Board orientation
Successful chapters have strong leaders. They have board members willing to lead and work to achieve the chapter’s mission and goals. Perhaps no other factor contributes to a chapter’s overall success than board leadership. Provide your newly elected directors and officers with orientation training that sets them up for success.
GCSAA staff can facilitate a Board Orientation Session at no cost to the chapter. Topics include:
- Governance — bylaws, SOPs, board roles and expectations, confidentiality and board business.
- Financials — budget, authorization, fiscal Responsibility, IRS considerations.
- Your chapter and GCSAA — field staff, affiliation agreement, insurance policies, voting.
- Teamwork — working together as a board, understanding conflict, Five Dysfunctions of a Team and lack of commitment.
Review the Board Orientation Guide. Contact Leann Cooper, senior manager, chapter services for additional information.
Board meetings
Record minutes at all board meetings and prepare them for review at the next meeting. Minutes should include:
- Formal action voted upon
- Summary of the outcomes of the meeting
- A list of those present, including guests
There is no need to record the general discussion leading up to the final voted action. If necessary, corrections and amendments can be made at the next meeting when the formal minutes should be officially approved. Minutes of your board of directors meetings are official documents and should be signed by the secretary and maintained in the association’s permanent files.
Assistant superintendent committees and board members
Assistants are the future of the golf course superintendent profession and the future leaders of the chapter. Assistant superintendents are eager to get more involved with their local chapters and look for opportunities to grow their leadership and communication skills.
Some chapters have an assistant superintendent representative on their board. This position helps keep the assistant member perspective communicated while providing leadership experience for the individual.
Other chapters have created an assistant superintendent committee. The committee is responsible for programming aimed at the assistant superintendent. The GCSAA Assistant Superintendent Committee produced a template that explains the benefits of creating an assistant board position or assistant superintendent committee.