Musings about 
Life, the Universe, and Everything * 
from Linda / LUE-42 Enterprises 

Issue #78; August 2017
Coming in AUGUST

AUGUST is Happiness Happens, Romance Awareness, and Water Quality Month

1 Girlfriends Day!
3 India Pale Ale Day
  4 Intern'l Beer Day
7 Global Forgiveness Day
8 Intern'l Cat Day
8 Bowling Day
9 Intern'l Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples (UN)
11 Play in the Sand Day
12 Intern'l Youth Day (UN)
15 Relaxation Day
16 Wave at the Surveillance Cameras Day
17 Thrift Shop Day
19 World Humanitarian Day (UN)
23 Intern'l Day for Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Its Abolition (UNESCO)
29 Intern'l Day Against Nuclear Tests (UN)
30 Grief Awareness Day

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Shout Out!
 
A big thanks to some who made my life better in July!

MaryJane Alanko
Jenny & Colin Arnott
Leslie Arnott
Erica Brown
Julianna Cantwell
Bobbi Fitzgerald
Mandy Foster
Liz Garratt
Andrew Hoskins
Joe Howdle
Dianne Johnstone
Karen MacKenzie
Robyn Mott
Jenny Narine
Margaret Nickel
Andy Norrhrup
Gerald Osborn
Lori Schmidt
Mike Smith-Knutsen
Jill Wood
Dave Sutherland
Theresa Tsoukalas
 
"My fondest hope is that I may be worthy of a place in your friendship, and being admitted to that sacred circle, that I may never prove unfaithful to your trust in me."
 -- Edwin Grover
 
Links/Websites   
 
When Leadership Stress Leads to Addiction (Excellent article from Forbes) Click Here

Article on Bad Board Behaviour and Bylaws killing an organization (It happens...) Click Here

Another Article on Bad Board Behaviour (Takes the fun out of volunteering) Click Here

Cockatiel Performs Elvis (It's pretty funny!)
Click Here

Do You Have to Pull Over for a Funeral Procession?
(Stuff you might not know that we are just expected to know) Click Here

What a Wonderful World (Stunning BBC Commercial about a series)
Click Here 

10 Photos 1944 and 2014 (Click on each photo to see the difference time has made. Fascinating!)
Click Here

LUE-42 Enterprises (Mine) 
www.lue42.com  
Northern Sabbatical Productions (Mine) 
www.northernsabbatical.com   
Heard in the
Boardroom
Questions for Board Meetings
Reader Notes
 
Wish I'd said that...
   
8 WAYS TO REMEMBER ANYTHING
     Here a summary of a Psychology Today article by Alex Lickerman MD about boosting your memory and keeping it strong.

1. Become interested in what you are learning. If you care, you remember more.
2. Leverage your vision memory. Associate what you want to remember with an image.
3. Create a mental memory tree. Memorize chunks of info, like you would a phone number.
4. Associate what you're trying to learn with what you already know.
Connect ideas, people, etc.
5. Write out item to be memorized over and over again. Make lists, repeat.
6. Summarize each paragraph in the margin (when reading for retention).
7. Do most of your studying in the afternoon. Even if you are a night owl or a morning person.
8. Get adequate sleep before and after studying. Don't cram.


Here's the link to the article and the science behind it. Click Here

 

 

Need a website or a reboot?

 

 

Are YOU under all that clutter?

 


Inspired Living and Working

Books by Moi   

 

Understanding Bylaws: A Guide for Directors of Not-For-Profit Organizations

ISBN 978-0-9866030-0-6

 (NOTE: There is good stuff in here, but this book isn't aligned with the Federal NFP Corporations Act or the new BC Societies Act. Email me directly with your bylaws questions about NFPs registered federally or in BC)

 

 Exceptional Board Members, Exceptional Boards 

ISBN 978-0-9866030-1-3

    

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Spread the Word!

    


     For a while it seemed summer would never get here, and now it's nearly done. I celebrated Girlfriends Day a month early with a roadtrip with my Twisted Sisters. It was great to just share a meal, laugh, and cry (mostly from laughing) with people I've known and loved for such a long time.
     I also celebrated it with an amazing trip to Sicamous BC made possible by a dear friend (and distant relative). Leslie transpired to have herself (from Melbourne, Australia) and me impose on relatives in the middle of BC. It worked like a charm! I'm a grateful but not a terribly useful house guest, but the one thing I can do is host Taco Night. So here is me, making myself at home in Jenny and Colin's kitchen, hoping like heck that everyone likes tacos. Because I did not/do not have a Plan B.


      I had my first pickle ball lesson and while I was not a natural, I didn't die from it either. I will have another look at the fastest growing sport in Canada. I also attended a great evening out with a friend at a Women of Jazz concert. The stories were as entertaining as the music, and the company was awesome.
     I started taking a social media course with, and by, wonderful women. I have been avoiding this and am surprised not by how much I don't know, but by how much fun it is.
     I had a long overdue trip to Golden in an effort to get my play back on track. Certainly the inspiration is still there so that, combined with the brainstorming efforts of friends, has me getting reacquainted with my script. It really is time to finish another play!
     After all this time I finally paid a visit to the Golden museum. I knew it was going to be a great experience when I saw this on the walkway outside the entrance. I have a rule that I can never just walk over a hopscotch -- I must do it. So I did. Twice. It's still fun. And the whole trip, hopscotch and all, was good for my soul.

