1. Board Orientation
Fact or Fluff?

2. President Ament Associates Inc.
By Ross Ament, MA, CAE
President
Ament Associates Inc.

3. Need Cost of poor governance Board work requires: Group process skills
Courage
Knowledge of policies
How to use those policies to create an aligned organization

4. Components Focus on Training rather than Orientation
Training implies development
Orientation implies alignment
Focus on process rather than event

5. Components
Training
Policy Handbook
Board member manual

6. Purpose Build capacity – Develop board leadership Build team
Clarify board authority
Avoid pitfalls
Review policies

7. Build Capacity Shared, intended outcomes
Aspirational expressions
Positive Outcomes
Starting at the end, not the beginning
Developing future board leadership

8. Build Team Capacity of leaders & staff to achieve goals
Emphasize need for both visionaries and functionaries
Goal is to create a balanced team
Create board member understanding of staff members skills that complement and balance those of volunteers

9. Clarify Board Authority
Duty of care
Duty of loyalty
Duty of obedience
Articles of incorporation
Bylaws
Budget
Strong overview, not line item level

10. Avoid Pitfalls Importance of organization’s mission Communication
Micromanagement
Take a cultural tour
Easier said than done

11. Review Policies Policy book How does the association work?
Who takes the lead in board-staff dynamic?
Will staff call the board members or vice versa?
Who sets the priorities?
Who upgrades a project from “important” to “urgent”?
What is most common medium for exchange?

12. Review Policies Are timelines respected or ignored?
How does the association’s leadership and staff maintain momentum toward their stated outcomes?

13. Expectations Expectations of the leadership of new board members
Expectation of the new board members of the leadership

14. When? Before their first board meeting
Make orientation part of “Agreement to serve”

15. How? More than just one hour At least half-day Board officers
Past Board Chairs
Executive Director
Key staff

16. What Board Manual Bylaws Articles of Incorporation
Description of Programs & Services
Current Budget
Last audited financial statement
List of board members & addresses
List of committees & any staff assignments
Copies of minutes for last year
Copy of organization’s strategic plan
Action Plan

17. What Concise Agenda Name tags Name tents
Opportunity to volunteer for committees
Policy Book

18. Board Orientation Most important at conceptual level
Leadership Orientation
Exciting, challenging, stimulating
A singular event that can advance your association

19. Board Orientation
Can you and your association not afford to conduct one?