Power of Presence
As I sat outside my Uncle Jim’s hospice room, I talked to many people who came to say their goodbyes – they were colleagues, golfing buddies, and of course family. As I sat with them in the waiting room, I…
Read More
How Many Times can you Wish Your Leadership “Happy New Year!” in a Year?
"Happy new year!" I love saying this. The new year brings the opportunity for growth, renewal, and in some cases a reset. As we just turned the calendar to a new year, I got to thinking about the significance of this and the opportunities that we have to wish our staff and volunteer leaders a happy new year.
Read MoreWhich Way? The Strategic Way!
Think of a location across town, a grocery store, for example. There is probably more than one way to get there. There’s a short way, a long way, the scenic way, and the way with the most traffic, etc. None…
Got a Minute?
A basic guide for writing regular and executive session minutes
Read MoreExpensive vs Valuable
Anyone who knows me knows I love a trip to the nail salon. I not only like the finished look, but I enjoy the experience. When I get my nails done (fingers and toes!), I want a spa experience. As…
The Big Drought: COVID’s Toll on Volunteer Engagement and Recruitment
I was surprised to learn that although the group of professionals participating in this meeting were from a broad range of association industries, they had ALL been feeling a shortage of volunteers. So, before our time ended, I thought it prudent to...
Read MoreUse of Position Titles in Minutes
How many of y’all are using first and last name only in your meeting minutes? Or gasp! First name only? Stop it! I know, I know, you have a fun group and making this too formal might stifle things. But…
Better Use of Board and Committee Time
How do Boards let their committees know about actions that came out of a Board meeting? Well, some Boards have committee chairs who sit on the Board. For example, the Director of Membership is likely a Board member and the…
Motion Making Basics
Ack! You’ve got your first meeting coming up and you haven’t the slightest clue about making a motion! Not to worry. While advance motion making can be complex, most people and meetings don’t operate at that level. So, let’s go…
Hierarchy of Documents
Documents, documents and more documents! There are so many important documents that guide a non-profit, but what if there’s conflict between them? Well, firstly, there shouldn’t be, but if there is, then default to the hierarchy! You may find the…
Managing the Big Ideas
As the Executive Director, President, or lead volunteer, you are regularly approached by people with “good ideas” that the association should take on. Managing these requests are essential to avoid mission creep but to also avoid squashing enthusiasm. The idea…