In addition to my professional work with nonprofits as a Senior Consultant with Project Partners, I also support a few organizations as a volunteer. Aside from the enjoyment of serving with other people with common interests and passions, I love being able to give back to my community in this way. There are also professional benefits, in that I learn so much along the way that I can share with clients. Over the Fourth of July weekend, I was given a fantastic lesson in board engagement.
The Arlington Public Library is supported in different ways by two boards of directors. The Library Advisory Board is appointed by the city council and makes recommendations to city staff and leadership on library policies and procedures. The Friends and Foundation of the Arlington Public Library is a separate 501c3 nonprofit with its own board (which I chair) that works to raise private funds to support the library and its wonderful programs.
The City of Arlington hosted “Light Up Arlington” on July 3, a multi-block festival that included food trucks, live music, and fireworks. The downtown library was right in the heart of the celebration, so library staff invited board members and families to come watch the fireworks from the library’s third floor rooftop garden – a front row seat!
It was a wonderful evening that truly made everyone feel like VIPs (note the photo of my daughter feeling exactly that way), gave us the opportunity to visit with one another (a rare opportunity since our two boards don’t interact very often), meet each other’s families, and share wonderful refreshments that were prepared by library staff. There was a feeling of genuine gratitude and comradery, and it was a special night for all involved.
Board service is hard work and does not always come with many “perks,” but library leadership found a creative way to bring staff and volunteers together, offer a unique event, all while keeping costs at a minimum. A win-win-win!
What are you doing to show your board that you appreciate the time and talent that they dedicate to your mission? We offer more than 100 ways in our blog post, (a perennial favorite), Love Your Volunteers. Enjoy, and thanks for all you do!