218,000 Reservations!

I received news today that 218,000 reservations have already been made for the temple open house - in one day!

Most of them are from Utah, but some are from as far away as the United Arab Emirates!  I am really excited for the tour and I can't wait!

I hope you enjoy the open house as much as I will!

Robbed

Last week someone stole my Android phone and my iPad. As I was using those as a basis for development on this project development just got harder.

For iOS development I can still use my iPod touch but for the Android port I'm stuck with the emulator for now.

This makes things a bit more complicated for me, as the Android emulator is quite slow. On the bright side, this should force me to focus on getting the x86 build of BennuGD for Android working (it's not building in the r8 version of the x86 NDK right now because of this bug, hopefully version r8b fixes it).

I just wanted to apologize to those who sent me money for the iPad for not keeping it safe enough. I've been able to remotely lock the device. The phone should get locked in the next 48 hours, too.
Hopefully the bastard who robbed me will be left with two useless devices pretty soon.

[Update] NDK version r8b doesn't fix the bug....

Five Leadership Lessons from “The Godfather”

By Virgil Carter

Probably everyone remembers the movie “The Godfather”, the 1972 American crime film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, starring Marlon Brando, Al Pacino and James Caan as leaders of a powerful New York crime family.  Writer Lydia Dishman, in a recent article in Fast Company magazine, quotes Justin Moore, CEO and founder of Axcient, who says, “I certainly don’t endorse crime or violence, and I’m not suggesting business should operate like the Mafia, but there are some universal themes in the movie I can relate to as a CEO”.

Here are the five essential leadership lessons noted by Moore:

·        Build a powerful community:  Moore says building strategic partnerships enables companies to work through challenging markets and fast-track overall success.  “Partnerships forged through time, trust and mutual benefits are the types of community relationships that bring about the greatest returns”, Moore suggests.

·        Hold people accountable:  “To be successful in business you have to be tough, and you have to be extremely focused on hitting goals and getting results”, says Moore.  That doesn’t mean patience and understanding don’t have a place, he says, but ongoing tolerance of low-performing people or products just eats away at the success of the entire company.  “You are ultimately responsible for all of your employees and products, and that requires tough and swift decisions.”

·        Don’t get emotional:  “When people make emotional decisions, they start making bad decisions.  To lead successfully, you have to take your emotion and ego out of the equation”, says Moore.  Likewise, Moore says it’s important to play to win.  In business that translates to knowing the competition and always staying at least one step ahead.  “Operate your business with integrity and have respect for competition, but you also need to seize opportunities to beat your competition and win”.

·        Be decisive:  When you know what choice to make, move forward.  “Know who on your team is making the right choices and trust them to take decisive action as well.  Hesitation too often leads to missed opportunities.

·        Spend time with your family:  Moore isn’t endorsing 1940s machismo, but he is decrying 100-hour workweeks that many entrepreneurs fall prey to in hot pursuit of the next big thing.  “A leader can’t be successful in creative problem-solving and making excellent decisions unless that person is connected to people and passions outside of work.  I find that it’s often time with family and friends that gives me the perspective I need to build the relationships and make the decisive actions required for continued success in business, “ says Moore.


Is this a “deal too good to pass up”?

The Religious Diversity of Asian Americans


The Pew Forum On Religion and Public Life’s publication on Asian American religious affiliations illustrates the wide variety of faiths amongst the Asian demographic.  42 percent of Asian Americans are Christian, an additional 14% are Buddhist, and one in ten practice Hinduism.  Over a quarter of Asians are also religiously unaffiliated.  Inspecting Asian-American subgroups further displays the wide range of beliefs.  For instance, 65% of Filipino Americans are Catholic, 43% of Vietnamese Americans are Buddhist, and 61% of Korean Americans are Protestant. Additionally, one-third of Asian adults no longer ascribe to the religious group of their upbringing.

