They are volunteers, too!
Look here for information and the latest techniques to develop your board or committee. The purpose is to help those who work or serve on nonprofit boards of directors or committees.

~September 2008~

         Advisory groups—board or committee are not the same as a governing board.  There is a limit to their power, they are usually appointed by a legal (often governmental) entity, and sometimes the positions are dictated by policies or statute.  This does not mean they are a burden to be born by the manager of volunteers, but never really used.
         Advisory groups can be powerful in such things as influence, connections, and oversight.  The best and most effective advisory groups often have a set of guidelines to outline their role.  The outline is approved by management and shared with new members.  Here is a worksheet for you to complete.  If you have an advisory group, but no guidelines, this is a chance to write them.  If you have guidelines this is a chance to review them.

        Answers to these questions can help you evaluate the clarity of role and responsibility for the recruitment and appointment of advisory group members.  It can serve as a foundation to develop written guidelines to describe how the advisory group is appointed, its term of office, and the role it plays in organizational decision-making.