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Unlocking a Few Mysteries - Non-Profit Board Leadership

Stephen C. NickCity Attorney

City of Eau Claire

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Thank you for the Invitation

City Attorney for Eau Claire State Bar Public Image Committee UMC Lake Street Youth Services Comm. County Bar Association Past President CMEC Board Member and Past President GSA IWC Past Board Member BSA Eagle Scout and Trained Adult Leader

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Emerging Leaders Society

2008 Board Training Sessions Session 2 – Board Structures and

Introduction to Parliamentary Procedure

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Topics of Discussion

Servant Leadership Non-Profit Board Structure Officer Responsibilities Board Committees Board Member–Staff Relationship Parliamentary Procedure

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Servant Leadership

"The first and most important choice a leader makes is the choice to serve, without which one’s capacity to lead is severely limited."

Robert Greenleaf(www.greenleaf.org)

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Pillars of Servant Leadership

Person of Character Puts People First Skilled Communicator Compassionate Collaborator Has Foresight Systems Thinker Leads with Moral Authority

James Sipe, PhD www.leaderserve.com

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Board Structure

Officers– President / Chair– Vice-President / Vice Chair– Treasurer– Secretary

Members Staff

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Purpose of the Board

“Defining the organization and stating its goals and purposes is probably the most critical task that confronts trustees. Everything else that trustees do rests on this basic decision”

• Robert Greenleaf

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Governing Documents

Articles of Incorporation– Founding document

• est. purpose and powers of organization

– Initial board or incorporators listed By-laws

– Working governing document of org.– Officers and duties– Elections / Terms / Voting / Meetings– Amendments

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Officer Responsibilities

President– Leader – 7 Pillars

• Person of Character Committed to Serve Public

Vice President– Next in line – operations

Treasurer– Understand budget and report to board

Secretary– Record board actions / Member communication

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Board Committees Standing Committees

– Established in by-laws or Board action• Executive• Finance• Personnel

Ad hoc Committees or task forces– Issue specific est. by board action

• Intended to accomplish specific task, then dissolve

Where the Work Gets Done! • Board sets policy• Committees recommend and plan• members, volunteers & staff get it done

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Board – Staff Relations Board Sets Policy Staff Executes Policy

– Daily operations are staff issues 7 Pillars – Communicator / Collaborator

– Good Leader Listens– Good Leader appreciates staff experience

Board has Corporate Responsibility– Must ensure staff accountability to est. policies– Must conduct exec dir performance reviews

• Exec manages and reviews all other staff

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Parliamentary Procedure

The Basics– Organized

– Fair

– Efficient

Few Specifics– Motion and Second prior to discussion

– Resolve amendments prior to return to main motion

– Take and record votes on action items• Financial decisions a must

• Record actions from at least one annual meeting

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Thank You!

Thank you for caring about your community

Thank you for being volunteer leaders– “Servant Leaders” as

termed by Greenleaf

Thank you for your time and attention