The ABCs of Board Orientation

The ABCs of Board Orientation

A template for adaptation by your association

PREPARATION

Things to think about before you begin….

Timing

Time of yearLength of session

Participants

• Directors• Staff?• Committee leadership?• Others?

Speakers?

• Past Presidents• Community leaders• Senior staff• State reps.• Outside consultants• Others?

Materials

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

What should you cover?

Icebreaker

Begin with some type of icebreaker that provides for introductions of everyone with some personal information included

Organizational Review

The Three-Way

Agreement

Highlights of

Services

Key Websites

Trademark

Mission/Vision

Key Strategic Objectives

Business Plans

Staff

Location(s)

Website

Your association

BylawsPolicies and

procedures

Governing documents

Association structure/reporting process

Committee structure

Appointment processDelegation

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

evaluating your programs and products

Were your objectives

met?

If not why not?

Questions to ask?

Should this be continued as

is?Should this be continued, but

modified?

Should this be discontinued?

All input required

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

Loyalty/Conflicts of interest

Disclosure

ConfidentialityAccounting

Reasonable care

Fiduciary duties

Liability Antitrust • price-fixing,• boycotting• tying

agreements

NAR E & O

WORKING WITH STAFF

Evaluating the CEO

Working as a team

Micromanagement

Expectations

Position descriptions

Key Points

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS RESPONSIBILITIES

Role of the Board of Directors in Ethics Enforcement

COMMUNICATION PRACTICES/EXPECTATIONS

When, how, where

BEING ENGAGEDWith membership, community, committees, more

RPAC AND CALLS TO ACTION

Fair share, other award levels, directors’ commitment expected

ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY

Expectations

Spokesperson Policy

Ambassadors

MEETINGS

Calendar

• Key association meetings– Directors/

membership/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

BASIC PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE

Call the question!!

The key motions

Making motions

Amending motions

Substitute motions

Postponing motions

Referring to committee

“Calling the question”

RECRUITING NEW LEADERS

How we do it here:

Other Ideas for recruitmentLet members know what

you’re looking for

Evaluations of events (goals & skills)

Create a database of

skills and background

Nominating committees/ applications

Matching skills and strategic direction

Other Resources

Six module course, available online:

http://www.realtor.org/courses/realtors-excelling-in-association-leadership-real

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)

NAR Volunteer Leadership Guide

http://www.realtor.org/governance/volunteer-leadership-guide

NAR’S REALTOR LEADERSHIP PROGRAM (RLP

http://www.realtor.org/programs/realtor-leadership-program-rlp

YOUR ideas?