The Board Member’s Guide is an
excellent primer on board development.
The book should be especially helpful for community-based not-for-profits
who want and need capable board members.
The material was easily understood and can serve as a step-by-step guide
for this vital aspect of any organization’s growth.
I have been the founder of two long-term Boards and have served on numerous
others over the past two decades.
Some Boards were very experienced financially and organizationally, while others
tended to be naïve. I believe that you
have included points that could be effective with both ends of the spectrum. As the incoming President of
a sophisticated volunteer group, I have already used ideas from the book in
revamping our membership application and in planning sessions with the
organization’s special events fund-raising committee
The Board Member’s Guide includes
good ideas for developing agendas, dividing tasks between board and staff, and
board member recruitment. The
timeline on filing essential governmental documentation was especially helpful. Various organizations should find
the surveys and questionnaires valuable.
The chapter on "The Board President as Leader" was disappointing in its brevity.
Leadership is crucial to all organizations and I was especially interested in
learning more about being an effective visionary. Perhaps this key topic
is or will be the central focus of one of your other publications. [This key
topic is the focus of one of our other resources,
The President's Book.]
Congratulations on tackling a vital issue and making it accessible to board
members nationwide.
Joan Boyett
Former Vice President for Education
The Music Center
Performing Arts Center of
Los Angeles
County