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How to Staff and Support a Committee
Is staffing a committee more like herding cats or like herding turtles? Actually it’s more like Dancing with the Stars.An important skill for nonprofit managers is knowing how to support a committee of volunteers, such as an Advisory Committee, a Board …
How to Have a Board Meeting By Telephone
Your board meeting is Thursday evening. On Wednesday you start getting the calls. One board member is home recuperating from surgery. Another is traveling. Yet another can’t spare the time to drive in for the meeting. Can they call in via conference ca …
How to Schedule a Nonprofit Meeting: Point of Vu
Our humor columnist, Vu Le, comments on the joys of meeting scheduling. But first, a cartoon about meetings from Planet 501c3: As a field, we have a lot of meetings. And we totally suck at scheduling them. Each week, I get at least a doze …
And Now for a Different Type of Board Agenda
Board meeting time is deeply precious time, and the fulcrum of board-staff opportunity or disappointment. Let's be smarter about how we use it. Bonus: board meeting cartoon at end of article.Every third Tuesday, or maybe four Wednesdays a year, a n …
What’s the Right Size for the Board?
Dear Blue Avocado: We have 18 board members, but we are wondering if we should try to keep such a large board. At our upcoming board and senior staff retreat we will be discussing what size our board should be to be most effective. Help!! …
Questions to Ask Prospective Board Members
A coffee date isn’t a good idea only for beginning, tentative romances. A coffee or lunch date is an easy way to meet with individuals who may be good candidates for your nonprofit board. If you spend a few minutes ahead of time thinking about wh …
Nonprofit Personnel Files — A Guide from Ask Rita
Dear Rita: We've never paid too much attention to our personnel files, but we've just entered a contract with the county and we think it's time for us to get our act together on this. I know we need a personnel file for each employee …
Should Staff Contact with the Board Be Restricted?
Not all nonprofit organizations need or have paid staff. But in those that do, a frequently thorny issue is that of direct contact between staff and board members: Should board members have contact with staff independent of the executive directo …
The 7 x 7 Board Member Briefing
Very often the only time a board member is given the "microphone" at a board meeting is when he or she is making a committee report. But wait a minute! Why do we ask people onto boards because of their knowledge and perspectives, but never gi …
Endorsing Candidates. Illegal. How to Do It.
Perhaps the most effective way to bring about social change is to elect the right people. Yet nonprofit 501c3 organizations are prohibited from supporting or opposing candidates running for office. Some long-time nonprofit practices address …
