Editor, The Beacon:

While there is increasing pressure on boards to be independent and diverse because of new regulatory concerns, most boards are too collaborative and consider themselves to be a team. It is common for board members to develop friendships and camaraderie, but it is not permissible to conspire in small groups or cliques outside of regularly scheduled meetings to influence decision-making on behalf of the organization.

Personal relationships between board directors may make it hard to call someone out for unethical behavior, unwise choices and other misgivings that affect the organization and its stakeholders.

Nonprofit board directors should never hold their relationships above the best interests of those they serve. When one board member engages in inappropriate behavior, on the larger scale, it is a reflection on the rest of the board members and on the leadership of the organization.

Diversity comes in many forms, and the most effective nonprofit boards are made up of a large membership of many differing faces of the community, skill sets, experiences and socioeconomic backgrounds.

A board meeting is not meant to be a Thursday-evening bridge game; it is a time and place to respectively debate the means and methods to further the goals of the organization and build the capacity to be more on behalf of the community they serve, all the while fulfilling their primary functions of strategic planning, fiscal oversight and fundraising and resource development.

One of the myths associated with nonprofit boards is that they have no higher authority, they only report to themselves. Not true, a nonprofit board reports first to the larger community; they report to their donors and sponsors, their volunteers and staff, the Florida secretary of state, and the IRS. Yes, the executive director reports to the board, but she or he is also the responsible party reporting to all the above. The executive director (CEO) is the community’s last chance for a proactive stance.

The West Volusia Habitat for Humanity (WVHFH) board of directors have terminated the employment of three executive directors in the past five years, all the while coming off their best housing performance in 15 years and achieving much success in the furtherance of affordable-housing initiatives in Volusia County and the city of DeLand.

Your participation is needed. The WVHFH board meetings are at 7 p.m. the third Thursday of each month (except December) at the WVHFH ReStore at 604 S. Spring Garden Ave. in DeLand. Meetings are open to the public, and past minutes and financial reports are available at the office.

With my gratitude,

Randy Jenkins

(Former Executive Director WVHFH)

Tavares