4th Graders Read for Fun Much More Than 8th Graders

According to the U.S. Department of Education, almost half (46%) of American 4thgraders read for fun almost every day, and nearly three quarters read at least one to two times a week. Just 15 percent read never, or hardly ever.  8th graders on the other hand, read markedly less. Almost one in three (29%) report never or hardly ever reading, and just 21 percent read for fun almost every day. Female 8thgraders read far more than male 8th graders, with nearly a quarter reading every day compared to 40 percent of males. 4th grade girls are also more likely to read frequently than boys. 

Tabernacle Landscaping Work

I looks like the landscaping work at the Tabernacle is in full swing now that the temple is essentially complete.  You can see where the semi-circular sidewalk will be, since fill is being brought in.

Also, the front steps to the Tabernacle have been removed and will be replaced as part of the upgrade.








 It also appears that the entire irrigation ditch will be placed in underground pipes.  I'm sure the kids will miss it when Peach Days rolls around.  It's a great way to cool off in the summer. Oh well.








Supreme Court Decision on the Affordable Care Act Projected to Save Federal Government $84 Billion


In an articlefor the New York Times, author Robert Pear dissected the Congressional Budget Office’s revised estimates on the effects of the Affordable Care Act after the landmark Supreme Court decision to uphold the law.  A key portion of the decision alters the legislation to permit States to opt out of the proposed Medicaid expansion.  The CBO predicts that an additional 3 million people will now go without health insurance due to this new aspect of the law, but the agency also expects the federal government should save approximately $84 billion over the next 11 years.  The Affordable Care Act is still projected to provide coverage to 30 million of the 60 million presently uninsured Americans at a price tag of $1.7 trillion over the course of 11 years.  The bulk of the cost emerges after 2014, when many provisions of the Affordable Care Act will take effect.  

Passion in the Boardroom: Balancing Heart and Head

By Neil Bohnert

A selection from Origami in the Boardroom and Other Misadventures in Nonprofit Governance©

The agenda promised this would be a routine board meeting and the holiday spirit created a special ambience.  Less than a week remained until Christmas.  It was also mid-way through a year that had been a financial tight wire walk for the board.  The treasurer’s report was disconcerting, but in the holiday spirit, optimism prevailed.  Just as all the stated business had been covered and the group was anticipating adjournment and a holiday evening, the chairman distributed a letter requesting a sizeable investment for a project that was neither budgeted nor supported with any assessment.  The letter was accompanied by a memo from a committee chairman with a one-line statement: “We support this project.”  The issue was not on the agenda.  It was not in a committee report.  To add to matters, it was a sequel to an earlier project that had already created a hole in the operating budget.  But everyone was ready to approve it.  Why not?  It was a worthy endeavor.  It had all the hallmarks—social sensitivities, a “feel good” aspect, the right motives, a “sure thing” (according to the project manager)—and it was Christmas.  What was not to like? 

As I followed the discussion with some consternation, the locomotive began to move down the tracks, faster and faster as one person after another praised the project and “felt” it would surely be a good thing.  The passion was rising.

Then one person asked a startling question.  “Mr Chairman, since we’re already in a deficit for the year and this is an unbudgeted expense and there is no financial forecast for the project, how can we approve this on such little evidence?  A silence fell on the group.  Someone actually questioned the worthiness of the project!  The question struck at the heart of the issue.  One member rose to her feet and exclaimed that “we would certainly be remiss if we didn’t approve the project,” and walked out of the room in dramatic fashion.

How many times have we witnessed boards impulsively acting on the emotional aspects of issues and dismissing or ignoring the fiduciary responsibilities?   We regularly approve unbudgeted expenses because there is no alternative or because it “seems right” or because to do otherwise might be misunderstood.  “If it feels good, do it” seems to be a strong, unseen hand in many board actions.  No one wants to risk appearing opposed to an action that has the right “feel” about it.

So what’s wrong?  Isn’t that what nonprofit organizations are all about?

