Is Your Association's Board Concerned About Advancing The Profession?

Do you find that your association’s board glazes over when you talk about the association’s finances? These folks may be on the board to advance the profession. They may not care about the business of the association but as a staff person you do.

At a recent Mid-Atlantic Society of Association Executives event some of us chatted about this. Some boards view their participation in the association as advancing the profession. Minding the finances and health of the association is not their expertise or even care. They wouldn’t make renewal calls. They might not even evangelize the association in a one-on-one conversation.

It is critical then to know what the mindset of the board is. Do you have a board focused on financial health and growth of the association? Or do you have a board that is solely focused on advancing the profession? It is really important to know which kind of board you have when making critical decisions that will drive the finances of the organization. Should you have the advance-the-profession group, frame the decision in a way that impacts their desire to advance the profession.