Leveraging the combined talents of its directors, a club’s board can greatly increase the club’s long-term success. Unfortunately, not all boards are able to attain that level of focus or cohesion.
This year, the National Club Conference features a special half-day of club governance programming designed to help club leaders develop effective boards that provide decisive leadership, sound guidance and insightful vision.
Make sure that your board members have the tools and perspective they need to lead your club to success. Bring your board members to these essential programs on “Building Effective Club Governance” at this year’s National Club Conference.
Trends in Board Development: What It Takes to Provide Sustained Leadership
As the former President & CEO of BoardSource, Linda Crompton wrote the book on developing effective boards that empower organizations. This year’s National Club Conference offers an exciting chance to learn from Crompton’s unparalleled expertise with the presentation, “Trends in Board Development: What It Takes to Provide Sustained Leadership.”
This in-depth program will address the most critical factors for building an effective nonprofit board. The session will also highlight current trends in board development and how those considerations and methods contribute to the growth of effective boards.
Gain expert insight into important club governance trends and issues, including:
- Recruitment for specific skills
- Committee structuring
- Dynamics between the board president and the club manager
- Role of the general manager in facilitating a more effective board
- Creating the environment and expectations to promote better boards
- Dealing with ineffective board members and other common pitfalls
- Best use of governance and nominating committees
- Structuring agendas to encourage collaboration
Linda Crompton was the President & CEO of BoardSource from 2007 until February 2013, when she left to form her own consulting practice—Crompton Consulting, LLC. She has more than 25 years of experience as a CEO in both the nonprofit and for profit sectors.
Crisis Communication: Being Prepared for the Unexpected
Imagine: A club member enjoys lunch at your club, only to find himself in the hospital that night with food poisoning. In today’s world of rapid, constant communications, allegations concerning health risks at your club’s dining room could quickly spread across Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other messaging networks.
Before you have even caught wind of an issue, much of your local community and media may be reacting negatively to a perceived crisis at your club. Controversy brought on by a crisis can cause significant headaches for an unprepared club, draining resources or threatening key components of operations.
Fortunately, many crises at clubs can be anticipated. Find out what steps your club should be taking to diminish the impact of a public scandal with “Crisis Communication: Being Prepared for the Unexpected.” This session will address the unique public relations issues that clubs—as institutions valuing privacy—face when they are brought into the public eye and how clubs can strategize to minimize the impact of bad press.
Insights for this program will be offered by Merrie Spaeth, a communications specialist with a unique background in media, government, politics, business and entertainment, who is acknowledged as one of the most influential communication counselors in the world.
Exceptional Board Practices: Case Studies in Board Leadership
A board’s focus on setting the club’s policy and direction is fundamental to its governance role—providing decisive leadership and making key decisions about mission and strategy. Learn how effective board leaders can significantly impact the level of a club’s achievements with “Exceptional Board Practices: Case Studies in Board Leadership.”
This panel discussion will addresses key questions in board development such as:
- What are the best practices for orienting new board members, once elected?
- When does a club need a strategic plan, and how can the process be simplified?
- With new communication technology, are regular, in-person meetings necessary?
- How can the general manager and the board function as partners, yet still maintain clear lines of responsibility?
- How and when should an executive committee be used?
This dynamic program will also address the specific responsibilities of club presidents, and best practices to help club presidents prepare for this role.
The panel will feature current and past presidents of prominent clubs, as well as two industry experts on club governance issues.
Dan Denehy is president of Club Thinking Partners, an executive search and management consulting practice specializing in private clubs and boutique resorts.
Dan Condon will serve as the panel moderator. Condon is one of the founding partners of Condon O’Meara McGinty & Donnelly LLP. He has more than 25 year’s experience working with nonprofit organizations.
For more information on the National Club Conference, or to register, please visit nationalclubconference.org.
The 2013 National Club Conference is sponsored by: Condon O’Meara McGinty & Donnelly LLP, Plastiq, the NCA Foundation, Northstar Club Management Software, ClubSoft, Clubessential, and Judd Brown Designs, Inc.
Curtis Rogers is NCA’s assistant manager, marketing communications.