Learning How to Get on Board

By: Whitney Hill

One prong of the Junior League Of Charlotte, Inc.’s (JLC) mission statement is to “develop the potential of women.” In furtherance of that mission, one of the signature leadership training programs offered by the JLC is Get on Board, a program offered to both members and the public. The program aims to equip participants with the practical skills to become change agents on non-profit boards of directors throughout the community. Get On Board consists of five sessions, meeting once a month from January to May, giving participants exposure to the skills required of an active board member. Topics covered include board roles and responsibilities, strategic planning, impact evaluation, engagement, fiduciary duties and fundraising.

January saw the kick-off of a new term of Get on Board. We met with current chair Abigail Coolidge, program alumnae Joy Patterson and Elizabeth Weisner and past JLC President Whitni Wilson-Wertz to hear about their experiences and the importance of this training.

Abigail recently transferred to the JLC from the Junior League of Phoenix, where she was involved in a similar training program. The JLC committee is expanding this program to get even more speakers and have more interactive workshops in future years. Abigail, who hopes to join a board in the future, stated, “I love that this program allows the participants and the committee members the chance to network and grow their skills while feeling supported by a large and great group of women.”

Joy, a JLC sustaining member, currently serves as the Board Secretary and Governance Committee Chair of Roof Above, a non-profit in Charlotte dedicated to ending homelessness. Joy was a member of the inaugural Get on Board program. “I’ve always had an appetite for Board service but felt illequipped and unsure how to take the first step,” Joy said. She credits the program with setting her up for success on the board roles assumed since completion. “I wouldn’t have been able to make the impact I’ve had without the training from Get on Board.”

Elizabeth is the current vice-chair of the Training & Development Committee and is a Board Member for Festival In the Park. Elizabeth participated in Get on Board during her provisional year in 2020 as she sought to gain the training to be an active, contributing member on a non-profit board. “I was looking for training that would give me the confidence to speak up and help me understand how decisions are made on a board,” she said. The sessions provided exactly that training and networking opportunities to connect Elizabeth to many non-profits in Charlotte, including Festival In the Park.

Whitni served as the JLC president during the 2012-13 League year, the inaugural year of the Get on Board program. “The launch of Get on Board in 2012 was an initiative to provide excellent training and do some ‘matchmaking,’” Whitni recalled. One of the program goals was to recommend League members to fill roles in other organizations. The JLC receives frequent requests from other organizations that need energetic, talented, qualified and well-trained volunteers on their boards.

One of the biggest draws to Get on Board is the practical skills participants gain so they can jump right in and be effective on a board. “The skills I think you can get from this program are how to decide which board is for you, how to apply and interview to be on a board, networking with other future leaders and current leaders of non-profits and how to fundraise/meet the financial goals,” Chair Abigail Coolidge said. Joy recalled how each session of the program provided a valuable lesson. “Each and every session prepared me tremendously with understanding expectations, knowing how to contribute to furthering the organization’s mission with my skill set and strengths, understanding my fiduciary responsibility as a board member and the importance of protecting myself with the appropriate insurance.”

Joy also recalled learning about the expectations of a board member. “I realized that there are opportunities to add value to a board if you aren’t able to contribute millions of dollars personally.” While governance doesn’t always spark

joy, she reminisces on the value of this session. “My most memorable lesson learned was on parliamentary procedure. Ten years later, I recall those learnings whenever I make a motion - ‘I MOVE’ - rings in my ears from our session speaker.” Elizabeth shared that her favorite session was on finance and accounting, as the instruction on financial basics was presented clearly and understandably. Governance tip: The proper language to use in making a motion is, “I move that we….” The big key is that the phrase “I move” is used instead of “I motion.” So, who should enroll in Get on Board? Abigail says, “I would recommend this program to someone who has either just decided that joining a board is something they want or someone who is deciding which non-profit they want to work with.” Joy encouraged others to join Get on Board, saying, “I wouldn’t have been able to make the impact I’ve had without the training from Get on Board. It also connected me to my very first board role with Florence Crittenton Services. I’m tremendously thankful for this opportunity and have encouraged others to participate as well.” Elizabeth echoed the other comments; “Get on Board encourages you to learn new things and apply your unique skills to help make positive change in our community in a way that is meaningful to you. I look forward to seeing JLC members serving as board members throughout the Charlotte community in the future!”

Get On Board accepts applications in December of each year. If you are interested in being a part of the next class, please apply through the JLC’s website.

Donate to the Annual Fund!

The Annual Fund plays a vital role in the JLC’s ability to sustain and advance our mission as an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, to developing the potential of women and to improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. We hope that you consider supporting the JLC's mission and donating to the Annual Fund to allow us to continue to support the JLC's community partners and programs.

To make a donation to the Annual Fund, checks can be mailed to: Junior League of Charlotte 1332 Maryland Ave., Charlotte, NC 28209 or go to jlcharlotte.org/annual-fund/