Do you sit on a board? At some point, most of us who actively volunteer and work in a small town will be a board member of some organization. Here’s ten things you might want to know.
- Work, Wisdom and Money — if you have two out of three of those you will make an excellent board member.
- Most boards meet at least once a month.
- Make sure the organization has Directors and Officers Insurance. If they do not and you are a board member you could be sued.
- There is no such thing as a free lunch. That’s the first rule of economics. It applies here as well. Plan on contributing your time, your hard work and even your money.
- You don’t get paid to sit on a board.
- Make sure you read the Articles of Incorporation, the Bylaws and your board handbook. This information is important, know it.
- Be prepared to learn more about your community when you sit on a board.
- Ask a lot of questions, don’t just agree to agree. Your input is invaluable and necessary for the growth of the organization.
- Be passionate about the organization. Be willing to give and make a real difference. Otherwise don’t do it.
- Be thankful there are others willing to give their time and attention to making organizations better by being board members.
There’s plenty more to learn, like knowing Robert’s Rules of Order, but you’ll figure it out as you go along. I highly recommend finding something your very interested in and then volunteering your time and getting involved. If you don’t know what kind of organizations are in your community and who needs help, stop by your local Chamber office and ask them. They should know. If they don’t, you just call me – I’ll help you figure it out!
Posted in Local, Webster City