     I continued working on my Inspired Living and Working and met some other participants in the program. Funny, but when you open up about what is happening in your life/business/world I am reminded that I'm never alone on the journey.

     I was a guest on a recent episode of the Eskimo Empire podcast. What a blast sitting around and talking football on the "radio." It was abundantly clear I am not using many of the technology tools available for my business. Hence the reference to the course above by Erica at BeWell Web Designs. You, dear readers, will be the beneficiaries of this. I am certain of it.
      I am also certain I have the best friends and family and circle of people in my life. I am so thankful for that, and also for when friends share the perfect things with you at the perfect time. Here's one -- Thank You, Karen! Have a great month, and stay safe and clear from the fires.

   
   
/lmwe 
The Answer   



 

Q: IS THERE ANYTHING SPECIAL I SHOULD THINK ABOUT BEFORE JOINING A BOARD?
  
A: Absolutely!                       
 
       I am often asked by designated professions whether they have a higher standard of care when sitting on a board. my honest answer is...possibly. BUT! You only owe a higher duty of care on a subject for which you are an expert. That is, if you are a CPA you would have a higher standard of care when reviewing financial statements and audit reports. If you're a governance nerd, like me, you  have a higher standard on an organization's effective governance.
     In June Jesse A. Millard wrote a good article on what you should know before you join a non-profit board. The article is focused on corporate directors, whereas I usually deal with people who don't serve on boards AT ALL in hopes of involving them.
     I couldn't agree more when he says, "As a board member, you have to ensure that you're carrying out the fiduciary duties, which is a mighty responsibility." He adds that "you have the same fiduciary duties, same duty of good faith, same duty of care, and same duty of loyalty on a nonprofit board as you have as a member of a for-profit board."
     In spite of this, Millard observes that some business leaders take avoidable risks on not-for-profit boards. He speculates that this is because they don't fully understand that they are running a business. 
     An easy way to visualize the difference between a not-for-profit and a corporation is with hats. Simply remember which hat you're wearing when you're doing board work, including limitations and powers. For example, board members should not sign papers on behalf of the organization unless the board passes a resolution appointing you as the authorized agent to sign documents.
     Millard also suggests collecting proper documentation (e.g., minutes of past meetings, Articles of Incorporation, bylaws) before serving. In addition, all insurances should be reviewed to ensure the are up to date and at the correct level.
     Another safeguard is to not accept money as a board member. As long as you don't accept money, you're considered a volunteer under most legislation and therefore not liable for negligence. Accepting an honorarium could mean losing your protections as a volunteer.
     And of course, don't serve unless you can attend the meetings. If you're not present at the meetings, you can't fulfill your fiduciary duty. If you can't do that, then it's really not time for you to be on that board.

/lmwe


"I Just Have a Question..."


     All the information was submitted in detail and in advance of the meeting. You're just about ready to call the question, when a director interrupts with, "I just have a question..."
     I really enjoyed this article by Bob Harris and Trevor S. Mitchell. They say what we all think -- did we really miss something of are we about to be taken down a rabbit hole? Harris and Mitchell tell you it is almost always a rabbit hole! It could be for nefarious reasons but most likely it is because the board member didn't read the package or wasn't listening. They offer a few techniques so we don't fall for this seemingly harmless question:

- Chair says "That's a great question, let's take it up during the break."
- "Point of Order" (if you're following parliamentary procedure.
- Have another board member ask "What is the strategic relevance of this discussion to the topic?" or "How does this advance our strategic plan?"
- Index cards: If a question/idea is not directly related and won't impact the decision, have them write it on an index card. It is passed to staff/committee/officers and the answer is given at the close of the meeting.
- A "weeds" sign on the table that can be pointed to when the board is not being high-level and is getting into the weeds.

     The authors stress that it's important to talk about this during orientation to help make it a safe place to bring items back on track.

Here's a link to the article  Click here 
Volunteers Define Leadership       


     Robert C. Harris, CAE recently asked volunteers on US-based not-for-profit boards about what leadership meant to them. As you review the following themes, think about your own board and its leadership:

Desired characteristics:
  • Invisible, deflecting the credit for success.
  • Leads by example.
  • (Good) listener.
  • Knowledgeable.
  • Organized.
  • Innovative.
  • Provide answers and solutions, and don't get stuck on problems.
  • An active participant.
  • Facilitate discussions and meetings effectively.
  • Balanced approach; fair.
  • Inspire and motivate.
  • (Good) observer.
  • Passionate.
  • Humble.
  • Accessible.
  • Kind but firm.
  • Facilitate but do not impose.
  • Open minds and open doors.
  • It's not about you.
  • A member of a team.
Results driven:
  • Facilitate the vision and self-actualization of others.
  • Fulfill social responsibility.
  • Guide people to achieve what they need and want.
  • Help others by focusing on resolutions.
  • Advance the visions of others.
  • Facilitate personal and professional development.
  • Organizations provide platforms for leadership.
  • Service to others and society.
  • Help others achieve their dreams.
  • Continually improve the organization.
  • Mentor.
It's brief, but here's the full article. Click Here  

About LUE-42 Enterprises 



Contact LUE-42 Enterprises  lue42@shaw.ca  www.lue42.com