Issue 23
February 18, 2004

NEWSNOTES is a monthly email newsletter published by Nonprofit Enterprise at Work. It includes items of interest to the nonprofit community in Washtenaw County and the surrounding areas, as well as resources available at NEW. Encourage your friends and colleagues to join over 290 other NEWSNOTES subscribers!

NEW would like to recognize the generous support of its Community Partners:

IN THIS ISSUE

LEAD STORY

Striving for Consensus on Non-Profit Boards

by Maureen Sheahan, Meitheal Consulting*

Nonprofit directors have an immense responsibility to make important decisions about complex issues in short amounts of time with varying quantities of information. Given these constraints, majority rule may seem to be the only reasonable route for reaching decisions. Yet it can leave boards divided, contentious, and prone to turnover.

An alternative to majority rule is the consensus building process. Learning to use a consensus model is not easy, but it’s not as hard as some believe, and can result in a happier, more efficient board of directors. Successful use of the consensus model requires knowledge of the process steps and a commitment to stick to that process carefully.

We’ve all attended meetings that have left us unhappy with the process or the outcomes. Here are some examples that you may have experienced, and how the consensus model could improve the process:

• Have you ever participated in discussions with a foggy understanding of what the point really was? Consensus means agreeing on a well-thought-out issue or problem statement as the basis for discussion.
• Have you ever felt timid about raising objections or concerns with issues under discussion? Consensus means exploring, in a safe and open way, the pros and cons of the options available. Using a structured brainstorming technique and logging all input on a flipchart allows this to be done quickly and with little conflict.
• Have you ever regretted a decision you made as a board member because you learned more about the issue after the decision was made? The consensus model ensures that all agree on what information the board needs in order to make a wise decision – and does not proceed without it.
• Have you ever been on a board when decisions were reached because the most powerful, persuasive or difficult directors wanted them to go a certain way? Consensus considers the opinions of everyone at the table.
• Have you ever been troubled by decisions that had merit, but ended up hurting an important interest group? Consensus generates multiple options that address the needs of all impacted parties. Options are tested by examining how well benefits are achieved and to what extent the disadvantages can be minimized.
• Have you ever “caved in” to poor decisions out of weariness, impatience or a sense of not being able to win? Consensus means selecting a decision that, in everyone’s minds, reflects the best the board can do, given the analysis and the constraints of time.

A consensus approach is valuable because it demands thorough analysis of issues under discussion. Everyone at the table has input and the process generates wiser decisions that will be more broadly and deeply supported by the whole board. Use of a consensus model has the potential to increase board member retention and motivate greater activism. The board must commit to learning the techniques and then apply them consistently (and efficiently) in meetings. Extending the process to staff as well generates enormous commitment and boosts morale.

Learn more about the consensus process by registering for the author’s workshop Effective and Efficient Consensus-Building for Boards, March 31, 4-7 pm.

*Maureen Sheahan is a member of NEW’s Online Consultant Directory. She is based in Southfield and has consulted with nonprofits, unionized companies, and unions, focusing on interest-based approaches to relations and decision-making.
Contact information:
20996 Inkster Rd.,
Southfield, MI 48034
Ph: (248) 376-5701
Fax: (248) 358-2049
E-mail: masheahan@aol.com

Resources:

• Other NEW workshops on board leadership
• NEW’s bookstore page on board leadership
• Nonprofit Good Practice Guide:
  • Management and Leadership
  • Governance

FEATURED ITEMS

Education Services: Board Workshops

The Spring 2004 Managing for Nonprofit Excellence workshop series starts on March 22 with “Marketing the Environment” and ends on May 25 with “Fireproof Fundraising.” In between these repeat performers are 51 other workshops, including sixteen new topics.

Two new offerings in our Board Leadership category include:

• Effective and Efficient Consensus-Building for Boards taught March 31 by Maureen Sheahan, author of this month’s featured article.
• Meeting Magic: Productivity and Pizzazz in the Board Room taught April 15 by Beverly Seiford, partner at Dannemiller Tyson Associates.

Choose one or both of these workshops to help make your board meetings more organized, effective and productive.

See the entire workshop listing and register online. Contact Dallas Moore (734-998-0160) for more information.

Leadership²Go: Library Holds New Resources for Executive Directors

Browse the list of the newer titles in your Resource Library at the NEW Center. Some favorites at NEW include:

• Carlson, Mim and Margaret Donohoe. Executive Director’s Survival Guide: Thriving as a Nonprofit Leader.
• Lewis, Robert L. Effective Nonprofit Management: Essential Lessons for Executive Directors.
• Salamon, Lester M. The State of Nonprofit America.

