DEVELOPING BOARD
EFFECTIVENESS
How we began…..
Ad-hoc Committee: Kay
Menzel, Nancy Stuart, Tom
Joyce, Neil Harvey, Jack
Plimmer, and Ara Rogers
OLLI- University of South Florida
kaym66@verizon.net
April 8, 2011
Build a Foundation
Determining the Role of the board
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Step 1: What are the Board’s
Responsibilities ?
• The Ad-hoc Committee began work on a
mission statement in the following way:
– a brainstorming session – by dividing the board
into 3 small groups to get their input on
• What should the Board of Advisors’ primary role
and mission be?
• How does the Board’s mission relate to OLLI’s
organizational mission?
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What should a Board Mission
Statement Look Like?
• a formal, short, written statement of the
board’s purpose.
• guide our actions, spell out our overall goals,
provide a sense of direction and guide
decision making.
• answer the basic question of why the board
exists.
• help the board stay true to its primary
purpose.
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And More….
• provide direction when the organization needs
to adapt to new demands.
• serve as a touchstone for decision making
during times of conflict.
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Mission Statement
The OLLI Board of Advisors’ mission is to ensure
the effectiveness and continuity of OLLI-USF
by guiding decision making, enabling program
excellence, responding to the membership,
and promoting member participation. Sharing
leadership with the OLLI staff, the board is
future oriented, continually striving to
improve while addressing present challenges
and opportunities.
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Board Approved!
Yea!!!!!
Step 2: Develop an Operational Plan
• Start with a brainstorming session with the
board – 3 small discussion groups.
• Discuss point by point everything we have
included in our Mission Statement.
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The How-tos
• How do we go about doing what we have said
is the Board’s mission?
• What actions are needed to carry out each
element of its mission?
• The Specifics……….
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Ensuring Effectiveness & Continuity
means..
• Making sure that things are working well so
that the organization will continue to thrive
into the future
– Maintaining a continuous dialogue
– Variety of Classes
• Creating annual short-term Board goals with
specific measurables.
• Assuring all committees have mission
statements and measurable goals.
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Guiding Decision Making
Involves putting the following steps in place to
enable the board to have both a broad and an
in-depth view of how structural elements are
working for the organization.
– Goal Setting and Review Process with timelines
and responsibilities
– Annual Reviews – Bylaws; Policy & Procedures
Manual; Annual Calendar; Committee’s Progress
reports; Reflection on the past experiences
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Enabling Excellence
defined as the best that we can be, means giving attention to:
-- classes are meeting the needs of the membership
and more…………….
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• Faculty are committed and performing up to
the expectations of the membership
• Social activities provide valuable interactions
that attract current and prospective members
• Registration process works well
• Continuity of program offerings is considered
• Faculty with diversity of backgrounds and
subject areas are being added
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• New board and committee members are
informed about their roles
• Special interest groups are supported and
developed
• Communications are appropriate and working
as intended
• Facilities are meeting the needs of our faculty
and membership
• Fundraising efforts are meeting current and
future needs
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Responding to the Membership &
Promoting Member Participation
Board Member’s role includes:
• Hosts at OLLI activities
• Board member or staff greet all new classes
• Visitation in classes for a first-hand look
• Review of membership surveys
• Review of class evaluations
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Being Future Oriented
• Keep track of changing demographics
• Monitor other OLLIs to identify elements that
we may implement or aspire to
• Develop a Board succession plan
• Create long term Board goals
• Make sure that OLLI is visible and understood
by USF
16
Continually Striving to Improve
• Participation in OLLI conferences and regional
meetings of Lifelong Learning Institutes
• Learn from our mistakes, build on our
successes
17
Collecting Data/enabling evaluation
• Why classes fail/succeed
• Characteristics of members who join, drop
their membership, participate long-term
• How many volunteers are added/dropped and
why
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• What open house elements successfully
attract new members
• What venues for classes successfully attract
attendees and why
• How effective varied OLLI communication
methods are
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Final Step/ The Annual Planning
Retreat
• Discussion of year’s performance with analysis
& review
• Prioritize – greatest needs
• Set short term and
• Long term goals
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