more apt to fund organizations that teach people who then turn around and teach others within the community" rather than those that are "just offering a Band-Aid to a problem." For more info email Karin Stahl at < foundation@ebay.com > or visit <http://www.ebay.com/aboutebay/foundation/ >.

This issue's "Main Course at the Board Café":

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF BEFORE JOINING YOUR NEXT BOARD

Okay, you're having a great time serving on a board, but your term limit is coming up, or you're moving to a new community, or you just need a change. If asked why you joined your current board, chances are you'd reply, "because someone asked me." As you consider joining another board, here are some questions to ask yourself:

IS THIS THE RIGHT CAUSE AND ORGANIZATION FOR ME?

Approach this decision as if you were planning to make a major donation: you would probably begin by thinking of areas where you have strong feelings-perhaps care for the elderly, or civil rights, or the environment. After settling on a subject area, you might then learn about several different organizations working in that field, and investigate ones that seem to have high impact and are well managed. Only after you were fully satisfied would you make the donation.

The next time you consider joining a board, first ask yourself whether you truly feel strongly about the type of work that the organization does and the people it serves. Since, as a board member, you'll be investing not only money but time and energy, ask yourself whether the organization seems to be a pretty good risk as an investment.

CAN I WORK WITH THIS AGENCY AND THIS BOARD AT THIS PARTICULAR STAGE IN ITS LIFE?

At one time in an organization's life, board service may be fairly smooth with a few bumps, while at another time board service may involve a hair-raising roller coaster ride (of course, an unexpected event can throw any board for a loop). What type of board seems right for you right now? You may want a board that really lets you roll up your sleeves and get to work with the other board members, or you may want a board that is stable and can let you learn about board work in a deliberate way.

WHAT CAN I, AND WHAT WILL I, CONTRIBUTE TO THIS ORGANIZATION?

What skills, contacts, and perspectives do I have that will be useful to this organization? How, specifically, will the board use what I can bring? Often as board members we find that some of our talents and contacts never seem to get utilized by the boards we're on. Perhaps you gave up a music career for accounting, or have writing skills that are not used at your job. Perhaps your customer network includes dozens of influential community leaders. Consider first what you bring to the table, and then, whether you are willing to give that to the organization. Look, too, for vehicles for your skills: if you can't see a specific vehicle (work on an event, help market a service, work with the Treasurer), your desire to contribute may well go unfulfilled. Ask yourself:

Do I believe in this organization enough to introduce my customers to it? Can I make a commitment to attending at least 75% of the meetings? Am I willing to give up one or more evenings a month? Am I willing to make a generous donation? Can I volunteer with other board members on occasional Saturdays? Would I feel comfortable having my name on their letterhead or on their brochure? The right time to ask these questions is before, not after, you have joined the board.

This final question is one that potential candidates should ask themselves and one that active board members should periodically re-examine during their board service:

WHAT DO I WANT TO GET OUT OF BEING ON THIS BOARD?

An all-too-common experience for board members at the ends of their terms is a feeling that they didn't, after all, really get deeply involved and don't, as a result, feel that they either contributed as much or got as much as they had hoped when they first joined. Board members who plan and ask for what they want in the board will contribute more as well as gain more. For example, if you don't have a finance background but wish you knew more about finance, consider asking to be appointed to the Finance Committee. If there's a community leader on the Program Committee who you would love to get to know, ask to be on the Program Committee, and put in the time to be sure you get to know all the members well. If one of your reasons for joining the board was to meet new people, volunteer to help put on the annual luncheon or staff the table at a street fair.

You are reading the BOARD CAFÉ, published monthly by CompassPoint Nonprofit Services and the National Center for Nonprofit Boards. CompassPoint/Board Match Plus+: 706 Mission Street, 5th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103; (phone) 415-541-9000; (fax) 415-541-7708; Silicon Valley office: 1922 The Alameda, San Jose, 95126; (phone) 408-248-9505. (e-mail) < boardcafe@compasspoint.org > (website) ,

< http://www.compasspoint.org/index.html > National Center for Nonprofit Boards: 1828 L Street NW, Ste. 900 , Washington, D.C. 202-452-6262 email < info@ncnb.org >; website< http://www.ncnb.org > We welcome your comments and contributions to the BOARD CAFÉ.

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