Not really.  Nonprofits, in the strictest sense, provide services that the free market cannot and that governments cannot, will not, or should not.  That really means that nonprofits do good works for a community or for society as a whole, but they cannot be irresponsible or careless in carrying out that mission.  Yes, there are many instances of nonprofits engaging in projects that lose money, intentionallylose money.  There are certainly examples of organizations taking up a critical mission when there is no one else to step into the breach.  But nonprofit boards are duty-bound to direct the organization in responsible stewardship. 

So how do boards strike the balance of heart and head”?

Let’s start by understanding the real responsibilities of boards under the umbrella of stewardship and governance.

Let’s start with channeling the passion in the boardroom.  Passion is an important ingredient in the nonprofit organization.  Without it, the mission that stirs people to become dedicated to the organization loses its appeal.  Emotional energy is good, but it is best directed at advancing the mission.  It is dangerous to allow passion a free reign in board decisions.

Let’s start with organizing meeting agendas to accomplish the important business of the board. Board work is a vital link between the mission of the organization and the strategic objectives.  Questions before the board must be linked to these strategic objectives.

What are the lessons to be learned?

Boards will be ruled by emotion.  Needed projects will be approved.  What’s important is channeling the emotion and passion for positive, effective outcomes.

The epilogue to my story, a true-life misadventure, is that the board decided to postpone action on the proposal, pending further assessment.  The Executive Committee approved the project the following month (in violation of the bylaws limiting Executive Committee authority, a misadventure to be told another day) and the board ratified the project, committing funds in the nextfiscal year to the project.

Passion is the true energy source of nonprofit boards.  Use it wisely.

Let’s get started!

Traffic Fatalities Surge Upwards


The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 7,630 people died in motor vehicle accidents during the first quarter of 2012.  This figure represents a 13.5% increase from the 6,720 traffic fatalities during the first quarter of 2011.  The NHTSA notes that the number of traffic fatalities is typically lowest during the first quarter of each year due to inclement winter weather, though this year’s winter was unusually warm – a possible explanation for the jump in fatalities.  The 7,630 fatalities is quite low compared to the first three months of previous years, however.  Just six years ago in the first quarter of 2006, 9,558 Americans lost their lives in traffic accidents, but since then, fatalities fell considerably.  The NHTSA attributes that consistent decline to drops in crashes involving young drivers.

U.S. Manufacturing Industry Posts Nearly $150 Billion 1st Quarter Profits

The U.S. Department of Commerce reports that American manufacturing corporations posted $148.0 billion in profits during the first quarter of 2012.  These profits, though only marginally higher than the net income of $145.4 billion in 2011, are still at a level unseen even before the recession.  In the fourth quarter of 2008, manufacturing corporations truly felt the brunt of the recession, and actually recorded a loss of almost $75 billion, but since then, profits have rebounded swiftly to their current levels of nearly $150 billion.  Sales on the whole also increased.  In the first quarter of 2012, sales reached almost $1.7 trillion, up from about $1.57 trillion in the first quarter of 2011.

CEOs: Volunteers As Partners

By Virgil Carter
Experienced CEOs know that job tenure for non-profit staff members may be fleeting.  And CEO/staff tenure may often be volatile—a situation that cannot benefit the organization, the CEO or the organization’s members.  Why is this such a common situation for many non-profit orgainzations?

Closer examination often reveals the following:  volunteers usually care passionately about their organization.  Many volunteers may be leading figures in their field.  While these volunteers are subject-matter experts, many have little executive-level leadership experience, much less extensive experience in the unique setting of nonprofit, volunteer-led organizations.

By comparison, many CEOs and executive staff spend years expanding their enterprise-wide leadership and management knowledge of nonprofits. Many CEOs’staff actively participate in the broader nonprofit world. Compounding this disparity of knowledge and experience of non-profit organizations is the fact that roles and responsibilities of volunteer leaders and CEOs/staff often may be highly ambiguous. Even where there are written policies, there may be many more unwritten rules and traditions actually determining who does what, when, and how. Sound familiar?

