From the Board of Trustees
by Peter Horton, Trustee

What I’ve Learned Being On The Board and Why You Are Missing Out

I must let you know that this is my last Comment article as a UUCD Board member. After six years on our Board, it is time for me to pass the opportunity on to someone else. Humor me while I pass on some insights.
What baffles me the most is why folks turn down the opportunity to be on the Board, whether as a member at large or an officer. Why is it so challenging for the Nominating Committee to find candidates. You all should be lined up waiting for this opportunity. I’ve asked folks straight up, why aren’t you on the Board. And almost immediately they get this horrified look on their face followed by a quick “no way”. So okay, I do acknowledge that Board work is not for everyone, but it’s not not for everyone. Half of our members are well qualified to serve.

So, let’s take a look at some of the reasons why you all turn down the opportunity:
• Monthly commitment – hmm, this is a baffling reason because everyone I talk to has multiple commitments every month that they gleefully sign up for.
• “I don’t travel at night.” Okay, this is actually a real excuse. I’ve driven behind drivers at night who should not be on the road. So, thank you for not being “one of those”.
• “I’ve heard there is lots of drama at Board meetings and drama is the last thing I need right now.” Who told you there’s lots of drama? Not me or the other Board members. But yes, over the last ten years there has been some drama. The drama has gone away as good, repeatable processes and behaviors have taken over. I get that most folks don’t want chaos and uncertainty. That’s not what the Board is today or for the last several years. And frankly, when you have a minister like Rev. Tony who brings a ton of institutional knowledge, Board meetings have certainty and predictability.

Why should you be on the Board? Better yet why was I on the Board and would, and will, do it again?
• I like being on a committee (yes, we are pretty much just another committee) that gets to talk about and wrestle with big picture stuff. I’m not good at details, particularly at my age. I’m not fond of doing “operations” stuff. You know, the nitty gritty of setting up an event. But I’m still good at seeing the trees, the forest, and knowing how they fit into a big, sometimes complex, picture, big picture stuff.
• I do like having to wrestle with short-term stuff that needs to happen in the next month or so. And long-term issues that won’t have an impact on our congregation for a year or more down the road. Good examples, what’s the agenda and the vibe of the upcoming annual meeting; what needs to happen with the cottage.
• Most importantly for me, it’s the intimacy and transparency that Board work requires. As a Board member, you can’t hide hoping no one notices you or calls on you. There’s a level of honesty that sometimes I’d like to avoid but I know that doesn’t make for a healthy Board. Ask other Board members, I’m that guy that inevitably brings up some stinky little detail that we could have ignored. Yea, I am a bit annoying in that regard, but I do believe it’s been helpful for the last six years.

I’m hoping a bunch of you see bits and pieces of yourselves in some of my comments. Please don’t cringe the next time someone asks you to be on the Board. These past six years have been very good for me for a bunch of reasons. I want you to have the same opportunities.