My organization is considering changing the board term from one-year to two. Which do you suggest?
I sometimes joke that board terms ought to be 18 months. It takes about a year for a volunteer board member to get up to speed, unless you have a really strong orientation program. The next year is usually pretty good, and then some board members seem to lose focus and tail off. The great ones have passion all the way through, but how many superstars are out there?
One year is definitely too short. There are some boards that are using one-year terms for first-time board members; if things go well, the person is invited to do two more. But my experience is that the first year is a learning curve for most folks. Two or three years seem to be the norm. A lot of boards allow members to serve two terms. Our by-laws allow two terms of three years, and then a third term after a year or more off the board. The record for hiatus may be held by a former board member of our nonprofit who was on for two terms in the late 70’s, and then came back for a third when he retired a few years ago. He was great the third time around.
Comment
We have three year terms for board members. One third come up for reelection every year. Officers have two year terms; Chair and Treasurer on even years, Vice Chair and Secretary on odd years.
A founding board member (1977) continues to serve with energy and insight as well as a great attorney for 25 years and a priest for 20 years. Mandatory term limits would have been awful in my personal experience.
»» Posted by: Allen Baldwin on April 26, 2007 02:24 PM