Volunteering Northland have been providing free monthly governance (90-minute) workshops for our communities, which have been available for all Not-For-Profit Governance and Leadership organisations in the region or for anyone who is on the board of a Northland community organisation.

The workshops have been a partnership approach where they have been facilitated by Volunteering Northland, supported by Sport Northland, funded by Foundation North, recorded by CNorth, and delivered by LEAD, Sandy Thompson.

Volunteering Northland recognised there was a need for the sessions and that travel can also be an issue for many volunteers on committees and boards, so partnered up with CNorth to live stream all over Northland.  The sessions been a great success to date with many not turning up in person and those unable to attend in person, viewing the sessions online.

Three Governance Bites sessions have been held covering What is a board actually for? Understanding your constitution, rules or trust deed, and Life cycles of organisations and boards. These bite-sized seminars have been designed to be interactive and packed with useful information and tips for ensuring a board is effective in adding value to the important work that an organisation does. The short sessions also mean people can pick and choose which sessions are more applicable to their organisation rather than having to attend a whole day workshop.

Feedback from attendees has also been very positive, with Trevor Reader, Bowls Northland Chair saying “this programme of events is very valuable for all board members many as we know are not familiar with governance and or board activities.  Sandy Thompson is very knowledgeable and delivers the Governance bites clearly, logically and in a way that is relevant and easily understandable. The group discussions are valuable and show that all volunteer organisations have very good people who are all passionate about what they are doing but face challenges to deliver the best outcomes. This session provides clarity and the framework to progress. It is also reassuring to hear that what our board is doing is correct although at times we (Bowls Northland) as a board struggle with process.

I have registered for the full workshop and will be encouraging all board members and other club committees to attend”.

If you or your organisation are interested in checking out some of the sessions you can attend or view the sessions as follows:

• 4 November: Getting and keeping good board members
• 16 December: Working with difficult people
• Continuing in 2020 as of 9 March with:
  • Legal responsibilities of boards
  • Reading financial statements for board members
  • Secrets of a good board chair
  • How to have better meetings
  • The board as a team
  • Strategic leadership
  • Managing key personnel
  • Board manager relationships
  • Reporting

Time: On-site, 5:15pm with a slice of pizza.

On-line: Camera rolling at 5:15pm. Session starts 5:30. Click HERE.

Venue: ASB Lounge 1 at the ASB Stadium, Corner of Western Hills and Kensington Ave, Whangarei

Cost: no cost ($10 donation expected from on-site participants for pizza)

Certificate: "Governance Bites Certificate" provided on request after joining 7 sessions

Web: www.volunteeringnorthland.nz