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Boards Gone Wrong!

Jun 10, 2019

How to do the Right Work as a Board Member

Are you on an association or nonprofit Board of Directors? Take a moment to reflect. Do you find yourself spending more time volunteering than you would like or think you should be? Are you on the edge of burnout? If so, you might be doing the wrong work.

You might be…

  • Ordering supplies.
  • Posting on the association’s social media accounts.
  • Doing basic accounting work.
  • Processing membership dues and event registrations.

If this sounds familiar, it’s time for an intervention.

What is the Real Job of a Board of Directors?

You serve on a Board because of your knowledge, wisdom, vision, and expertise…not because you want a second job! As a Board member, you should be focused on governance of the association: strategic planning, legal and financial oversight, risk management, and overall guidance of people and programs—just to name a few responsibilities.

You set the strategy of the association, and you oversee its execution. If you are managing day-to-day operations, you might be wasting your time.

To get a bit more technical, responsibilities of the Board usually include:

  • Developing a strategic plan for the association.
  • Updating the association’s mission and vision statements as necessary.
  • Approving all budgets.
  • Establishing organizational policies.
  • Creating resolutions and positions.
  • Appointing committees or taskforces as needed.
  • Remaining in compliance with state and federal laws.
  • Approving the IRS Form 990 prior to submission.
  • Hiring and evaluating an Executive Director and/or staff members. Many organizations turn to association management companies (AMC) like The Markens Group for hiring solutions.

Let Staff Do the Heavy Lifting

That’s right. It’s your job as a Board member to empower others to take care of day-to-day tasks. When member services, programs, event planning, accounting, and marketing are all managed by knowledgeable experts, your valuable time can be spent doing the work that you are meant to—leading the association.

Okay, we hear you: If I could afford to hire people to do these daily tasks, I would have done so already!

Many Boards face a similar problem. They may be able to hire one or two people, but these individuals may not have all the varied expertise it takes to run an association.

One solution is to consider an AMC for staffing needs. AMCs offer the time and knowledge of their experts in all of the aspects of association management—usually at a fraction of the cost it would take to hire all the inhouse staff you need.  

In this way, we’re here to help clear the path for you to do the important work for your association and spend less time doing it. Stop ordering supplies and spend more time on what matters. Bring your leadership and let us take care of the rest. From marketing and social media services to event planning and financial management, we can help fill the gaps or provide full-service support. Let’s connect today.

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