Association Management articles from January 1999

Association Management archives from January 1999

Securing your own legacy of leadership.(succession in associations or volunteer groups)(President's Page)
January 1, 1999... Association executives piloting organizations of all sizes and in all areas of the world are pinpointing recruitment, development, and retention of motivated and committed volunteer leaders as challenges ranking among our most difficult....

Crisis management: consider a military model.(associations or nonprofit organizations)
January 1, 1999... Although Norman Schwarzkopf distinguished himself as a brilliant soldier for more than 30 years, he is best remembered for his flexibility and lightning responses in the Gulf War. Association leaders confronting unexpected events can do well by...

Time management: leaders share strategies.(volunteer leaders)
January 1, 1999... It's a given: Juggling the time demands that go hand-in-hand with elected leadership is quite the balancing act. Here's what three chief elected leaders of associations do to stay on course and on schedule. * "A strong belief in my...

Associations put muscle behind advocacy messages: AAA Awards hail heroes of association philanthropy.(profile of 1998 Summit Award recipients and qualifiers to the Associations Advance America Awards)
January 1, 1999... Associations representing every patch of America's quilt are taking the initiative to make the world a better place to live. And for the eighth consecutive year, ASAE cites their successes with its coveted Associations Advance America (AAA)...

Leading through conflict, competition, and change.(account of management experiences of three volunteer leaders)
January 1, 1999... Three leaders tell of ways in which they avoid the dangers - and capitalize on the challenges - of three particularly prickly issues. If you serve as a volunteer leader long enough, sooner or later you'll have to maneuver through the...

The character of your leadership.(determinants of leadership style and quality)
January 1, 1999... Your leadership character is defined by your values, beliefs, and assumptions, as well as the work you choose to do and how you do it. "Character kept is much easier than character recovered." These eight simple words of Thomas Paine...

Promoting the partnership paradigm.(tips in forging a close bond between chief elected officers and top staff officers of an association or nonprofit organization)
January 1, 1999... HERE ARE 25 TIPS FOR BONDING BETWEEN A CHIEF ELECTED LEADER AND THE ASSOCIATION'S TOP STAFF EXECUTIVE. A close, harmonious, team-like relationship between the people in an association s top two leadership positions is essential to...

Your role as board catalyst and morale builder.(responsibilities of chief elected officers of associations)
January 1, 1999... As chief elected officer, you can motivate board members to work together by first understanding and acknowledging how each is different. When the newest edition of a popular dictionary came out a few months ago, National Public Radio s All...

Being strategic: what it takes for a board to plan - and make decisions - strategically.(board of directors in associations or nonprofit organizations)
January 1, 1999... Too often I've watched the enthusiasm and energy of a board of directors wilt into confusion and subsequent paralysis, despite the existence of what might look like a solid association strategic plan. It takes less than a full board meeting to...

You're next in line for the top.(preparations for assuming the chief elected officer position)
January 1, 1999... You've got 12 months to prepare for becoming next year's chief elected officer. Here's a monthly planning guide to help you gear up for the top leadership role. Congratulations. You've just been installed as your association's number two...

Linking performance assessment to the strategic plan.(tips in evaluating the accomplishments of an association)
January 1, 1999... To achieve key objectives throughout the association, leaders can rely on performance-based criteria that are directly connected to the strategic plan. In today's challenging business environment, associations must become more...

Developing future leaders.(leadership fellows program of the New York State Nurses Association)
January 1, 1999... HOW ONE ASSOCIATION USES A FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM TO ATTRACT AND DEVELOP NEW VOLUNTEER LEADERS. Natural leaders emerge in association work; an organization needs only to identify these individuals and get them started. Right? Not anymore. ...

Elevating the discourse of your board.(unleashing the creativity of board directors)
January 1, 1999... Engage your board members in a discourse on issues of importance to the profession or industry they represent, and watch their energy levels rise. Are your fellow, board members bored with or disconnected from the organization s mission?...

Conference call protocol.(operation techniques)
January 1, 1999... Tips for conducting a conference call still a convenient and efficient way to convene a small group. Volunteer leaders these days do not lack communication options. With technology developing and refining new methods every day, often your...

