ACROSS THE BOARD The Board Member Audit Is Your "Job Performance" Above Par? by Dr. Ted Flickinger IAPD Executive Director

Board members are charged with the responsibility of evaluating their executive, the agency's programs and services, as well as finances and long-range plans. But how often do board members evaluate the board as a whole as well as their own "job performance" as an individual board member?

In my experience working with boards for the IAPD Director Search Service and in other private consultations, I've found there are very few boards that, on a regular basis, evaluate the effectiveness of the board and its individual members.

If you want to build strong relationships and camaraderie among board members (and with outside organizations), an ongoing evaluation program becomes essential. Lack of unity in purpose and direction shows. Sometimes this creates conflict that can be seen at board meetings. The public can sense disharmony and you can bet the media will report it.

If you don't evaluate yourself as a board member and your board as a whole, your board can quickly become ineffective and unfocused.

The following checklist is designed to assist board members in assessing their responsibilities and duties. This list could serve as a resource in your board orientation and training programs. It is intended to provoke thinking and discussion about the many duties a board member must perform.

Individual Board Member Audit
* Do you have a clear understanding of your responsibilities as a board member?
* Are you familiar with the agency's mission, long-range plans, history and current policies?
* Do you fully understand your relationships with the executive director and agency employees?
* Are there any conflicts between your defined responsibility as a board member concerning the welfare and advancement of your agency and your responsibility to the citizens of your community?
* Have you and fellow board members adopted the IAPD Board Member Code of Ethics?
* Do you regularly attend agency events? Are you well informed about the type and quality of your agency's recreation services?
* Do you regularly attend board and committee meetings?
* Do you read the minutes of meetings to determine whether they faithfully represent the proceedings and decisions as you recall them?
* Are you well prepared for board meetings by reading agendas and supporting information?

6 * Illinois Parks & Recreation * November/December 1996

Entire Board Audit
* Does the board have adequate opportunity to review recommendations to curtail or eliminate programs or to establish new programs prior to taking action? Can board members identify the agency's weakest and strongest recreation programs?
* Does the board develop and follow measurable performance standards for the chief executive?
* Does the board meet with the auditor and director to discuss the audit process prior to the annual review?
* Does the board have a satisfactory means of communicating with the public?
* Is there an ongoing board orientation and training program?
* Are board members encouraged to attend the IAPD/IPRA Annual Conference and IAPD educational meetings to stay abreast of trends, issues, legislation and other public policy? Are board members given the opportunity to attend IAPD regional meetings to meet with board members and directors from other agencies?
* Has the board adopted a conflict-of-interest policy?
* Does the board meeting agenda address issues of policy? Is the agenda accompanied, in a timely fashion, with the appropriate supporting information?
* Does the board have a policy manual that consolidates and codifies policy decisions?
* Is there a climate of mutual trust and support between the board and chief executive?
* Has the board clearly described the authority the chief executive needs to successfully administer the agency? Does the board and chief executive have a clear sense of where their responsibilities begin and end?
* Has the board adopted effective policies concerning grievance procedures, standards for assessing executive performance, board review of programs and services?
* Has the board set policies and procedures for constituents appeal of perceived injustices?
* Has the board adopted policies that provide for the health and welfare of the citizens? Is there a risk management program in place to ensure a safe recreation environment?