{"id":230,"date":"2023-02-07T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-02-07T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/?p=230"},"modified":"2022-12-20T00:22:07","modified_gmt":"2022-12-20T00:22:07","slug":"what-did-you-talk-about-at-your-first-nonprofit-arts-board-meeting-tonight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/2023\/02\/07\/what-did-you-talk-about-at-your-first-nonprofit-arts-board-meeting-tonight\/","title":{"rendered":"What Did You Talk About at Your First Nonprofit Arts Board Meeting\u00a0Tonight?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Robert’s Rules of Order? The art? The revenue? The needs of the community?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
\u00a9 2023, Alan Harrison.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s the first Tuesday in February. Welcome to your first board meeting!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s 7:00pm. You rushed home, had a quick dinner, and drove like a bat out of hell to get there at 6:55.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Surprisingly, you\u2019re among the first people there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You were unanimously elected to the board at the January meeting. Two weeks ago, you had a 30-minute orientation led by another board member, the person who cajoled you to serve. She showed you the board contract. The board contract starts with a stipulation that it is the responsibility of the board to raise money for the organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Board membership requires: one of the top 3 gifts you donate each year, a purchase of (or sale of all the tickets to) your own personal table at the annual fundraising dinner, at least two sets of season tickets to the company, service on a committee, and a commitment to proselytizing for the company at every opportunity. You\u2019ve toured the venue, met an artist or two, sat with the executive director and artistic director, both of whom thanked you for serving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You didn\u2019t quite realize before the board election exactly how much membership would cost. You can afford it. Or maybe you can\u2019t. But now the contract is signed. Either way, it certainly would have been nice to know before<\/em> the January meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Somebody pours you a glass of wine. You later discover that this was the development director. You get a queasy feeling each time every time she looks at you, as though you were prey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
The eye of the development director.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The chair calls the board to order at 7:15. The last person walks in the room. Conversational hubbub begins anew and more minutes pass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At 7:30, the chair actually pounds the table with a gavel. Is this a play or a meeting?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The chair reads the agenda. An intern sits in the corner taking minutes. Robert\u2019s Rules of Order directs the stilted conversation. The chair takes twenty minutes to issue an opening statement. He talks about how lucky the company is to have its artistic staff. The executive director smiles nervously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are myriad motions, seconds, and endless discussion on even the most mundane things, every now and then punctuated by a unanimous vote. If the vote is always going to be unanimous, you ask yourself, then why does it require all this discussion? Do people here not know how to take \u201cyes\u201d for an answer?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You pour your second glass of wine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Or is it your third?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It is now 9:00. You worked all day, and now you\u2019re having trouble keeping your eyes open. Suddenly, the board chair looks at you and asks you to introduce yourself. You stand and clumsily tell people who you are, why you\u2019re there, and how excited you are to get started. You look around and see multiple glasses of wine being poured and receive a tidy, but overstuffed binder from that cultish development director. She explains nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You sit, and at 9:05, the artistic director waxes poetic about the next production for about a half hour. He talks about the performers, the design\u200a\u2014\u200ahe even brings a tiny mockup of the set\u200a\u2014\u200aand his vision. He announces that the event will be completely sold out. The marketing director winces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
The wince of the marketing director.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

(You later discover that the artistic director always <\/em>says the events will sell out.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At 9:30, the head of the development committee begins her report. You notice that she is sitting almost on the lap of the development director who smiles broadly, teeth bared, like a ventriloquist. The committee head, whose facial expression never quite changes, tells the fabulous story of all the work done by the development leader and all the fundraising programs that have been launched.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All the discussion leads to an impression that, if there are financial issues for the company, they don\u2019t seem to be emanating from the development department. At least that\u2019s what the head of the committee keeps saying. Did you notice the development director\u2019s lips move?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
