Happy New Year!

Here is a special note to all of my friends and colleagues that work for nonprofits. 

I know that you are working long hours -  compensated mostly by  the satisfaction (or suspicion) that you are making a difference.  You sacrifice sleep, recreation and sometimes your health to reach just one more child,  student, family.  You don't often allow yourself to reflect on all that you have accomplished because there is still so much more work to do.  You do the work of a whole team - you are the president, counselor, secretary, operator, messenger. 

Well from me to all of you - Thank you for all that you do.  You are  appreciated.  Your work is valued.    I hope in the new year, your hours are shorter, your list of accomplishments longer and the lives of the people you touch better.

Does your Board Operate on Red Alert?: Boardsource Leadership Forum

Last week I traveled to the Boardsource Leadership Forum in Orlando.  The two-day conference brought together board members, CEO's, consultants and management service organizations working on developing board capacity.

Although Linda Crompton, Boardsource President and CEO, referred to the recent economic downturn in her opening remarks, the crisis did not loom over the conference as it had the Independent Sector conference just a few weeks before.  There are several possible reasons for this. 

Could it be that the sector has incorporated the economic crisis into its new reality?  Have we accepted that we need to operate in a "Brave New (Slightly Poorer) World"? 

Or is it that how a Board works shouldn't change based on whether the economy has taken a nosedive?   One conference session dealt with exactly that subject.  Recognizing that boards often do their best work when faced with crisis, the session explored different ways to get the board to always work at this high level of effectiveness. 

When is your board at its best?  What is it doing that makes it so effective?