Governing for Results: A Director's Guide to Good Governance
By Mel D. Gill, president of Synergy Associates; 184 pages; published by Trafford Publishing
Canada is home to more than 160,000 charities and nonprofits, some of which are more than 100 years old, and each one is required to have a board of directors. Even without doing the math, it's safe to say that millions of Canadians have volunteered to serve as board members. And although (hopefully!) most know that the position requires much more than gathering around the board table every few weeks, people often accept the role of board member without knowing what it really involves. Unfortunately, many organizations are also ill equipped to offer the proper orientation, or worse, don't really understand what their board's responsibilities are either. It need not be that way, and thanks to Mel Gill's new book, there is no reason why every board in Canada can't be Governing for Results.
Although it is labelled as 'a director's guide to good governance', the author doesn't stop there. Aside from explaining governance basics, he covers the seven primary areas of board responsibility, how to structure the board and committees, and how boards should function. The book is comprehensive, well researched, and chock-full of essential resources to strengthen boards so they can help organizations operate effectively and reach their full potential.
Whether it's a sample meeting agenda, an oath of confidentiality agreement, or a template for financial monitoring, you'll find it all here. Another appealing feature of Gill's book is that, as an Ottawa-based consultant, he uses interesting real-world case illustrations from a variety of nonprofit organizations across the country. He also addresses issues and requirements specific to Canada's nonprofit sector. Canadian content aside, Governing for Results is a thorough and accessible offering that is destined to become a must-read resource for board members and the organizations they serve.
Buy the book:
Canada: buy through Amazon.ca: CDN$37.24
International: buy through Amazon.com: US$30.40
