Has your board stepped up to the strategic planning and policy role? Or is it mired in detail, with a tendency to micro-manage?
Do your Friends seem more like “Fiends?”
Is your director unable to make administrative decisions without being second guessed?
If the answer to any of these questions is yes, consider developing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) or memoriandum of agreement to clarify and separate the roles of executive director, board, Friends, staff, volunteers–whatever groups you feel have potential for conflict or confusion.
Examples of MOUs may be found here. But remember, the process is more important than the product. Getting representatives from these groups around the same table to talk about their respective roles is the real benefit to this process. The MOU then provides a good tool for communicating to others.
I’d love to hear from you if you’ve used such a process or would like to try it.
