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We often receive feedback from voluntary groups and organisations who ask for help or information on issues affecting the voluntary sector.

This is the result - a Training and Support page designed just for you.  Here, we will source expert advice, commentary and information on relevant industry issues.

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What to do when you Really, Really disagree with a board decision

Most of the time, nonprofit boards work through consensus. But what if you think a serious mistake is being made? Sometimes knowing what to do in advance if such a situation arises can help you understand the situation more clearly as it unfolds:

Have you ever been in a situation where the board has made a decision that you think is very wrong and will have severe negative consequences for the organization? Or where you think an important decision has been railroaded through?  

As a board member myself and something of a contrarian, I've found myself in these circumstances from time to time over the years. For example, on the board of an organization with a sizable financial deficit, I found myself and one other board member losing a seventeen-to-two vote to take funds from the organization's endowment for current operating expenses. As a member of CompassPoint consulting group for many years, I saw more serious cases, too, such as ones where board members suspected illegal activity or a takeover of the organization by a few very aggressive (and often new) board members.

It's important to remember that reasonable people can disagree in good faith on important issues. The following situations may give you some food for thought if a case that goes beyond reasonable disagreement were to arise for you.  

Question: The board I'm on is about to make a bad decision. Although the last two years have been very tight financially, they refuse to make any cuts to the expenses. But they don't want to do anything different in fundraising either! If we have another bad year, I'm afraid we won't be able to pay our bills.  

Answer: Call the board chair and express your concerns. But if you truly expect that the decision will go another way, write a letter to the board that explains your reasons for voting against the budget that has been proposed. Bring this letter to the meeting at which the vote will be taken and ask to read your letter aloud and have it entered into the official minutes. You may be outvoted, but you will have shown how seriously you take the matter. Your reasoning is in the permanent record, and those who did not attend the board meeting will be able to understand your point of view.Many years from now, someone reading the minutes may also find your comments important and informative.  

Question: The board has just voted to repair our playground structures rather than replace them, but I believe strongly that repairs won't do and some child may be hurt. What can I do?  

Answer: Consider asking the board for an independent, expert evaluation of the situation, perhaps by a play equipment specialist. Such an evaluation will bring professional, objective information to the decision. If board members won't do that, or if they choose to ignore a report that indicates the structures are dangerous, at least make sure that your "no" vote is recorded in the minutes. Later, if a child is unfortunately hurt and a lawsuit is brought against the organization, you will be protected if your vote by name has been recorded. After the vote, simply say, "Please put my name into the minutes as having voted NO on this motion." When the minutes are issued, check to be sure your vote has been recorded properly.   

Question: I'm still angry and disappointed over a decision the board has made. What can I do?  

Answer: Once a decision has been made, don't keep bringing it up again or try to take your case to others. For example, if the board has just adopted a budget that you think is unrealistically optimistic, don't continue the argument by trying to convince staff or others that the decision should be overturned. If you feel that other board members understand your point of view but still disagree, and you feel that you could not openheartedly work within that decision, consider resigning from the board and state your reasons clearly in a letter to the board. If, however, you can reluctantly live with the decision, make your disagreements clear, but also make clear that you will work with the decision.  

And finally . . .  

Too often board members feel uncomfortable with a decision as it's being made but decide to remain silent. In some cases it's fine to let the meeting roll on, but in other cases it's an indication of a board that may later be described as "asleep at the wheel." An underlying but too-common reason is that there's an implicit feeling that questioning the staff (or the majority) is being distrustful or not acting as a team member.   

If you find yourself experiencing such thoughts, take a few seconds to think it through. There are more choices than simply keeping quiet or being disruptive. Be sure that you take the board's decisions as seriously as the organization needs them to be taken, and doing so will sometimes mean being clearer than is ordinarily necessary.

 

This article was reproduced with the permission of Blue Avocado, a website offering practical, provocative and fun food-for-thought for non-profits. For more information go to www.blueavocado.org .

 

MISSED LAST MONTH'S ARTICLE?  Here's a recap....

One of the biggest complaints we hear amongst the non profit sector is that there is never enough people helping out and that it’s the same people doing the same things all of the time. It doesn’t have to be that way! If you have members that aren’t pulling their weight, then chances are it’s for one of these reasons...

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Previous Articles

Thanks to your feedback we have now categorised our archived articles by subject, rather than by date.  We hope this makes it easier to find the information and support you need.

To read an article just click on the headline.

 

Funding/Fundraising

Payroll Giving - A Charitable Start to the New Year

Sustainable Funding - Five Top Tips

New and Unusual Fundraising Ideas

Grant Funders Hit by Global Financial Crisis

Easy Budgeting for Volunteer Groups

Tax Changes Provide Charities Extra Fundraising Tool

New Zealand's newest foundation hits the ground running

Increasing Your Odds from Gaming Machine Trusts

The easiest way to raise funds for a cause - FundraiseOnline!

Calling all Nice People!  Vodaphone World of Difference Programme

Searching for Sponsorship?  Look local!

 

Volunteer Attraction and Retention

Why Won't More People Help Us Out?

The Power of Difference

Meeting Madness and Missed Opportunities

Make New Friends, but Keep the Old...

Help!  Someone LEAD me!

A Sure Recipe For Success - Volunteer Style!

I Don't Have Time!

 

Volunteer Management

Volunteer Management: The Steve Irwin Way

Managing Risk for your Volunteer Programme

Managing Volunteers, by Mary Woods

 

Management/Governance Issues

Making Meetings Work

Need New Technology?  Introducing TechSoup!

The Power of Difference

Meaningful Acts of Appreciation for Boards and Staff

Is the Rising Cost of Petrol a Crisis or an Opportunity for Volunteering?

Working for Effective Employment Relations in the Community Sector

Tax Changes Provide Charities Extra Fundraising Tool

Looking to Volunteer or Looking for Volunteers?  Visit VolunteerNow!

The Underwater Mountain

Voluntourism - Pros, Cons and Possibilities

Five Fast Ways to Recruit New Board Members

 

Promoting your Voluntary Organisation

Marketing for Nix!

Online Social Media - Just what is it all about?

Access Radio - Providing a Voice for All

The Best Way to get your Voice on the Box

Bulletin Boards - How To Make the Most of Them!

 

Volunteer Support Organisations

Donate NZ - A great way to GIVE and RECEIVE

Inform, Inspire, Advocate - Introducing the NZFVWO

The Funding Information Service - Leaders in Funding Information

Looking to Volunteer or Looking for Volunteers?  Visit VolunteerNow!

Your Volunteer Voice - Volunteering New Zealand