Recommended Board Member Notebook Contents

Welcome back! Sometimes I get some really good questions from clients about board issues. I liked this question about what information is routinely needed by board members and at board meetings. Here are my ideas for 2010.

• Board Level Policy Document: (1) Ends, (3) Staff Limitations, (3) Board-staff linkage, (4) board process (includes conflict of interest, compensation policy)
• Bylaws
• Minutes from previous meetings
• Board roster that includes contact information and affiliations
• Board member commitment letter, conflict of interest declaration (signed copy)
• Board Agenda Schedule (calendars board meetings 18-24 months into the future)
• Organizational calendar with all organization’s events
• Most recent board process training content, example: Governance Matters, Good Training document: Governance is Leadership Excellence by Capacity Partnership Group.

Several new clients now have this as a training tool to orient new board members and assist board doe their work. Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.