Serving Members’ Best Interests Benefits From A Constructive Partnership
When directors, supervisory committee members and executives collaborate effectively, members benefit. I spent the better part of my career working in the nonprofit sector. I like to say that I’ve had every job from executive assistant to executive director. And I loved every minute. When you work for a nonprofit—any kind of nonprofit—you do it…
Read MoreParity In The Boardroom Takes Patience, Planning And Process
But putting in the effort can definitely make a difference. I have to admit I’m not a big fan of publications like Advancing Women. I mean, I’m honored to write for it, but why, after all these years, do we still have to have special publications with a special focus on advancing women? I mean,…
Read MoreBuilding Your Associate Board Member Program, From The Philosophy Up
The groundwork for success includes a commitment from the start. The debate over the best governance practices for board succession rages on. It is a routine topic in every single engagement and interview we conduct. The issues of diversity and term limits are especially prominent lately, and the daunting task of building the board of…
Read MoreWomen In Football, Politics And Credit Union Boardrooms
It’s important to prioritize and value diversity. It’s Super Bowl Sunday as I write this, and it’s snowing at my home in New Hampshire. My husband has made a big batch of his famous mac and cheese, and we have a fire roaring in our wood stove in the ell. (Unless you’re from New England,…
Read MoreTransitions Of Power
Reimagining Your Board Meetings
To make your gatherings more effective and engaging, first look at the real reasons boards meet. Leaders everywhere seem to be asking the question, “How do we make our board meetings more effective and more engaging?” To answer that question, I think you have to first look at the real reasons that boards meet. To…
Read MoreTaking Action On Credit Unions’ No. 1 Director Recruitment Priority: Diversity.
The credit union and women’s movements are clearly doing something right. But we still have a long way to go. The day after Kamala Harris was picked by Joe Biden as his running mate, I was talking with a colleague of mine about his choice. I have to note that the colleague in question is…
Read MoreRIP RBG: The Thin, Strong String That Ties Women Together
Our foremothers paved the way for us; now we pave the way for the women now coming of age. This was written by the author Saturday morning, after the passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. I’ve been thinking about all of the stories of the strong women in my family today. This day. The day after…
Read MoreEmbracing our New (Virtual) Reality
I saw an interview recently in which author, American diplomat and former State Department official Richard Haas observed that the COVID-19 pandemic is not so much a turning point for our society, but an accelerant. His comments alluded to the idea that trends only just beginning to emerge before the pandemic, have been “fast-tracked” and…
Read MoreGovernance Committee – If You Don’t Have One, Get One!
Every now and then we are asked why governance committees are such a good idea, and it’s a good reminder to us not to take for granted that everyone knows or even shares our opinion. But, we think that they could be the most important committee your organization can have, so, in the immortal words…
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