Title:  Board Roles and Resources

Presenter:  Amy Wagner, Director of Board Recruitment and Volunteer Services
		MAP for Nonprofits
		2233 University Ave. W  Suite 360
		St. Paul, MN  55114
		651-632-7237
		651-647-1369 (Fax)
		awagner@mapnp.org
		www.mapfornonprofits.org

Level:  Introductory

Type of Session: Workshop

Session Strand:

Session Track:  Board

Session Description:  This workshop provides an overview of board roles and responsibilities, as well as effective board and staff relationships.  Special emphasis will be placed on resources (e.g. books, websites, etc.) that provide timely, useful information to promote effective boards.  Discussion will be tailored to participants' interests and concerns, so please come prepared with your own questions.

Content Description:  

Legal Duties - A discussion of the duties of care, loyalty and obedience.  This section will be based on Minnesota requirements.  While this information should not vary much from state to state, information will be provided on how to determine specific requirements in other states.

Board and Staff Relationships - A presentation of guidelines for establishing and maintaining effective board and staff relationships.

Roles and Responsibilities - An overview of the roles and responsibilities of boards and board members.  The following eight areas will be covered:  strategic planning, monitoring and evaluating, managing finances, fundraising, ambassadorship, hiring and overseeing the CEO, board leadership and development, and creating a positive organizational climate.

Resources - Both paper-based and on-line resources will be presented.  In addition, participants will be asked to contribute their own suggested resources.

Learner Outcomes:  

1) Participants will be familiar with the legal responsibilities they hold as board members, and they will know where to go to get additional information.
2) Participants will be able to identify effective and ineffective board and staff relationships.
3) Participants will be able to state the roles and responsibilities of boards and board members, and identify areas of strength and areas for improvement within their own organization.
4) Participants will leave with a list of resources for board members.
5) Participants will get to know each other better, and identify other VSA members to communicate with and collaborate with in the future.

Sources of Information:

This information will be drawn from MAP for Nonprofits' Board Boot Camp curriculum.  For 25 years, MAP has taken the lead in training Twin Cities nonprofit boards in the "best practices" that make for sound and healthy governance.   Recently, MAP updated and refined its curriculum to reflect the latest research from such governance experts as BoardSource, the Independent Sector and the Carver Policy Governance(r) Model, along with its own experience with hundreds of boards each year.  This curriculum is the result of this practical experience and sound research.  

In addition, resources from MAP's Free Management Library and countless other sources will be highlighted.  

