Has Running for the AFA Executive Board Crossed Your Mind?
Jay Anhorn, Past President & Nominations and Elections Committee Chair
April 2009
So you have been volunteering for AFA this past year, or perhaps for several years, and maybe the thought of an Executive Board position has crossed your mind. Maybe you have even been approached or nominated before, but hesitated thinking this was too much of a time commitment; or maybe you just were not clear what exactly you would be doing if you were a Board member.
The Association of Fraternity Advisors needs leaders who are committed to advancing the fraternal movement, but what does this mean? What does serving on the Board really entail? In an article on the website of the Center for Non Profit Management, Alison Buttenheim (n.d.) notes that there are five things volunteers need to consider before they commit to serving on a Board of Directors or an Executive Board such as ours:
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First and foremost, board members must understand their fiduciary responsibility to the Association. The Board is ultimately responsible for ensuring that the Association meets legal, regulatory, and ethical requirements, and is charged with the appropriate stewardship of the Association's resources. Within AFA, the Board’s Finance and Personnel Committees play the most significant role in this area, but the entire Board is involved in considering Committee recommendations, approving the budget, and making decisions on various issues and proposals.
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Second, being on a board requires a commitment of time. AFA Board members should expect to participate in monthly phone calls and attend two in-person meetings in Carmel, Indiana (all expenses covered by the Association), as well as the Annual Meeting and associated Board meeting. In addition to meetings, there is typically a minimal amount of project and/or volunteer oversight, which varies from position to position.
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Most non-profits also expect board members to role model active financial support of the organization or a related foundation. AFA Board members are expected to contribute at the 1976 Society level ($200 annually) to support the work of the AFA Foundation.
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One of the valuable assets you bring to a board is your network of personal and professional contacts. The work that AFA Board members do on a daily basis at their inter/national headquarters or institution is a natural resource for the Association.
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Finally, be prepared to share your expertise. No matter what your background, AFA needs your input on important issues. AFA will thrive on diversity of experiences, so figure out whatever unique skill you have to contribute and don't be shy. (¶4)
From my personal experience of serving on the AFA Executive Board for 7 years, I can honestly say that the rewards are incredible and my experience leading the Association is unmatched. I want to share some thoughts gathered from colleagues relative to the benefits of AFA involvement at the Board level and reasons why you should consider accepting a nomination for the AFA Executive Board for 2010:
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Gain important skills. Board members are expected to actively participate in strategic planning, financial management, as well as fundraising with the Foundation. While you may have experience in these areas from your “real” job, applying your skills with AFA will require you to think in a new way. You will have the chance to focus on different types of problems where there may be no existing analytic frameworks, but there is the possibility of real progress. As a Board, we are challenged to think creatively about how to move the profession forward, yet utilize our volunteer structure to generate practical and workable solutions.
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Expand your network. Your fellow Board members, the Central Office staff, and the Foundation Board members will expand your personal and professional network considerably. These are relationships that last a long time.
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Connect with the Association and the profession in a new way. Getting involved as a Board member can offer a new perspective on the economic challenges and social realities encountered by higher education and the interfraternal movement. I have enjoyed learning what is going on in the broader spectrum and have honed my association management skills to contribute in a constructive way to our profession.
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Teach your campus or organization about volunteerism. Board service helps you understand volunteer management on a higher level and allows you to apply these skills to your own campus or organization. This “birds eye view” has assisted me in my interactions over the years with alumni and community agencies.
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Give back. Most Board members are strongly motivated by this aspect of board service. You always hear the phrase “You get out of it, what you put into it,” but I would challenge that you get even more from serving on the Board. The satisfaction of working with 1,700+ members from a variety of constituencies gives new meaning to making a difference.
So, if as you read this the thought about running for an AFA Executive Board position crosses your mind, I encourage you to let it linger and to explore it further. Contact a current Board member to learn more about a specific position or about Board service in general. Peruse the “Association Business” section of the website to review some of the guiding documents for the Association and generate ideas for how you could play a part in advancing the Association. If you happen to receive a nomination for a position, follow up with your nominator and ask him/her why he/she felt you would make a good Board member. If your first reaction is to think of all the reasons why not do it, be sure you give yourself a chance to think of all the reasons to go for it. It could be the most rewarding professional development experience you’ll have.
The process for nominating Professional and Graduate members for 2010 elected officer positions has begun.
Go here for more information on how to nominate qualified colleagues by June 26th.