The ABCs of Board Orientation
A template for adaptation by your
association
Things to think about before
you begin….
Time of year
Length of session
Participants
•
•
•
•
Directors
Staff?
Committee leadership?
Others?
Speakers?
•
•
•
•
•
•
Past Presidents
Community leaders
Senior staff
State reps.
Outside consultants
Others?
Include:
• Either in a packet or links to your intranet on
your association’s website (or both”)
– Strategic plan
– Bylaws and policies
– Committee descriptions and rosters
– Staff roles and roster
– Calendars
– Key websites
– Parliamentary procedure charts
Icebreaker
Begin with some type of icebreaker that
provides for introductions of everyone
with some personal information included
Organizational Review
The ThreeWay
Agreement
Highlights
of Services
Key
Websites
Trademark
Mission/Vision
Website
Key Strategic
Objectives
Location(s)
Business Plans
Staff
Bylaws
Policies and
procedures
Association structure/reporting process
Committee
structure
Delegation
Appointment
process
Budgeting and Financial Review
• Developing & managing the budget
– Relationship to plan
– Percentage of staff time
– Estimated direct expense/income
– When will money be spent? Plan for
liquidity
– How to Read a Financial Statement
Financial statements
What to look for?
• Variances
• Liquidity/cash flow
• Projections/forecasts
• Progress of
programs/plans
Were your
objectives
met?
If not
why
not?
Should this be
continued as
is?
Questions to
ask?
All input
required
Should this be
discontinued?
Should this be
continued, but
modified?
evaluating your programs and
products
Leadership Roles/Responsibilities
The Board’s Duties
DEFINING
PURPOSE:
WHY ARE WE
HERE AND WHAT
DO WE DO?
Strategic and business plans
Planning programs, products & services
• Tie to initial plans
• Develop shorter term plans
• Determine staff and other resources
• Delegate
• Develop related budget
• Require accountability
• Report frequently
Obedience
Reasonable
care
Loyalty/Conflicts of
interest
Disclosure
Accounting
Confidentiality
Liability
Antitrust
• price-fixing,
• boycotting
• tying
agreements
NAR E & O
WORKING
WITH STAFF
Evaluating the CEO
Working as a team
Micromanagement
Expectations
Position
descriptions
Role of the Board of Directors in Ethics Enforcement
PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS
RESPONSIBILITIES
When, how, where
COMMUNICATION
PRACTICES/EXPECTATIONS
With membership, community, committees, more
BEING ENGAGED
Fair share, other award levels, directors’
commitment expected
RPAC AND CALLS TO ACTION
ROLE IN THE
COMMUNITY
Expectations
Spokesperson Policy
Ambassadors
MEETINGS
Calendar
• Key association
meetings
– Directors/mem
bership/other
• Special events
• State meetings
• NAR meetings
EFFECTIVE MEETINGS
Key points for board meetings
• Review standard directors’ agenda
• Review agenda and materials prior to
meetings
• Participate – healthy disagreement is good!
• Honor confidentiality
• Egos
• Consensus-building
Call the
question!!
BASIC
PARLIAMENTARY
PROCEDURE
The key motions
Making
motions
“Calling the
question”
Amending
motions
Referring to
committee
Substitute
motions
Postponing
motions
RECRUITING
NEW LEADERS
How we do it here:
Other Ideas for recruitment
Let members know what
you’re looking for
Matching skills and
strategic direction
Evaluations of events
(goals & skills)
Nominating committees/
applications
Create a
database of
skills and
background
REALTORS®, are you looking for an introduction to getting involved
in your local or state REALTOR® association?
AEs, are you looking for a comprehensive tool for
training potential leadership? Introducing the REALTORS®
Excelling in Association Leadership (REAL)
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altor-leadership-program-rlp