Advice for new board members

This page is to hold advice and links for board members to pass along.

1. MakeICT is an all-volunteer organization, run on volunteer energy, that our leaders can channel and attempt to prioritize for the greater good. Remember - if a week goes by when you're not asking for help, you're doing it wrong. Sometimes we'll ask for help 57 times and on the 58th time, a fantastic volunteer steps in. Always think of ways to engage new helpers.
2. There is a directors-only email list (directors@makeict.org). Try to never use it. Use the admin list or forum, even if you're discussing board member things that might seem boring or like little noise, they might have something to add. Only use directors if it's an issue about a person that requires absolute privacy.
3. Keep board meetings to 60-90 minutes. People tend to get sick of each other after that. Deal with discussions and debates in email/forum, use the board meeting for the quick actual vote, not the deciding or working out wording in a policy. See also: Policy writing best practices
4. Check the Annual Calendar page to see what's coming up. The board should be looking ahead.
5. Be very familiar with all best practices, bylaws, standing rules, rules and policies
6. Keep the wiki updated.
7. Attend the area lead meetings if you'd like, but don't step into area lead business, keep a line of separation. Empower them as much as possible and don't tell them how to run their areas. Pick the best leads you can in December, then step away.
8. Communicate, even if you have nothing to communicate.
9. A million new ideas come up every day. Try to "yes, and..." each other like an improv comedy troop. Technical people have a bad habit of saying "no" first. Be supportive!
10. When someone says "we should do this" remind them that "we" is the membership, so they are empowered to go do it! There are very few things that must be done by a board member personally. Make sure the bulk of your time is spent helping other people being productive rather than doing things yourself.
11. Commit to what you can do and do it. Say no to what you can't do. Don't apologize for NOT having the hours or energy to do work, you're a volunteer. Over-committing is much worse than saying no in the first place.
12. If you ever feel burnt out or sick of this place, make something. Get back to your roots and remember why you joined MakeICT.
13. Recognize your fellow board members. Thank each other for the work you're doing.
14. Go out to breakfast once a month to catch up and relax. Do not talk about board stuff. We used to go out for a donut, but then realized we needed bacon and table service.
15. Be excellent to each other.
16. Thanks for taking your time to be on the board. It is hard work. People will forget that and will tend not to thank you and they will sound like awful complainers sometimes. But they really do appreciate you doing this.