Governance Process

"Process Orientation - makes decisions and seeks outcomes by consistent application of a logical sequence of agreed steps."

Process. Process. Process.

Good process that results in decisions of quality is the responsibility of the Chair.

Managing Change

Included here are the six core processes that allow an organization to manage change.

The Chair - No Voice, No Vote

Addresses qualities in a board chair that will help to guarantee a high quality decision.

The Board Chair and Accountability

"Lack of accountability is arguably the most significant problem in Christian organizations..."

How Boards Accumulate Wisdom

Governing boards store principles in policies. That's how they accumulate wisdom.

Governance is Like Parenthood

Another example of how governance differs from management.

Whose Vision Is It?

"A Vision Statement is a component of the strategic plan of an organization."

Suppressing Information in Minutes

Some thoughts on how to address this delicate issue.

What Minutes Should Include

Here are a few principles to meet the needs for documentation of decisions and of the discussion that produced them.

Terminating a Board Member's Position

Issues when considering the dismissal of a board member.

Who is in Charge of Investments?

A discussion on how the board should handle investment considerations.

About Nominating Committees

This touches on a sensitive issue relating to board accountability.

Boards Can Learn From Mistakes

"It is very healthy for a board to revisit its decisions."

Board Member Travel Expenses

"It is entirely legal to recover expenses for board travel."

In Camera Board Meetings

When to have one? Who should come to one? Who should be asked to leave?

Discussion surrounding closed sessions of the board

"...they may be designed to put at a disadvantage the person or persons who are being excluded.

Should Board Members Profit?

An interesting case with a potential conflict of interest.

Setting Limits for Length of Board Service

Is the "old boys club" running your board?

Board Confidentiality

A discussion regarding keeping the business of the board confidential.

CEO Reports

Suggestions on how the CEO should handle reporting.

Board Members Access to Past Minutes

Some thoughts on board members access to past minutes.

Strategic Planning Simplified

What exactly is Strategic Planning?

Bylaws and the Governance Manual

Info concerning the distinction between bylaws and a governance manual.

Monitoring and Managing

"The key is in having clear limitations and clear expectations."

Minutes and Daze

A further discussion on the handling of minutes.

What is Governance?

Les' definition of Governance.

Rubber Stamp Board

Bringing your Board back to a realization of its basic responsibility: governance.