“Don’t ever forget that you’re a citizen of this world, and there are things you can do to lift the human spirit – things that are easy, things that are free, things that you can do every day: Civility, respect, kindness, character.” ― Aaron Sorkin
I’ve been covering Meeker’s Town Board meetings since the early 2000s. Without fail, it’s my favorite board to report on because, quite simply, it works. The staff and the board cooperate. The concerns of the public are heard and responded to, and business is conducted with transparency. In the case of last week’s meeting, the way an appointment to a local board was handled was exemplary.
It may be the first time I recall any board asking really relevant questions of the applicants. I’ve heard interviews that were purely politicized in nature and I’ve heard interviews with the kind of milk toast questions you’d ask a middle schooler trying to join an afterschool club. The questions asked of the applicants for the library board seat last week were direct, relevant to the situation, pertinent for each applicant, and reflective of not only why they applied but what their qualifications were. Kudos to the Town.
When we just take the first warm body that shows up (or are the first warm body) the results are usually less than stellar. We end up with board members with vendettas, board members with big ambitions, board members with zero qualifications or experience for that board, and board members with ego problems. This creates dysfunctional boards with lots of interpersonal noise and unnecessary conflict.
Does this example of representative government mirror what we see on a larger scale? I think it does. It’s hard to choose someone to effectively represent the interests of the people when there are only a fraction who step up to serve. It starts at the local level and works its way up the chain.
All that said, ‘tis the season for board nominations. If you take a gander at public notices you’ll see a number of opportunities to put your name in the hat for board service. Once upon a time I naively encouraged everyone to “just get involved.” Now I encourage people to find out what they’re getting involved with first. Give it at least the same effort you’d put into buying a new couch or a fancy outfit.
Try it on for size by attending a couple board meetings before you commit. See if the atmosphere of the board is something you can be part of without rubbing your fur the wrong way (no one enjoys touchy, fretful, offended board members). You might be incredibly passionate about the organization’s mission, but if you have personality conflicts with the rest of the board or the staff or can’t abide the way the meetings are done, you won’t be a help, you’ll be a hindrance. Read over the mission statement and bylaws for the organization; do you agree with them as they are? It’s like marriage… don’t assume you’ll be able to change the organization to suit yourself, that never ends well for anyone. Do you have potential conflicts of interest that could present a problem down the road? These are all things that should be done before you put in an application.
Don’t give up if the first one you try doesn’t fit well. You never know where you might fit. When it’s a good fit, it’s good for you AND good for the board and the organization it serves.
