Page 15 - Fall 2021 inLEAGUE with Historic Theatre Resource Guide/Allied Member Directory

Three Board Committees

(continued from page 11)

This structure has several key advantages: finance, human resources, and facilities-are
handled by this committee which is staffed by
• Each board member serves on just one the CFO and the Director of HR (or the ED where
committee and focuses on interrelated issues. these positions do not exist).

• It requires fewer meetings, making less work External Affairs Committee: All external issues-
for staff. including fundraising, public relations, and
marketing — are the responsibility of this
• The accountability lines of the three committee, which is staffed by the Development
committees are clear. Director (or by the ED).

• Board meetings can be organized around Governance Committee: This committee is
the three committees’ reports, reinforcing the responsible for the health and functioning of
importance of their work and affording more the board. It recruits new members, conducts
time for “generative thinking.” orientation, produces board materials, and
evaluates the performance of the board itself.
Committee Responsibilities This committee, staffed by the ED, is arguably the
most important of the three. It is responsible for
Internal Affairs Committee: All internal and ensuring the effectiveness of the current board
operational issues-including those related to and for recruiting tomorrow’s leaders.

The Executive Committee: Many nonprofits have
an Executive Committee, typically conceived
The Voice of with a mandate to “take care of issues that
come up between board meetings.” Over time,
the Theatre however, an Executive Committee often begins
to usurp the role of the board. It works closely
Museum-quality restoration and with the ED and so hears of issues before they
conservation of historic pipe organs come to the full board, helping the ED to resolve
Wurlitzer Organ, Opus 1956 (1928) them in advance of the next board meeting. As
Orpheum Theatre, Memphis, Tennessee a result, board meetings can become a series
(Photo by Zack Orsborn, Orpheum Theatre Group) of reports by this committee and the ED on
actions they have taken. Over time, other board
members may feel they have no meaningful role
in decision-making.

Our advice: If your board meets fairly frequently
— monthly or bimonthly — task your Executive
Committee with organizing the agenda and
nothing more. The only exception should be a
true crisis in which the executive needs help.
In conclusion, nonprofits that have adopted
this three-committee structure and that have
limited the role of the Executive Committee, as
described above, report that their boards have
become significantly more effective as a result.
JL Weiler, Inc.
PIPE ORGAN CURATORS, CONSERVATORS & CONSULTANTS
1845 South Michigan Avenue #1905, Chicago, Illinois 60616
312-842-7475 | jeff@jlweiler.com | www.jlweiler.com
PAGE 12 | INLEAGUE League of Historic American Theatres
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