Deborah S. Rice

            As many of you know from previous reports, AGEHR has moved to a governing board model  established by John Carver, internationally recognized as the creator of breakthrough board leadership models.  Mr. Carver has over 20 years of international experience developing various types of Boards.  His common-sense, practical approach provides sound advice for non-profit board management.

            Mr. Carver’s recommendations for non-profit boards insist time and time again that boards like ours must focus on service to people-namely the membership.  It is our membership that justifies the existence of AGEHR.  Our mission statement of being “dedicated to advancing the art of handbell/handchime ringing through education, community and communication” already reflects this important Carver philosophy.

            Our National Board will be responsible for creating AGEHR’s future, but not managing the day-to-day operations.  Instead, the Board is dedicated to creating the goals that AGEHR should accomplish to move the organization in a positive direction.

            Those of you with Long-Range and/or Strategic Planning experience know exactly what I’m talking about.  This type of work has been part of AGEHR’s experience for many years.  The big difference now is that, instead of being part-time work by an Executive Committee, it becomes the full time objective of the Board. 

            The goals we create through this kind of leadership will not mandate what our Executive Director and staff will do for AGEHR.  Instead, these statements that John Carver refers to as “policies” will set forth a broad vision of our expectations, so that our Executive Director, staff and any other appointments made by the Executive Director (perhaps from many of you) will have full leverage for implementation.

            So, where are we right now in this process?  I found that answer in John Carver’s “Reinventing Your Board” as he states “several annual cycles are required before the Board comes near its  potential in   visionary leadership.”

            As President-Elect, I’m holding on to these words.  We’ve taken a big step to adopt this type of board management.  I know there is uncertainty within our membership about what appears to be taking too much of the management of the organization away from the members.  But if AGEHR is going to grow, we need a full time professional with experience in business, fund raising and personnel management.  We are primarily musicians.  As good, devoted and loving as our intentions are for AGEHR we lack the expertise to do this any longer by ourselves.

            From that vantage point, this new structure makes good sense because it gives those of us who know the art authority to set the standards for the future.  Next, a professional with management skills orchestrates how these standards are best accomplished.

            In this relationship, our Board and the Executive Director become a leadership team.  Yet we each have clearly differentiated responsibilities.  The Board projects the vision. This empowers the Executive Director, the staff, and volunteers like you to implement. 

            Once our Board reaches full maturity its role should be to stay a step ahead of what the staff would be charged to coordinate.  The Board should not act as the final authority, but BE the initiating authority. 

            So how can you help? 

·         First of all be patient as we work to complete the transition. 

·         Secondly, share with us - your needs, passions and desires.  We want to take your pulse on what’s           important to you about being part of AGEHR. Call, write or email us. 

·         And lastly, be supportive in helping us attain realistic goals—something that could encompass a wide range of services from financial giving to coordinating event activities or perhaps even to engaging in       research for special projects.  Your voice, now more than ever, will be so important to our future.