In March, we hired a consultant, Jessica Edris, from the Good Collective to help us review and update our bylaws while identifying areas to improve our structure and goverance to meet the demands of our growing membership and expanding scope of work. Hiring full-time staff is a long-term strategic goal, and we need to responsibly prepare for that, too. The three key objectives we identified are:
- Review organization's bylaws and make recommendations to attorney of record to ensure compliance, clarity, and alignment with best practices in nonprofit governance.
- Develop structure and establish board committees to distribute responsibilities effectively and increase board and volunteer engagement.
- Develop a comprehensive board-recruitment strategy and onboarding packet and plan to attract diverse and skilled individuals who are passionate about the organization's mission.
We call it Project BRAAP (Board Revamping and Action Plan)
Next Steps:
To determine and implement these important changes, we are working with our consultant, retaining legal council, and relying on information and feedback gathered in our member survey conducted in March. Jessica of the Good Collective also conducted one-on-one interviews with our Trail Ambassadors. We conducted multiple in-person meetings of a working group comprised of members, officers, and board members. From that work, we developed three key steps to take, outlined below.
Bylaws Review and Revision:
- Conduct a thorough review of the organization's existing bylaws, identifying areas for improvement, clarification, and alignment with legal requirements.
- Suggest revisions to the bylaws, incorporating recommendations for updates and enhancements.
- Facilitate discussions with key stakeholders, including board members and legal advisors, to finalize the revised bylaws.
- Present final by-law revisions for final approval.
Board Committee Establishment:
- Conduct a needs assessment to determine the specific areas where board committees would add value, such as finance, fundraising, marketing, trails maintenance, events planning, communications, and governance.
- Develop job descriptions for each proposed committee, outlining their purpose, responsibilities, composition, and reporting structure.
- Facilitate the establishment of board committees, providing guidance on recruitment, selection of committee chairs, and initial work planning.
Board Recruitment Strategy:
- Conduct a competencies matrix to identify gaps in the current board's expertise and demographics.
- Develop a recruitment plan outlining targeted approaches to attract candidates with the skills, experience, and diversity needed to strengthen the board.
- Utilize a variety of channels, including personal networks, online platforms, community outreach, and partnerships with relevant organizations, to recruit prospective board members.
- Design an onboarding process to welcome and train new board members and ensure their smooth integration into their roles and responsibilities.
Timeline:
- Bylaws Review and Revision: May and June
- Board Committee Establishment: June and July
- Board Recruitment Strategy: July and August
If you have questions about this plan, or suggestions, please reach out to any VMB officer or board member or email question to info@bikevmb.com
The Board and Officers of Valley Mountain Bikers