Some boards get a bad rap. Whether by staff, executive leadership, or even board leadership, they are assessed unfairly in their use of organizational information. At far ends of the continuum are two seemingly conflicting approaches: “they won’t read it,…
What happens when a board member makes a motion and it needs to be modified? What happens when another member brings up valid reasons to postpone acting on the motion? What if the board does not have enough information to make a decisive vote? In any of these situations, the vote can’t take place before…
The uniqueness of each organization and its board calls for flexibility surrounding parliamentary procedure. Incidental motions provide a way for members to take a strict view of the rules, to relax the rules when needed, and to establish a way to handle a particular matter. When a member makes a motion that is in direct…
Healthcare Providers face several challenges when selecting and using the services of an outside / third-party vendor that could potentially be in the position of having access to individuals’ ePHI (electronic Protected Health Information). As of December 2015, BoardEffect achieved HIPAA compliance, benefiting organizations that are required to safeguard this information under these guidelines.
Imagine a handbook that covers every possible board situation that could come up at any profit or nonprofit organization. The book would be volumes upon volumes. It’s for this reason that Robert’s Rules allows some room for organizations to be flexible, under certain circumstances, and with specific rules. Main motions are the primary mechanism that…
“Don’t worry, we’ll create an advisory board so you can stay involved,” says an incoming board chair to his predecessor. The not uncommon gesture is extended, of course, with enthusiasm, sincerity and best intentions. And the statement is posed as much as a question (to me) as a promise (to her). Then someone else on…
If you asked anyone how board members make and pass motions at a board meeting, most people could give the basic protocol for a main motion. A board member makes a motion; another member seconds it; the board chair calls for the yeas and nays; and the motion passes or fails. It sounds pretty simplistic,…
Is it better to have several vacant board seats than to have those same seats filled by ineffective board members? Is it better to risk giving a “yea” vote to a board candidate that could generate divisiveness among the board than to leave the seat vacant? There are no easy answers to either question. Yet,…
From scheduling events to approving consent agendas to completing board self-assessment surveys, technology makes it increasingly easier for board members to do their jobs. While access to timely information absolutely helps, it’s not everything. The key to ensuring optimal job performance by nonprofit board members is recognizing that board service is, in fact, a job.
As board members arrive at the board meeting, they may not be aware of how many hours the board secretary has already put in to prepare for the board meeting. The board secretary has five main duties to prepare for a board meeting:
©BOARDEFFECT 2025 • ALL RIGHTS RESERVED • PRIVACY POLICY