Also, stay tuned for spring events hosted by Leadership²Go — see next month's NEWSNOTES.

Technology: Basic Web Site For $200 or Less!

For only $20/hour, NEW can develop a high quality site for your organization. Simple sites can be completed in 10 hours or less. Contact Neel Hajra (734-998-0160) for more information.

The Michigan Nonprofit Management Manual

The new 4th ed. of The Michigan Nonprofit Management Manual: A Hands-on Guide to Growing Nonprofit Organizations is now available from the Volunteer Accounting Service Team of Michigan. Find substantive background information on management and administration topics, or reach for it to get quick answers about specific taxes or regulations. The twenty chapters, written by experts, cover every aspect of nonprofit management in the state of Michigan, including legal requirements, board responsibilities and duties, financial management, funding, and personnel policies.

The Nonprofit Resource Library has one copy that may be borrowed, but you will want your own for ready reference. Whether you are a seasoned veteran or new to the nonprofit sector, this book is well worth the price of $50.

News from NPower Michigan

Upcoming Seminar: NPowering Thoughts: Choosing and Using Your Donor Management System
Donor management systems are essential to the financial health of many nonprofit organizations, but how do you choose a system best suited to your organization’s needs? And once you purchase it, how do you transition from your existing system to a better system without losing time and information? Alternatively, how do you get the most out of the system you already have? This seminar will give you an overview of different donor management packages and provide a solid framework to help you evaluate build-versus-buy alternatives.

When: April 28, 2004, 9am - 11:00 am
Where: Penobscot Building, Smart-Detroit offices, 645 Griswold, 13th Floor, Detroit
Cost: Free for NPower members; $15 for nonmembers

For more information or to register, visit www.NPowerMichigan.org or call 313- 237-8155. This seminar is also offered April 29th in Grand Rapids.

Volunteerism SuperConference 2004

Michigan Nonprofit Association is host to the grand event of the year, May 24 and 25 in Grand Rapids. Mark your calendar for two days of learning, networking and renewal featuring workshops, exhibits, demonstrations and interest group meetings. Featured speakers include, among others:

• Ariana Huffington Syndicated Columnist, author and political commentator
• Susan Ellis, author, trainer and consultant in volunteer program administration
• Gregory Smith, founder and president, International Youth Advocates, college graduate at age14 and Nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Independent Sector Releases Model Code of Ethics

An ethics code that can serve as a model for nonprofit organizations and foundations nationwide has been developed by the Independent Sector (IS). Download a free copy of Statement of Values and Code of Ethics for Nonprofit and Philanthropic Organizations and use it as the basis for your organization’s own code of ethics. If you already have a code, use the model as a valuable review. The IS site provides process tips on how to adopt the code.

News for Volunteer Coordinators

The Washtenaw Association of Volunteer Coordinators is an informal group that meets for a brownbag lunch several times a year at different sites to network and share information. The next meeting will be:

When: March 17, 2004
Where: American Red Cross, Washtenaw County Chapter offices, 2729 Packard Road, Ann Arbor
Hosted by: Red Cross Youth Volunteer Coordinator Wayland Ma.

Contact Barbara Major at UM Matthaei Botanical Gardens to request that your email be added to the meeting announcement list. Please also provide your name, organization and phone number.

Arts Alive Day

ArtServe Michigan is hosting Arts Alive Day 2004: Imagining the Power of Arts & Culture in Michigan, Tuesday March 9 in Lansing to promote advocacy of the arts in these tough financial times. Anyone interested in art and culture in Michigan should attend to learn

• Information critical to creating and leveraging advocacy efforts
• Emerging advocacy trends and issues
• Best practices from industry leaders in the field of arts and culture advocacy

Arts Alliance News

The Arts Alliance of the Ann Arbor Area (A5), a division of the Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce, has conducted an Economic Impact Study to get a picture of the significance of the nonprofit cultural industry in Washtenaw County. Preliminary findings will be presented at a public meeting, Thursday, March 25 at 9 a.m. at the new Mallett's Creek Branch Library, 3090 East Eisenhower Pkwy. Results of the study will be used to encourage increased corporate and government support for arts and culture, enhance fundraising efforts, and help arts organizations increase their effectiveness.

At the same meeting, learn about A5’s Youth Promotions Project. Contact Tamara Real (734-665-4433) for more information.

Reminders:

IU Fundraising School Class Offered Locally in March: March 2 and 3, 8:30-5:00 daily is slated for Building Relationships with Donors and Potential Donors.

Office space available to nonprofits at the NEW Center. Please contact Lia Stevens (734-998-0160).

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