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| Path: Main Street : Resources & Library : Research Articles : Feature Article |
Build your board from the bottom upJuly 2, 1997; Canadian FundRaiser
Board members that are recruited from committees have a stronger understanding of the organization and a deeper connection to it, according to Michael Burns, a board consultant who spoke at the recent Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education (CCAE) conference in Fredericton, New Brunswick. "To establish a board with a firm commitment to the organization, and a clear understanding of its workings, make it clear that the only way to join the board is to serve on a committee first," says Burns.
To recruit potential board members, offer them a very specific and highly targetted `thinking project' within one of your committees. Board recruitment projects might include a review of personnel policies or organizational bylaws. "Don't set them to work on events or busy-work projects," he explains. "If you eventually want to draw them onto the board, tie them into specific projects that will show you their skills in planning, evaluation, and broader governance issues."
"Also, give them something with a sunrise and a sunset," says Burns. That way, you can both evaluate your success at the conclusion of the project, and discuss whether they would like to become more involved in the future. You should be able to draw about 10 per cent of committee members up into the organization and, eventually, onto the board.
Committee-recruited boards are also an excellent way of gradually building greater ethnic, cultural, or gender diversity into your organization, again, from the ground up. "Drop one or two people in at the top," says Burns, "and they are likely to conform to the existing group, or quickly find a way to leave." If, however, you focus on diversity in your organization at every level, and draw board members up through the committee structure, they will build a stronger affinity to the organization and their place on the board will not appear as tokenism.
Recruiting from committees and encouraging potential board members to start as committee workers solidifies their commitment to the organization and allows them to develop relationships with senior staff on a low-risk level. One potential difficulty of boards drawn from committees, however, is that they tend to reflect the composition of previous boards. While this may be effective for stable organizations with a strong sense of mission and clear goals, it can also perpetuate the shortcomings of some boards. Committee-drawn boards tend to bring fewer new ideas and fresh perspectives to the board table. If, however, your goal is to build a strong board whose members have a comprehensive understanding of the organization, you should consider a committee-recruiting structure.
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