1. RECRUITMENT & DIVERSITY Bill Taylor Northeast Area Community Development Educator

2. WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY?

3. DISCUSSION: City advisory boards are appointed by the City Council, after an application process. What roles do current advisory Board members have in recruiting and filling Board vacancies?

4. Board member roles Share Board’s mission, vision, strategic plan Be prepared to give a 5 minute description of goals & accomplishments Use or make opportunities to inform the public of upcoming openings Evaluate the Board’s and individual members’ performance to determine strengths & weaknesses

5. Board member roles (cont.) Provide information on the types of skills needed to strengthen the Board Cultivate promising individuals Encourage/help applicants

6. traits & SKILLS NEEDED?

7. DISCUSSION: What character traits and skills should new Board members possess?

8. Traits & skills Team player Adds to diversity Visionary Understands the community and its needs Has a passion for the cause Willing to commit to the Board’s meetings, committees, planning sessions, activities Listens well

9. Traits & skills (cont.) Interested & committed to planning & oversight Will speak up when sees an opportunity or threat Will leverage his or her resources to further the mission

10. Traits & skills (cont.) Determine what is needed to accomplish the board’s mission Develop a job description w/ realistic expectations Skills & experience required Accountability to whom? For what? Attendance expected Committee structure & membership requirements Give to candidates

11. Why diversity?

12. DISCUSSION: What is board diversity? Why is it important? Who should be represented? 12

13. diversity Diversity is to fully represent the community you serve – ethnicity, religion, age, vocation, income, gender, disability, etc. Need a variety of cultures, values, opinions, perspectives Broadens view, generates alternatives, enhances resources, strengthens board, increases validity to the community

14. Diversity (cont.) “Don’t look for people who are like yourself.” Look for a variety of skills and knowledge to address your strategic priorities

15. Recruiting & qualifying

16. DISCUSSION: What process should be used to recruit and qualify new membership? 16

17. recruiting Finding candidates Look for program users and those with a passion for the cause Ask present board members to make suggestions Maintain a list of possible candidates Make face-to-face appointments w/ individuals who will understand how different groups respond Talk to them about being a Board member to represent their group

18. Recruiting (cont.) Finding candidates (cont.) At end of interview, ask for names of 2 more who might be interested Invite the interviewee to the next meeting Don’t let possibility of “no” stop you from asking

19. Recruiting (cont.) Establish your criteria for the position Recruit a prospects pool for each seat Members propose names & why Make it known you’re looking Let the public know about board positions whenever you’re speaking Make announcements to groups Regular advertising

20. Recruiting (cont.) Use personalized requests and messages, don’t rely on mass mailing or ads Be on the lookout all the time for prospects Link the organization’s mission, purpose, accomplishments with the prospect’s needs, desires, dreams, hopes, etc. What’s in it for them?

21. New member success

22. DISCUSSION: What role does the Board and staff have in helping new Board members be successful? 22

23. Full Orientation Spend as much time orienting as in the search Cover: Board manual Mission, vision, values History Roles & responsibilities of Board & staff

24. Full Orientation (cont.) Cover (cont.) Administrative calendar, major activities Organizational chart, list of current & planned committees How are meetings conducted, including relevant Roberts’ Rules of Order

25. Board member handbook History Mission/purpose/enabling statute or resolution Philosophy Methodology (how the organization works) Programs Services Management structure

26. Board member handbook (cont.) Staff & volunteer roles Recent meeting minutes Recent treasurer’s and financial reports Any pertinent legal documents Annual calendar of events Other information as needed

27. Other warm-up activities Provide board training Put them to work on a committee, project, or activity Hold annual team-building activity or retreat Ask the outgoing member to help them get started Assign a Board member “buddy”

28. Other warm-up activities (cont.) Be sure they receive meeting agendas Invite them to upcoming events Ask them to give a presentation Provide them with early feedback

29. Performance evaluations

30. DISCUSSION: What role might annual board performance evaluations play in determining recruitment needs? How would annual member evaluations strengthen the board? How can board and member evaluations be conducted and used? 30

31. Board & Member Evaluation One of the most powerful tools to stay current & engaged, and encourage member and Board enhancement Don’t need evaluation & training? Same as obese person saying (s)he doesn’t need advice about eating, already an expert

32. Board & Member Evaluation (cont.) Regular, short, practical Minimum of 15 minutes/year by each member to complete questionnaire & 30 minutes of discussion by Board can be transformational Best time - NOW

33. Board & Member Evaluation (cont.) Ten uses of evaluations: Assessing the ED Fundraising: inspire potential donors Recruiting: share successes & challenges Strategic planning: identify strengths, weakness, opportunities, threats Managing finances

34. Board & Member Evaluation (cont.) Ten uses of evaluations (cont.): Organizational assessment: are key functions supporting program delivery? Celebrating success Business planning Managing human resources: professional development & performance reviews Collaborating w/ other organizations

35. evaluations Sample evaluations at The Free Management Library Boards of Directors: http://managementhelp.org/boards/index.htm#anchor401144 Evaluation example handouts

36. references

37. Materials from: Numerous documents from The Free Management Library: http://managementhelp.org/ BoardSource: http://www.boardsource.org/