The Head of the Development Committee.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The meeting goes until 10:30. Nothing is discussed except how the company is doing against the budget for the year, and even that is couched with caveats. The executive director\u2019s report begins. She announces, just as she had written in the report that preceded the meeting by two weeks, that the company is short on payroll, due that Friday. Most of the board members are surprised by this information. (You read the report, so you already knew. Didn\u2019t anyone else?)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The board chair says, glumly, that tickets must be sold, money must be raised, and expenses must be cut. The rest of the board members nod. One board member wants others to start an endowment fund. Another recommends that Warren Buffet be notified. Still another, an heiress, writes a check, right there at the table, to cover the payroll for that week. She receives applause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The board chair suddenly adjourns the meeting and requests an executive session. The motion is seconded and discussion ensues, where not much is said. Staff members are excused. The chair advises the rest of the board that unless the executive director raises more money, there might have to be a change in leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIsn\u2019t that our<\/em> job, to use our connections to raise money?\u201d you ask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t have time to raise money,\u201d replies the board chair, sternly. \u201cThat\u2019s what the executive director is supposed to do.\u201d The rest of the board nods in agreement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You ask innocently, \u201cThen why is it in the board contract?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The meeting is adjourned at 11:00. As you watch people file out, you make note that there was no report about the needs of the community. Is this the right board for you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Based in Kirkland, Washington, Alan Harrison is a writer and speaker specializing in nonprofit organizations, strategy, the arts, and life politics. His columns appear regularly in major publications. Contact him directly at <\/em>alan@501c3.guru.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re feeling generous or inspired, just <\/em>click on the coffee cup<\/em><\/a> above. You don\u2019t have to, of course, but if you can afford it and find some value here, please provide the desperate need for caffeine.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alan is always looking for good opportunities to write and consult for nonprofits that need a hand. And, of course, that elusive <\/em>Perfect Opportunity\u2122.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

BIG NEWS: Alan\u2019s new book, \u201cScene Change: Why Nonprofit Arts Organization Must Stop Producing Art and Start Producing Impact\u201d will be published this fall by Changemakers Books<\/a>. Stay tuned for information on how you can buy a copy.<\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s the first Tuesday in February. Welcome to your first board meeting!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":231,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21,20,22,32,25,23,19,18,17,27],"tags":[46],"class_list":{"0":"post-230","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-arts-and-culture","8":"category-board-of-directors","9":"category-board-of-trustees","10":"category-charity","11":"category-development-and-fundraising","12":"category-executive-director","13":"category-leadership","14":"category-nonprofit","15":"category-nonprofit-arts-organizations","16":"category-philanthropy-and-donors","17":"tag-board-meeting","18":"entry"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/To-Which-One-of-These-Does-Your-Arts-Board-Pay-the-Most-Attention.jpg?fit=1111%2C405&ssl=1","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":291,"url":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/2023\/03\/28\/nonprofit-arts-organization-boards-an-epilogue\/","url_meta":{"origin":230,"position":0},"title":"Nonprofit Arts Organization Boards: An Epilogue","author":"Alan Harrison","date":"March 28, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"If you are a nonprofit arts board member, you have a chance to build something great. And no, the best way is not to copy your fellow arts organizations.","rel":"","context":"In "Arts and Culture"","block_context":{"text":"Arts and Culture","link":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/category\/arts-and-culture\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Build-a-Board-Workshop.jpg?fit=1200%2C643&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Build-a-Board-Workshop.jpg?fit=1200%2C643&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Build-a-Board-Workshop.jpg?fit=1200%2C643&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Build-a-Board-Workshop.jpg?fit=1200%2C643&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Build-a-Board-Workshop.jpg?fit=1200%2C643&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":240,"url":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/2023\/02\/14\/what-are-your-nonprofit-art-board-members-real-responsibilities\/","url_meta":{"origin":230,"position":1},"title":"What Are Your Nonprofit Art Board Members\u2019 Real Responsibilities?","author":"Alan Harrison","date":"February 14, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Responsibility #1: Determine why