What can be done to reduce tension between volunteers and CEOs?  One important improvement is forging and maintaining a volunteer-staff partnership built on two categories of activity essential for many non-profit associations:

·        Mission-driven activities: These activities tend to represent the purpose of the organization. These activities motivate volunteers and are where most want to be active. These activities, which are rightly led and populated by volunteers, may produce few net positive revenues and may be largely subsidized. This financial situation may be coupled with volunteer assertions that association activities shouldn’t produce revenues over expenses, to keep volunteer costs to a minimum.  Mission-driven activities are critical. There is nothing wrong with subsidized activities, so long as revenues from other sources are available for the needed subsidies.

·        Business operations activities: These activities are where most of the positive revenue is created to subsidize mission-driven activities. Because they are profit-and-loss oriented, they must be staff led and managed, since volunteers simply have neither the access nor the time to manage business affairs in the timely and agile manner required. A caution: business activities must be related to the mission, as much as subsidized activities.

Establishing clear roles and accountabilities for these two categories of association activity enables volunteer leaders and CEOs to play to their respective strengths. Such clarity, coupled with good communications, enables effective leadership, improved relationships, and strengthened organizational performance.

Leadership role clarity is an important step, transforming tension between volunteer leaders and CEOs/staff into productive partnership. The results—more effective volunteers, stability in CEO/staff tenure, and more successful, enjoyable associations—make the partnership worth everyone’s effort.

Aerial Photos Redux

I charged the battery to my camera and went flying on Wednesday night.  The weather was great and I was able to get a few good shots.  Hope you enjoy them!









Turmeric Basil Chicken (Ayam Masak Kunyit Daun Selasih)

 Assalamualaikum to all muslim friends and wish you blessed Ramadhan. I may not be able to spend too much in blogwalking and updating the blog during Ramadhan due to my very limited spare time.

This recipe is modified version from here - this time I've added basil leaves.

By: Roz@HomeKreation
Serves 5 persons 
INGREDIENTS:
8-10 pieces Chicken
10 Chili Padi*
4 Shallots*
1/2 Big Onion*
2 cloves Garlic*
1" Ginger*
1" Fresh Turmeric Root*  (* blend with water)
i bunch Basil Leaves
1-2 Tomato - cut 
Salt

METHOD:
1. Heat up some oil & stir-fry blended ingredients until fragrant.
2. Add in chicken, salt, a bit water (if you like some gravy) & cover until chicken is cooked.
3. Add basil leaves & tomato, stir few more minutes.
4. Serve with white rice.
******************************************

BAHASA MALAYSIA VERSION
Assalamualaikum kepada semua kaum muslimin dan Along ucapkan Selamat Beribadah di bulan Ramadhan yg mulia ini. Berbanyak maaf sebab masa yg tersangat terhad dan kesibukan kerja di rumah & pejabat, Along mungkin tak dapat nak luangkan banyak masa berblogging.... mungkin sempat setakat nak update gambar masakan lama sebelum Ramadhan yg belum sempat di tayangkan.

Resepi nya sama seperti di sini cuma kali ni Along masukkan daun selasih.

Hidangan 5 orang
BAHAN2:
8-10 ketul Ayam
10 bj Cili Padi*
4 ulas Bwg Merah*
1/2 bj Bwg Besar*
2 ulas Bwg Putih*
1" Halia*
1" Kunyit Hidup*  (* blend dgn air)
1 ikat Daun Selasih
1 bj Tomato - potong
Garam

CARA2:
1. Panaskan sedikit minyak & tumis bhn blend sehingga naik bau.
2. Masukkan ayam, garam, sedikit air (jika mahu berkuah) & tutup sehingga ayam masak.
3. Masukkan daun selasih & tomato, kacau beberapa minit lagi.
4. Hidangkan dgn nasi.

