Tips For Improving your Associations Board Relations Strategies

During a recent LSAE Peer-to-Peer Workshop, we discussed the popular topic of board relations. Typically, your board of directors is composed of a representation of your membership, and each board member has their own personality, agenda, and way of communicating, which always keep us on our toes. Depending on the organization, board members can change annually, biannually or never. One thing is for sure: We all have our own challenges with our board of directors. Here are five great take away ideas from our discussion we hope can help you as you interact with your board of directors.

1. Conduct a Board Orientation 
This may look different for each association. Some conduct this annually with all their board members and others may only facilitate this with new, incoming members. Either way, it can be a great refresher for even the veteran board member. ASAE, Bob Harris and others have great resources when it comes to board orientations. Here are a few recommendations that came out of our discussion: 

Board Binder 
Provide a board orientation binder with a copy of association documents (bylaws, articles of incorporations, strategic plan, budget etc.), job description, contact information for other board members and staff. 

Ice Breaker Ahead of Time 
Get to know each other! One of our members sends a few questions to her board members before the meeting, then sets up a PowerPoint presentation with the information to play at the start of the orientation or meeting. Each individual gets a slide with their picture, contact information, and a fun tidbit about them that no one may know about them. This allows you to control the time of introductions and move the meeting along efficiently.

2. Board Development 
One of the many challenges we all face is finding recruits to serve on our board. Sharing job descriptions and time commitment is important when encouraging individuals to join your board so they understand the expectations of serving, but finding qualified and willing individuals seems to be the bigger challenge. Here are a few great ideas for cultivating the new and younger generation that may be looking to get involved.
 
Young Professionals Committee 
It seems to be a trend in most associations that we are seeing a younger generation begin to come into our professions slowly joining associations and try to get involved. While we may refer to our initiatives in different ways, the common effort surrounding our board development is establishing committees of young professionals that allow them to network with others and learn more. Some associations even allow the chairman of their young professionals committee have a seat on the board of directors. 
 
New Member Classes 
Another great idea that was shared was to have new members that join in the same year establish their own “class”that spends the year getting to know each other and the organization together facilitated by a veteran member. For many well-established associations, new members may feel intimidated when they first attend an event where they don’t know anyone. A “New Member Class” may allow new members to gather and interact in different ways with others that are starting at the beginning too.
&3. Conduct a Board Performance Review 
It’s typical to see a staff performance review, but have you conducted a board performance review? A board self-assessment ensures that boards are fulfilling their duties and responsibilities and that appropriate processes are in place to ensure that they are giving due diligence to planning and oversight of the organization. Sending out a performance review to your board ahead of time allows them to make these evaluations then discuss it together as a board. 
 
4. Recognize Your Volunteers 
Let’s be real, good volunteers are hard to find and even harder to keep. We may tell them thank you and send them that nice canned thank you note after an event. But are we really showing them how much we appreciate them? ASAE has a wonderful weeklong program dedicated to recognizing their volunteers. 

Here are a few ideas that we took away from this program: 

• Develop a social media campaign to highlight work of you volunteers. Highlight how much time they spend volunteering for this activity. You can also create a simple form with a few questions for the volunteer to answer about themselves then use that information in your campaign. 
• Take time to write recommendations on your volunteers LinkedIn page. An unsolicited and valuable recommendation on a LinkedIn can& be a wonderful way to show appreciation in an unexpected way. 
• Send a handwritten note of gratitude. Especially in this technology driven world, a handwritten note these days is a wonderful way to show you took the time to not just send an email but write a note. This personal expression shows that someone else is important and valuable to you. 
• Make a post card before a virtual meeting that members can write a note of gratitude on then hold up during the virtual meeting for your volunteer. 

5. Send your Incoming President or Board Members a Swag Bag 
This was a fun idea from Bob Harris that was shared. A swag bag equipped with resources for your board, and maybe a few fun items, can help them be prepared for the year ahead and show your appreciation for them serving on your board. A gavel Perfect Board Primer& book, parliamentary procedure cheat sheet, were just a few items that we discussed including in this special bag.

About LSAE Peer-to-Peer Workshops 
LSAE facilitates regular Peer-to-Peer Workshops that encourage professional's discussion and learning from each other's experiences& that is typically led by an expert on the topic who facilitates meaningful discussions. Our workshops are typically informal and held in-person or virtually. If you have a recommendation for a Peer-to-Peer topic, please email info@lsae.org. 

About LSAE 
LSAE is an association comprised of chief executive officers and top staff of many different types of associations across Louisiana - business, trade, professional and convention and visitors bureaus. The mission of LSAE is to provide an promote programs and services for members which enhance their ability to successfully manage association with competence and integrity; to create an environment that facilitates fellowship and the exchange of information; and to enhance public understanding of the role of the professional association executive. LSAE’s vision is to remain an indispensable resource for its membership.