Guides for your general meeting

• 9 steps to a successful AGM" - click here
• Use the AGM to reach your goals - click here
• Checklist for the conductor - click here

Seasonal guides from CFSA and more.

• How to work with association budgets and accounts
• The treasurer's tasks and role in voluntary organizations
• Responsibilities and tasks of the board of directors
• Fundraising in associations and volunteer organizations
• Make banking easier - guide for associations (FriSes guide)
• Recruiting young volunteers in schools and educational institutions
• How to recruit new volunteers

7 tips from CFSA

Board work is important because the more accurate, correct and well-functioning a board is, the better the rest of the organization works.

1) Bylaws, purpose and strategy
All board members should be familiar with the association's bylaws, purpose and strategy to ensure that they are the basis for the board's work at all times. Revisit and discuss the association's bylaws, purpose and strategy regularly at board meetings.

2) Governance documents
The association's governance documents ensure that there is a framework for your work in the board. That's why it's important that you keep track of your governing documents - and that you prepare the documents you may be missing. Key governance documents include articles of association, strategy, goal plan, rules of procedure, agendas, delegation plan and annual cycle. Use the governance documents actively in your board work.

3) Competencies
Create an overview of the board's skills and map out which skills you need, especially for the next 2-3 years. Make sure to continuously develop the board members' skills and that the board is broadly composed so that you can work seriously with both the association's strategy and target plan.

4) Finance, budget and accounts
The board budget meeting is the most important meeting of the year because this is where the board prioritizes and decides what the association's money will be spent on in the coming year. You should continuously monitor the association's finances and adjust the budget as needed to avoid unpleasant surprises at the end of the year.

5) Interaction between the board and the CEO
The board is responsible for creating a good interaction with the CEO. Make sure there is a clear division of responsibilities between the board and the CEO (this is where your delegation plan comes into play). It's also a good idea for the board to regularly align expectations with the CEO about goals, tasks and management collaboration.

6) The board's responsibility as employer
The board is the employer of the association's employees (including the general manager) and is therefore also responsible for the working environment in the association. It is also the board's responsibility that the association conducts Workplace Assessments (APV) and follows up on the well-being and development of volunteers and employees through, for example, annual performance reviews.

7) Follow up. Evaluate. Adjust!
As a board, you should regularly follow up and evaluate both the new ships you launch and the association's operations, including activities, finances, work environment and cooperation with the general manager. You should also regularly set aside time to evaluate the cooperation in the board. This gives you the opportunity to adjust and adapt to ensure that the association is always on the right track.

All 7 tips are based on CFSA's book: Leading a Cause. Primer for new board members in voluntary organizations - find it here.