Your nonprofit board members want to make a difference. Now’s the time to give them – and you – the training and tools to make it happen! Register today for The Board Series, a four-part workshop designed to deliver a real-life education that empowers nonprofit leaders to govern successfully…

Ok, not really. You can’t get the board of your dreams by pushing a button. You’ve got to work it! But we’ve created a better way: the Board Member Accelerator Series, a one-of-a-kind system created to engage and train young professionals to serve your entire community. And, really, isn’t that even better?

There can be an energy and excitement when adding new people to your board of directors. New skills! Fresh eyes! Eagerness and idealism! However, their eagerness and skills might not be fully utilized if their orientation and training as a board member falls short. How many of us have served on a board and not been entirely comfortable articulating its mission or programs?

While the term may be clichéd, the act of onboarding new employees and board members offers tremendous benefits to organizations of all types and sizes. Why is that? Because people like to feel included and can contribute best when they understand the culture, content and context of the organization they serve…

Pictured from left to right are Sara Best (of ASP), Brent Shimman, Jared Lafevre, Amy Hansen, Janet Bosserman, Ruth Ann Petroff, Jerry Mills, a guest board member, Judy Anderson, Kevin Mulder and Kate Smith (of ASP). Graduates not pictured are Drew Masse, Patty Wise, Tankeeya Butts, Kathy Godspedarek and Nancy Kimmell.

Organizations represented include Cancer Patient Services, Century Health, Children’s Mentoring Connection, Gliding Stars, Hope House for the Homeless, Hancock Historical Museum, the Hancock County Humane Society, NAMI, Special Kids Therapy and Women’s Resource Center.

Last week I was thrilled to find out that participants in The Board Series (TBS) hosted by the Columbus Foundation (Ohio) had already begun to put their new knowledge to use! Their list of observations below – accrued after just one session of the series – provides a great summary of some basic ways to improve the focus and function of any board…