Christine Peets of Captions Communications wrote:

Christine Peets

Assessment at every stage of being on a Board of Directors, or a sub-committee is extremely important.

The questions Doreen poses here, and in her book are valuable for both self-assessment, and when a potential member is being evaluated. It is so important to have the right fit.

I’m signing on to be a member of a committee for the Napanee District Community Foundation,(NDCF) and I am being asked to fill out a profile page that includes the following questions:

• Have you served on other boards or committees?
• What would you like to do with NDCF?
• How much time can you give?
• What restrictions do you have around meeting times?
• What is your preference for meeting times?

By asking me these questions upfront, it gives me a chance to evaluate what I want to do as part of this committee, and how much time I can realistically give. Then, the Board can decide whether I’m a good fit, and I can decide if I really want to do this.

I hope there is a similar evaluation at some mid-point. That way, both I and the Board get the opportunity to review goals, objectives, etc., and see whether they are being met. I can also look again at the time involved.

Without this kind of evaluation, difficulties can arise, resentments can build, and the work of the Board can be compromised and suffer.

These comments originally appeared in relation to a post entitled “Why Conduct Board Evaluations? (BTO Article)” by Doreen Pendgracs, Author, “Before You Say Yes …: A Guide to the Pleasures and Pitfalls of Volunteer Boards”. Click here to access that post.  

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