NBOA President and CEO
Independent school leaders talk often and at length about the independent school business model. Rightfully, so. It may therefore interest you to know that an essential element of NBOA’s business model and other associations’ is volunteer engagement. Said another way, we would not be able to deliver the programs, products and services that you and your school rely upon without time and expertise from member volunteers. From the NBOA Board of Directors to speakers at the NBOA Annual Meeting, volunteers are the only way that NBOA can do what we collectively do.
Research from my professional organization, the American Society of Association Executives, indicates that volunteers, on average, perform 20 to 25 percent of an effective association’s work (as measured in hours). Thus, systems that maximize the effectiveness and impact of volunteers are essential to an association’s overall health.
The first goal of our 2018-2021 strategic planis to further strengthen NBOA’s community by fostering an engaged, informed and diverse membership.
Fortunately, the spirit of volunteerism has been in the DNA of NBOA since its founding in 1998. That’s why the first goal of our 2018-2021 strategic plan developed by the Board is to further strengthen NBOA’s community by fostering an engaged, informed and diverse membership. This goal explicitly calls out expanding and enhancing structures and functions that promote meaningful member participation.
It’s clear how the membership benefits from volunteers, but what about the volunteers themselves? Volunteering provides an opportunity to share your experience and insights within the NBOA community and identify yourself as a committed member with aspirations for future leadership and governance opportunities.
We are fortunate to have a deep pool of smart, talented and generous members to support the work of NBOA and the independent school community. We are asking you to help strengthen NBOA and consider serving on one of NBOA councils and committees during the upcoming 2019-20 school year. The following opportunities are available to support the sharing of knowledge and facilitate connections among NBOA members who share common issues, challenges and opportunities:
Controllers Council: An advisory and outreach council formed to support members in the Controller role at their school.
Human Resources Council: An advisory and outreach council formed to support members in the Human Resources role at their school.
Net Assets Editorial Advisory Council: An advisory and outreach council formed to support NBOA's Net Assets, a family of publications (magazine, newsletter and website) focused exclusively on business and operational issues facing K-12 independent schools.
NBOA Connect Ambassadors: A group of volunteers who serve to help increase peer member engagement in the NBOA Connect online communities by responding to posts.
Annual Meeting Program Advisory Committee (AMPAC): A committee that facilitates the review and selection of Annual Meeting sessions and programs.
Business Officer Institute (BOI) Faculty: Program facilitators for NBOA's Business Officer Institute, a five-day program held each summer that immerses business officers who are new or relatively new to their role in key issues of the independent school world. Note the 2019 BOI Faculty is already established.
By volunteering for NBOA, it’s likely you will gain as much as you give to your association and your peers – a group that has been recognized as one of the most collegial among the national independent school community. Please consider the volunteer characteristics and responsibilities outlined, and let us know if you are interested in serving a two-year term. You may submit an interest form now through Friday, June 7.
Another hallmark of the NBOA community is the high degree of collaboration and peer-to-peer learning among the membership. Nowhere is this showcased more than at the Annual Meeting. NBOA seeks volunteers to present their expertise on business and operational solutions to challenges facing independent schools at the 2020 NBOA Annual Meeting, "Envisioning the Future," next February 23-26 in Orlando, Florida. Please consider submitting a proposal for an educational session. The call for proposal concludes on May 31.
Associations make the world smarter, safer and better. NBOA accomplishes this for business officers, business offices and independent school communities only with your help. Thank you for your membership, your partnership and for considering this call to volunteer for your professional association.