Fighting AIDS Worldwide


On July 19th, The Economist highlighted a report from UNAIDS, a United Nations Agency with the goal of fighting AIDS.  AIDS-related deaths surged upwards from 1990 to its peak in 2005 of 2.3 million per year, but since then, the number of those who have lost their lives to the virus have dropped off.  The decrease in deaths can be partially attributed to the President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (PREFAR), which President Bush initiated in 2003 and President Obama renewed in 2008.  Since then, the number of people receiving antiretroviral medication has dramatically increased; the figure stands at over 8 million in poorer regions of the world.  Today, while AIDS remains a serious crisis, the number of AIDS-related deaths has fallen to 1.7 million, a level unseen since 2000.

Android progress

Just recorded a small video of the current status of the android port:
Small video of a simple test program running in Android.
As you can see in the video, a few things work already:
  • Multitouch
  • [Barely hearable] Playing music from within APKs
  • Stopping the app when needed and coming back:
    Note: This actually consists of two parts: when the BennuGD code notices it's gone to the background, it quits.
    When the system asks the app to come back, it restarts. I'll publish some more info on this soon.
  • Other minor things
Will keep you posted!

12 Million Americans Take Out Payday Loans


A new Pew Charitable Trusts report demonstrates the surprisingly high number of Americans who utilize payday loans.  These payday loans are generally short-term, high-interest cash advances that average $375.  The typical borrower takes out eight of these loans each year and spends $520 on interest.  The report states that 12 million Americans use payday loans annually.  69 percent use these loans for everyday expenses, such as credit card bills, mortgage payments, groceries and the like, whereas only 16 percent take out a payday loan to cover unexpected expenses such as unanticipated medical costs or car repairs.  The most common borrower is white, female and between 25 and 44 years old, but the study also found five other groups of Americans that are more likely to take out these loans: those without a college degree; Africans Americans; home renters; those who earn less than $40,000 a year; and those who are divorced or separated. 

Kweini Mixed Salad (Salad Buah Kuini)

 I'm self-impressed with my creation this time.... it's so simple but delicious combination! I love Kweini (resembles mango but has strong resinous smell) and will sure buy everytime I find it in the market. Usually I'll mix it with Belachan condiments but for a change I've created salad out of it.... and the outcome was surprisingly delicious!

By: Roz@HomeKreation
INGREDIENTS:
1 Kweini Fruit - peel & cubed
1/2 Cucumber - cubed (throw away the center part) 
1 Tomato - chopped 
1 tsp Garam Masala
1-2 tbsp Vinegar
Salt & Sugar

METHOD:
1. Mix all & serve right away!
********************************

BAHASA MALAYSIA VERSION
Siapa suka makan buah Kuini, boleh lah cuba buat salad camni.... fuhlamak.... sedap gilosh you....

BAHAN2:
1 bj Buah Kuini - kupas kulit & potong kiub kecil
1/2 bj Timun - potong kiub kecil (buang bahagian biji) 
1 bj Tomato - potong kiub kecil
1 st Garam Masala
1-2 sb Cuka
Garam & Gula

CARA2:
1. Gaul rata kesemua bahan2... siap utk di hidangkan!

Obesity in America


Gallup’s assessment of obesity in America illustrates some interesting trends.  Blacks are more likely to be obese than any other race.  20.8% of Blacks received the distinction of falling into the obese class I.  8.8% were in obese class II and 6.0% in obese class III. The latter two categories are recognized as very obese.  Asians were the least likely to be obese with only 7.6% falling into obese class I, 2.1% in obese class II, and 1.0% in obese class III.  Overall, men are more likely than women to be obese, but a slightly higher percentage of women are categorized in obese class III (4.0% versus 2.9%).  Additionally, unemployed Americans are more likely to be obese than those who possess a job.  

