The phone rings. The executive director of one of our prestigious economic development organizations is on the line.  “Would you like to serve on our board?”

Your heart’s all aflutter and you feel honored. And you should be.

“Yes,” you say. At that moment you have entered a whole new world of responsibility and accountability. Print this story
Being asked to serve on a nonprofit or association board is a rite of passage for many local professionals. Board service builds your résumé, is a great way to network your business, and you can spend an hour a week giving back to the community. Agencies, bureaus, chambers and nonprofits rely on the business community’s leadership and dollars to steward them into the future.

We don’t want to throw the baby out with the bathwater but it’s important to draw some lines and point out that serving on a board is a big responsibility. The members of that association — or if they receive tax dollars, the taxpayers and elected officials — are counting on you to make sure the director and staff are operating in an effective and legal manner. That’s an important job.

Believe it or not there are boards in Tucson that really don’t want or care about outspoken opinions. Shocking but true, some boards might select you because you can’t spend that much time, or you won’t rock the boat. Besides, lighting the world on fire isn’t your cup of tea. In these instances you’ve been invited to be on the board to maintain the status quo. A board made of status quo keepers and poker buddies of the director are sure to lead that organization into the swamp of indifference.

Here are some tipoffs that you are serving on a board that isn’t really looking to have your voice heard:

• If the paid executive director identifies and invites you to the board there may be a problem.

• If you look around at other board members and see mid-level managers from unrelated industries it means the movers and shakers aren’t involved.

• If there are more than 20 board members there may be a problem.

• If the executive director withholds financial data or ignores your request for information, there might be a problem.

• If you’re wined and dined more than you’re asked to roll up your sleeves, there might be a problem.

• If the organization’s revenues are shrinking, customer base is evaporating and effectiveness is diminishing all the while the staff is getting raises, there might be a problem.

• If your board meetings revolve around golf, travel or lavish meals, there might be a problem.

• If your board meets once a quarter, once a year or regularly misses its quorum, there might be a problem.

• If the ability to bring in fresh blood on the board isn’t there, there may be a problem. Some boards recycle the director’s old friends again and again.

• If you look around and see the same 10 or so people on every other board you’re on, there might be a problem.

• If your board comes with free parking for life and there are over 70 members there might be a problem.

A note of wisdom from two self-proclaimed wise guys, think long and hard before you say yes to joining the swanky new board of the week. Be prepared to learn the market of the organization you are volunteering for. Take the time visit with staff and customers. Do your homework. Look to competitive organizations to see what the management is doing right and what they are doing wrong. Speak up, ask the tough questions and hold the staff of the chamber, bureau or nonprofit accountable for decisions.

There are people within the organization or in the community that depend on you doing your part to ensure things are on the up-and-up. Ask yourself: Are my actions on this board serving the least of the my members? If they are, then you’re on the right track.

If you take your role for granted we all lose. Do the right thing, we are all depending on you.

Contact Joe Higgins at joe@joehigginsinc.com or Chris DeSimone at provenpartners@comcast.net. They’re the hosts of “Wake Up Tucson,” which airs 6 – 8 a.m. weekdays on The Voice KVOI 1030-AM. Check out their blog at www.TucsonChoices.com.

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