Why I serve on boards

The last two Thursday nights have been special.

Last week it was a donor appreciation event at 541 Eatery & Exchange in Hamilton which was preceded by the founding board of directors meeting as 541 becomes an independent charity after being found and developed as a ministry of Compass Point Bible Church. I am privileged to be board chair.

Last night it was the 60th Anniversary celebration of Shalem Mental Health Network following the Annual General Meeting where I was welcomed back to the board after a hiatus.

I love these organizations.

541 is a sanctuary location in a challenged neighbourhood. It strives to be a safe place where both affordable food (including a “button cafe” model) and a sense of diverse community are intentionally offered.

Shalem provides a range of programs aimed at restoring hope for all who struggle with mental health through both skilled professionals and empowered communities.

There are other ways I could be involved. I’m a donor to both. Both have participated in leadership programs I’ve delivered in the past. I could volunteer in some programs.

But I choose to give my time as a board member.

There are many reasons, but at the heart of it is that this role brings together some of my abilities with a deep sense of satisfaction.

I’m a governance nerd. I have a shelf full of books on the topic and, while I take no pleasure in administrative minutiae, I have an understanding of what makes a board effective and how to get there. I am convinced that board work is poorly understood (even by board members in too many cases) and generally unappreciated.

Also, serving on the board gives me a perspective on each organization that I find fascinating. Keeping a high level perspective on the charity’s health, finances, and strategy while staying close enough to appreciate the operational realities and stories of impact is a wonderful insight.

And I love being a supportive resource to our lead staff.

I think every charity executive should have the experience of serving on a board. It will give you an understanding of the world outside your own organization, give back to the sector, and make you better able to interact with you own board.

Jim Brown’s book “The Imperfect Board Member” has been the best single resource for effective boards since it was first published in 2006. It is required reading for the boards I chair. I also have a workshop called 5 Questions Healthy Board Can Answer that both novice and experienced directors continually find valuable.

I’m not serving on any other boards at this point so I guess I’ll have to find something else to do next Thursday…

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