Finally, both income and education are related to obesity levels.  As Americans obtain higher levels of education (the study tracks those with high school or less up to postgraduate degrees), they are less likely to be obese.  5.2% of those who earn less than $36,000 a year have BMIs high enough to be categorized in obese class III, compared to just 1.8% of Americans who earn greater than $90,000 a year.  

To be considered obese, one must have a body mass index (BMI) of over 30.  For a person who is 5 feet 9 inches, his/her weight would need to rise above 203 pounds to be classified as obese.  To fall under obese class III, that same person would need to weigh over 271 pounds.

My First Raya Preparation

 My pineapple jam is ready until the Idh cookies project soon.... Felt so relief that I manage to complete this today - happened to be on leave to settle many things today and in between cooking the jam. It took many hours of slow cooking so I managed to do multiple tasks at the same time!

The recipe was posted earlier on here but I pasted herewith again for ease of reference by all.

PINEAPPLE JAM
 Recipe By: Roz@HomeKreation 
1 large Ripe Pineapple - grate & measure 5 cups
2 cups Sugar
1 Pandan Leaf 

METHOD:

- Cook above small fire until thicken. This may take about 3-4 hours.
- Be careful not to cook it until too dry or else jam will be harden after cookies are baked. Use non-stick wok to avoid burning the jam. 
*******************************************************

BAHASA MALAYSIA VERSION
 Aiih.... tak sabar dah nak raya.... hari ni cuti sebab ada hal, sambil menyelam sempat pula mengacau jam nenas... alhamdulillah walau pun terkapai2 keseorangan di dapur sempat gak siap ni (Patma dah balik Indon hari ni, so doa Along semuga dapur tetap berasap....). Ada chance ler nak makan sekut Tat Nenas, insyaallah kalau badan sihat di bulan ramadhan nanti.

Kalau nak resepi nya, boleh tengok kat sini. Along letak semula kat bawah ni untuk mudah rujuk anda semua.

JEM NENAS

1 biji Nenas ranum yg bersaiz Besar - sagat & sukat 5 cawan
2 cwn Gula
1 helai Daun Pandan

CARA2:
- Masak di atas api yg kecil sehingga pekat. Along masak ni antara 3-4 jam baru siap.
- Hati2 supaya jgn terlalu kering, takut nanti jem akan keras selepas di bakar dgn biskut. Guna kuali yg tidak melekat utk memudahkan kerja.
 

Menagerie in the Boardroom: This Place is a Zoo

By Neil Bohnert
A selection from Origami in the Boardroom and Other Misadventures in Nonprofit Governance©

It was a full agenda and one that promised no surprises.  The attention of the board turned in the direction of a board member of larger-than-life bearing entering the room.  The director, a very successful professional of national stature, had written extensively on a variety of nonprofit issues.  When he spoke, people listened.  The problem was he was not regular in his attendance and he had a talent for disrupting the debate on issues by throwing out questions that convoluted the issue.  His presence often changed the board’s demeanor, instilling both a note of confidence and an element of mild anxiety.  I watched as one after another of the menagerie acted out their predictable behaviors.  There were occasional glances in his direction, wondering if there would be a strike today.  Suddenly he spoke, decisively and authoritatively, taking the discussion in an unexpected direction.

The reaction was swift.  Many scattered, looking for a safe position.  A few, the stronger leaders, stood firm, waiting for calm to be restored.  Some moved in quickly and others waited for an opportunity.  The attack, though not unusual, had come without warning.  The chair worked to refocus the discussion and bring everyone back to the issue.
These types of behaviors are predictable.  There are many personalities present in any organization and we need all of them on the board for a balanced, healthy board environment. 

It is important to have experts and dissenters and people who voice unorthodox ideas on the board, people who will ask the important questions and hold the board to a full discussion on the issues before making decisions—informed decisions.  Far from shutting out people of dissenting or radical views, we should welcome them and celebrate their contributions.  Too many organizations work diligently to build boards of like-minded people and avoid divided opinions.  This can lead boards to dangerous outcomes.  The problem with this board was that while this director had extraordinary wisdom to contribute, his spotty attendance left the board ill-prepared for his occasional attacks.

