You have been nominated and are now a newly appointed board member. You were either recruited for your skillset or you volunteered for this position because you have a passionate desire to make an impact in your field. Now it’s time to learn how to effectively contribute and see [...]
The last 14-months have felt more like a daily one-hundred-meter dash rather than a marathon. While I am no runner, I prefer the steady pace of a marathon. But, like most association leaders, I can handle the occasional sprint. During the pandemic, we have missed the personal connections and [...]
Board orientation manuals are crucial to all association board members. A board orientation manual is the ultimate resource for existing board members and should always be presented to new board members as an important component of training them for their new volunteer position. Manuals should include everything a board [...]
Many volunteer board leaders have noticed that no matter how much hard work they contribute, the outcome does not reflect the long hours they are putting in. Association work never stops. Especially during this pandemic. Correspondence keeps piling up and the emails are flying in. No matter how much [...]
Without seeing one another in-person, building connections is a difficult thing to do. How do you find the future leaders for your association while using Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or GoToMeetings? The Past Art of Connecting The way we connect with each other has changed in 2020 and the opportunities [...]
Throughout the past year, we have placed health and safety as the highest priority. However, we must remain vigilant of privacy concerns amidst the measures we take to protect our staff and clients. Recently, Andrew Buck, a partner at Pitblado Law in Winnipeg gave a webinar presentation on issues [...]
Our Passions Give us Purpose People volunteer for associations to contribute to a cause that directly impacts their community. It is their passion to impact the world in a way that will improve it for themselves and those in their family, community, city, province, or country. Volunteers are [...]
Going about our regular routine during COVID-19 is challenging since the only constant right now is change. As an association leader, you are likely a volunteer who may be working outside of regular work hours. Therefore, it can be hard for the association leader to stay organized. Currently, there [...]
Delegating tasks to both association volunteers and staff is a primary role of association leaders. Considering that delegation is integral in the day-to-day work in associations, can we then assume that association leaders are good at it? The answer is, not necessarily. Delegation is not a skill that most [...]
Whether you are the Chair of an association board of directors, or the chief staff officer (Executive Director), facilitating tough conversations at the board level isn’t always easy. The best way to handle tough conversations is through open and transparent dialogue and, whenever possible, by arranging face to face [...]