the company needs to exist.","rel":"","context":"In "Arts and Culture"","block_context":{"text":"Arts and Culture","link":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/category\/arts-and-culture\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Diva-board-for-ArtsJournal.jpg?fit=1100%2C711&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Diva-board-for-ArtsJournal.jpg?fit=1100%2C711&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Diva-board-for-ArtsJournal.jpg?fit=1100%2C711&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Diva-board-for-ArtsJournal.jpg?fit=1100%2C711&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Diva-board-for-ArtsJournal.jpg?fit=1100%2C711&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":221,"url":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/2023\/01\/31\/nonprofit-arts-board-members-oughta-just-wont-cut-it\/","url_meta":{"origin":230,"position":2},"title":"Nonprofit Arts Board Members: \u201cOughta\u201d Just Won\u2019t Cut It","author":"Alan Harrison","date":"January 31, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"You know what you really oughta do? Stop telling other people what they oughta do.","rel":"","context":"In "Arts and Culture"","block_context":{"text":"Arts and Culture","link":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/category\/arts-and-culture\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Beware-the-board-member-kibbitzer.jpg?fit=1108%2C598&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Beware-the-board-member-kibbitzer.jpg?fit=1108%2C598&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Beware-the-board-member-kibbitzer.jpg?fit=1108%2C598&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Beware-the-board-member-kibbitzer.jpg?fit=1108%2C598&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Beware-the-board-member-kibbitzer.jpg?fit=1108%2C598&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":281,"url":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/2023\/03\/21\/whats-your-nonprofit-arts-boards-6th-through-%e2%88%9eth-most-important-responsibilities\/","url_meta":{"origin":230,"position":3},"title":"What\u2019s Your Nonprofit Arts Board\u2019s 6th Through \u221eth Most Important Responsibilities?","author":"Alan Harrison","date":"March 21, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"All nonprofits are essentially scientific, social experiments in bettering our various lots in life. Including nonprofit arts organizations.","rel":"","context":"In "Arts and Culture"","block_context":{"text":"Arts and Culture","link":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/category\/arts-and-culture\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Make-this-world-better-sign.jpg?fit=1200%2C689&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Make-this-world-better-sign.jpg?fit=1200%2C689&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Make-this-world-better-sign.jpg?fit=1200%2C689&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Make-this-world-better-sign.jpg?fit=1200%2C689&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Make-this-world-better-sign.jpg?fit=1200%2C689&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1103,"url":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/2024\/11\/26\/the-2024-carol-for-nonprofit-arts-organizations\/","url_meta":{"origin":230,"position":4},"title":"The 2024 Carol for Nonprofit Arts Organizations","author":"Alan Harrison","date":"November 26, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"The holiday tradition continues because we know you won\u2019t read it.","rel":"","context":"In "Arts and Culture"","block_context":{"text":"Arts and Culture","link":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/category\/arts-and-culture\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Happy-Badgering.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Happy-Badgering.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Happy-Badgering.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Happy-Badgering.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Happy-Badgering.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":993,"url":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/2024\/09\/03\/scene-change-2-now-available-for-preorder\/","url_meta":{"origin":230,"position":5},"title":"Scene Change 2 Now Available for Preorder","author":"Alan Harrison","date":"September 3, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"As a follow-up and companion to the book SCENE CHANGE, I have just completed SCENE CHANGE 2.","rel":"","context":"In "Arts and Culture"","block_context":{"text":"Arts and Culture","link":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/category\/arts-and-culture\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/COVER-Art-Scene-Change-2.jpg?fit=778%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/COVER-Art-Scene-Change-2.jpg?fit=778%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/COVER-Art-Scene-Change-2.jpg?fit=778%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/COVER-Art-Scene-Change-2.jpg?fit=778%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/230","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=230"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/230\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":236,"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/230\/revisions\/236"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/231"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=230"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=230"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=230"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}