In smaller towns, there are not a lot of technical events or conferences and if you are interested in learning or meeting other people with a passion for technology you have to travel to larger cities. So I got really interested when I heard of a fledgling .net user group and wanted to support it. Once I began to attend a few meetings, I realized they needed volunteers to keep the organization afloat and make it more of a regular user group. Fast forward several years later now, I am chairperson of the board of that group. The membership has grown and we have a elected board, and a charter to bring quality speakers and sponsored events to the area.
Being the leader of a voluntary board is a little different then being a leader in a company. Volunteers are unpaid members with day jobs or in school, with limited time and largely unknown to each other. Everyone has ideas and opinions often very diverse. Some members are more active then others. Also, they may not have the skills for the roles they are volunteering for.
- As a leader of such group one has to very quickly,
- determine the mission and goals and also inspire everyone to get behind them.
- find ways to quickly build connections, find out what motivates everyone
- discuss and make sure everyone understands their roles.
- Appreciation is a strong currency in nonprofits.
- Above all else effective communication is a must.
- Hold really effective meetings.
