Successful Markets have Successful Boards

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Successful Marketshave Successful Boards

• Lynda Brushett, Ph. D.
• Cooperative Development Institute
• www.cdi.coop
• 603-664-5838

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What does the Board do?

• Governs
• Leads
• Legal and organizational oversight

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Two Basic Board models

• Working
• Policy

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Top 10 Board Responsibilities

• Determine mission and purpose
• Hire manager
• Provide financial oversight
• Ensure adequate resources
• Accountable for legal ethical integrity

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Board Responsibilities continued

• 6. Lead organizational planning
• 7. Recruit and orient new board members assess
  board performance
• 8. Enhance the Market's community standing
• 9. Determine, monitor, and strengthen the
  Market's programs and services
• 10. Support the manager and assess performance

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3 Ds Board Members Legal Responsibilities

• Duty of care
• Duty of loyalty
• Duty of obedience

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Responsibilities of Board Members

• Participate fully
• Be informed
• Inform others

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What makes a successful Farmers Market Board?

• GREAT members
• GREAT information
• GREAT environment

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AND.GREAT meetings

• Value attendance make it worthwhile
• Convenient time and location
• Meet for a reason
• Written, doable agenda sent in advance
• Start on time stick to the agenda end on time
• Make it satisfying to be a member
• Evaluate

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Effective meetings embrace

• Civility
• Consensus
• Committees

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Financial Practices

• Accepted accounting principles
• Financial statement training
• Regular financial review
• Audit
• Financial policies

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Basic Financial Questions

• Profit? Loss? Breakeven?
• Is income up or down?
• Are expenses up or down?
• Have/Do we need cash reserves?
• Actual expenses vs. budget?
• Reporting?

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Strategic Board Recruiting

• What skills, resources, links do we have?
• What do we need?
• Have we gaps?
• Recommendations
• Interviews
• Orientation

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Evaluation

• Board
• Group
• Meetings
• Committees
• Board Members
• Organization

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Welcome to The Farmers Market Board Clinic

• What are your Board
• - challenges?
• - issues?
• - successes?
• - questions?

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Acknowledgements

• This material was prepared by the Cooperative
  Development Institute with support from the
  Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and
  Education program with input from New England
  Farmers Market managers, vendors, boards and
  sponsors.
• Go to www.cdi.coop for more information or call
  Lynda Brushett 603-664-5838.