The following articles and columns by Forbes Group Principals are an excellent resource for information about the business of governing and managing trade and professional associations and nonprofits. The care and feeding of unnecessary committees can devour both dollars and staff time that could be put to more productive use in delivering necessary services to members and other customers.
Many national associations are at war with their chapters and affiliates.
When resources are scarce, competition to sell goods and services to members can set affiliates and their national association at each other's throats. The struggle is to determine who will benefit from these revenues. The responsibility of the board is to make policy and define the outcomes they expect from staff. The responsibility of staff is to achieve those outcomes within the policies established by the board. Here are some principles to follow in the delegation of responsibilities to staff.