By Bill Pawlucy, CAE and BJ Colvin A high functioning, strategic board requires the ability for it to be introspective and capable of self-reflecting on its overall performance. It is by no means an easy task to accomplish regardless of the board’s size or composition. Let’s consider the difficulty staff often encounter when conducting self-evaluations…
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Rules of order are essential to any governing body. They give structure and guidance where other governing documents may fall short. That does not mean we should put them on a pedestal and reference them for every action taken. Nor should they be referenced every time a motion needs to be made or hinder forward…
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Two board members walk out of the association’s planning session. One of them says, “Great session but who’s going to do the work?” The other board member offers, “I don’t really know but those cookies were amazing!” Too often there is no good understanding and closure around the roles of governance and management after a…
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“If my association went for a health checkup today, there would be some serious health issues”, said a president of a large healthcare association. As the economy moves to recovery, consider taking the association’s vital signs, just like a doctor takes body temperature, respiratory rate, and blood pressure. In this case, taking the vitals of…
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“In the long-run, members will judge their organization for how it responded.” -Bob Harris, CAE, May 2020 I asked an elected president of a large association how she felt about serving during the pandemic. She answered, “This is a great opportunity. It takes real leadership by our team to get through this and make…
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Written by Bob Harris, CAE and William Pawlucy, CAE Click Here to View or Download the Full PDF After a devastating weather event neighbors emerge in shock, asking “are you okay?” Recovery starts fast. You hear the chainsaws clearing driveways and streets. Piles of rubble begin to line sidewalks. A weather event…
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Written by Bill Pawlucy, CAE and Bob Harris, CAE These are the words of association executives panicked by the pandemic’s financial havoc. “Our conference is canceled, accounting for a 50 percent loss of revenue; what do we do now?” “We may lose 25 percent of our members and that will put our finances…
Read MoreWhat are the things all nonprofits should be doing right now during this crisis? One of the first things is to stay calm. Your members trust and need you! With panic, a freeze sets in. Focus on solutions rather than things your association can’t control. Download the infographic below via the link for the other…
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By Bob Harris, CAE and Bill Pawlucy, CAE Now is the time to demonstrate strength, leadership and strategy. Members expect to hear confidence and solutions from their association. Associations have always been resilient, during wars, recessions and crisis. Boards and staff should portray a positive, “can-do” attitude. Position chief elected officer and executive director as…
Read MoreA project is an activity with a specific goal in mind and a clear beginning and end. Unlike ongoing services and operations, a project will end, ideally, with the accomplishment of the stated goal. Identifying clear goals and establishing a project plan is critical to effective utilization of resources. It is important that the following…
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