The Hospitality Suite

Thank you Nikki, for taking the time to express your concerns. Yes, there have been a couple of examples where board members have missed two or three meetings in a row. Hectic personal schedules were to blame, and to their credit, these board members didn’t expect to be paid for those absences. Nonetheless, current bylaws require the board to hold two meetings per month. Resulting efficiency of the board is only compromised when members are missing.

It’s also true that board members are paid modestly, compensating for duties and responsibilities that go well beyond attendance at meetings. This area of additional “duties and responsibilities” is one where I hope to encourage greater productivity and efficiency.

For example, our current board is very effective with email communication. Email makes it possible to frequently handle business between meetings, weekends, etc. Occasionally I hear objections to email discussions (versus face-to-face meetings), and I understand that. But I also believe that email has significant advantages in context of board discussions. Email has a tendency to focus the discussion, provides a written transcript, and is far more accessible to board members who don’t reside in town.

We must also encourage our elected officers to write and present their viewpoints in a public forum. This increased public visibility will strengthen our collective viewpoints and simultaneously create a forum for debate. Disagreements often arise within a board, as they should. Differing opinions lead to necessary and healthy discourse, but it serves no purpose if these discussions are confined to the boardroom … does it make a sound?

Pete Vriesenga

Pete Vriesenga Local Discussion, Pete Vriesenga