The 3 People You Need Working with your Event Planner

Corporate training meeting, customer appreciation, fundraiser, awards ceremony, golf outing, employee picnic. Whatever you call it, it’s an event. Time to form the committee.

Member #1. Senior level staff member. Not their secretary. This member might not do most of the work, but that’s okay, you have an event planner. You need this person at the meetings because they offer the big picture vision for the purpose of the event. They provide credibility that the event is important so when you ask for help it will be given.

Member #2. Junior level employee. They work hard, they are climbing to the top! They are quick to prioritize the fun. They are full of ideas that will make the event memorable for the guests..

Member #3 Executive assistant. This person is well connected to all aspects of what is important to the company. They also have access to decision makers and decision makers' assistants so things get done. If an important detail is hanging on a decision from a VP this is the person who will get the answer.

That’s it. It can be tempting to include more, but the saying about too many cooks in the kitchen is true. With a small, fine-tuned committee working with the event planner, your event will come together looking polished and well-run.

Photo from the Automotive Women's Alliance Foundation December 2012 Holiday Event, Photo credit: Suzanne Yurenka

Recruiting a Great Board Member

The leadership of a board of directors is crucial to any organization or association. If they are not strong or make uninformed decisions they can have a profound affect. So, when recruiting volunteers to the board it is important to take the time and effort so they understand their fiduciary responsibility to the organization. A Board of Directors is responsible for the management of the organization and a lack of leadership will lead to a lack of progress towards the mission. Working with so many nonprofit organizations and
associations, these are the four qualities I have observed that make effective board members:

1. Have a passion for the mission of the organization. Board members are the organization’s biggest advocates. They are not paid to do their job. As volunteers, if they don’t believe in why you exist and think it is extremely important they won’t be effective. They won’t recruit new members or ask people to donate to the organization.
2. They take their fiduciary responsibilities seriously by attending board meetings regularly, reviewing the financial and  general reports of the organization. The job of the board of directors, according to state law, is management of the Association.
3. They are willing to donate financially to the organization. If you are a 501(c)3 and you ask donations of foundations or corporations, often they'll question if 100 percent of your board gives to the organization. If they don’t, they will wonder why they should give to your mission or cause if your board doesn't believe enough in it to do so. And, stating that they give their time doesn't cut it.
4. They have a special skill or professional experience that is needed. Often it is good to have someone who has a legal background, someone who has a financial background and someone who has a marketing background on the board. In addition, you will want people who are leaders in your industry.

These are the four qualities I feel are most important when assembling a highly productive board. What qualities do you and your organization seek most?