There are many species common to any organization and they all bring their individual strengths and flaws to the boardroom.  We need to accept both and to take advantage of their assets and compensate for their negatives.

Sheep, the most common species, are usually docile and content.  They listen to the loudest voice, run from wolves, and are constantly bleating.
Assets
§  Can be counted on to always be present—no vacant seats here
§  Most comfortable in numbers and will respond to a call for a show-of-strength
Liabilities
§  Docile nature inhibits individual thinking
§  Tend to shy away from leadership; don’t look to them for developing future leaders

Elephants exhibit great stature and stability.  They are slow to anger, have long memories, and follow ancestral paths when wandering.

Assets
§  Strong; can be called on for heavy lifting and for rounding up the menagerie
§  Memory of the past provides constancy and sure footing
Liabilities
§  Act out of the comfort of the past
§  Can be annoying with reminders of “the way it used to be”
Leopards and Cheetahs are few in number, but very powerful.  They wait in hiding and create sudden chaos when on the attack.

Assets
§  Remain quiet, watching the menagerie, then become outspoken
§  Strong bearing
§  Incisive; make quick and sound judgments
§  Can be a strong voice and spokesperson
§  Can be used to keep the herd in check; others look to them for clues on when and how to move
Liabilities
§  Can misdirect the board’s progress with sudden, unexpected moves

Tortoises are few in number and very resilient.  They move slowly, withdraw at the slightest threat, spend a lot of energy carrying a shield to ward off threats, and they live forever.

Assets
§  Can be a helpful “brake” to slow the momentum when actions are moving too fast or are out of control
Liabilities
§  Can’t be prodded or forced to move

Wolves move in packs and prey on the weakest in the menagerie.  They submit to the dominant leader.

Assets
§  The pack culls the herd; can be called on to deal with a weak or inappropriate board action
§  Can be helpful in exposing non-performing board members and moving them out
Liabilities
§  The pack mentality cannot always be managed
§  Once on the hunt, may not be diverted

Otters are playful, entertaining, sociable, and likable, with quick wits.  They are adept at using humor and whatever is at-hand to achieve an objective.


Assets
§  Can use humor to interject insights and “lighten” a debate or meeting
§  Social skills can facilitate a discussion
§  Usually excellent networkers (a plus for fundraising)
Liabilities
§  Board time is social time; can delay or prolong a meeting to keep the social time going

Wildebeests are large, lumbering animals that move in large numbers, devouring food and kicking up a lot of dust.  Their presence cannot be ignored.

Assets
§  Their large mass adds weight to board actions, both in and outside of the boardroom
§  Keep their heads down, but one among them is always alert
§  Tend to move slowly, but can be set on a run by a threatening intruder
Liabilities
§  Can consume a lot of resources with their size and numbers
§  Make a lot of dust that can obscure facts

Other species will appear on the board from time-to-time.  They may be sharks or hawks, porpoises or doves.  All will have their individual behaviors and their assets and flaws.

What can we learn from this true-life misadventure?  Let’s start with celebrating diversity.  We need people on the board who are strong and confident.  We need dissenters.  We also need leaders and followers.  And we need others who will occasionally help to cull the menagerie and make room for new species.

Let’s start with expecting regular attendance.  An empty chair contributes nothing and a director whose attendance is spotty disrupts board cohesiveness.  It is the board chair’s responsibility to confront directors who are failing the group.

Let’s start with expecting excellence from each person on the board.  That means adopting a job description or “board proposition” that specifies what conduct is expected of each person on the board.

Let’s start with building a board profile that identifies the skills and expertise needed on the board to serve the strategic priorities of the organization.  What animals are needed?


Let’s get started!


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