The changing face of associations.(trends and forecasts for nonprofit organizations)
January 1, 1999... A 1998 environmental scan by ASAE and the ASAE Foundation provides a road map for looking at how the future may unfold. Take a moment to reflect on what your board does during its meetings. Consider how much time is spent investigating how...

First things you need to know about your association.(Board Primer)(board directors of nonprofit organizations)
January 1, 1999... The mission, structure, operations, and other organizational aspects that a board member must learn early on. You have been an active member in your association and perhaps have served in a leadership capacity on a committee. You consider...

Board rules of engagement: determining how board members will behave.(Board Primer)
January 1, 1999... In 1996, the Ontario Dental Association, Toronto, transitioned to a new model of governance that created a new board of directors. With the assistance of a consultant, one of the first actions of the new board was establishing a set of...

Ensuring volunteer protection: steps for limiting liability for volunteer leaders.(Board Primer)
January 1, 1999... One question inevitably asked by the elected leaders of nonprofit associations is whether their volunteerism exposes them to personal liability. While risk of exposure does exist, as a volunteer, you should have relatively little personal...

Legal guidance for the chief elected officer: understanding your unique role and your fiduciary duties.(Board Primer)
January 1, 1999... As a volunteer leader and member of the association board of directors, the chief elected officer is subject to the basic fiduciary. obligations of all association directors. However, the chief elected officer, as the leader of the board of...

Matching parliamentary procedure to needs.(Board Primer)(includes related article on books about parliamentary operation)(approach in governing associations)
January 1, 1999... Determine the best level of governing procedure for your association Does the way your association conducts board meetings hinder, rather than facilitate, business? Do meetings get bogged down by procedural fights to the exclusion of...

Governance by policy.(Board Primer)(importance of policy-making in the operation of associations)
January 1, 1999... A policy manual can define and help guide your governance process. Volunteer-helper? Watchdog? Neither is the role of the board. An effective board acts as the association's trustee-owner, a role focused on policy. Policy governance is an...

Board meeting agendas: advice for organizing meeting topics and time.(Board Primer)
January 1, 1999... A board meeting agenda is a road map to a predetermined destination. It's a tool to help the presiding officer chauffeur participants to achieve the work of an organization. As chief elected officer, you can organize your meeting agendas by...

Writing a mission statement.(Board Primer)(associations)
January 1, 1999... How to capture the essence of your association in a well-written statement. A good mission statement expresses an association's reason for being, conveys the association's identity, and articulates purpose, focus, and direction. Such a...

Basics of association budgeting.(Board Primer)(financial management)
January 1, 1999... Help in understanding the financial picture. As a board member, one of your most important responsibilities is to ensure that the association implements its mission and strategic plan on an operational level. Your involvement in reviewing...

Your role in membership recruitment and retention.(Board Primer)(volunteer leaders)
January 1, 1999... How volunteers contribute to attracting and keeping members. While staff roles in an association's membership development and retention efforts are usually welldocumented and understood, the roles that volunteer leaders can and do play in...

How to select high-caliber volunteers: qualities to look for in new recruits.(Board Primer)
January 1, 1999... Competition is driving associations to become more sophisticated in their business operations. Boards are pushing top-paid staff to become more entrepreneurial and bottom-line oriented. In light of these demands, one of the main issues...

Ten steps for organizing your year: a get-in-gear guide for chief elected officers.(Board Primer)
January 1, 1999... So few months, so many constituents to satisfy. And so many committees, task forces, projects, and strategies. How can you possibly keep them all straight and get it all done? Here are 10 steps you can take to organize your year, maintain your...

Leadership training for leaders: how training can help you meet your goals.(Board Primer)
January 1, 1999... You've proven yourself professionally and have been volunteering your knowledge, experience, and expertise within your association for years. As you now assume a leadership position, you wonder if those same skills that have served you...

Preparing proper minutes of association meetings.(Column)
January 1, 1999... Meeting minutes represent more than a mere record of proceedings. Legal requirements dictate they be prepared in a precise format. The minutes of an association meeting comprise a permanent record of what occurred at the meeting and an...