From Our Vantage Point

This month we finally get to the topic that inspired the idea for this podcast: What's the deal with Robert's Rules of Order? I’ve personally worked with not-for-profit boards for over a decade and I’ve never opened the 700+ page Robert’s Rules of Order. I’ve dismissed the whole idea as being overly complex and simply too overwhelming for the typical board member to digest and, ultimately, a deterrent to effective board member engagement. My guest, Eli Mina, a Vancouver based consultant on board effectiveness and a registered Parliamentarian, was definitely up to the task of challenging my thinking.

From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a Chartered Accounting firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management.

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

Maria is in highly skilled company for this podcast, focused on best practices in volunteer engagement in a unionized workforce.

Jill Wurflinger has built her knowledge in volunteer engagement through her current role as National Director of Volunteer Engagement at the Canadian Diabetes Association, as well as past roles as Manager, Volunteer Engagement, BC-Yukon Division of the Canadian Cancer Society; Manager, National Olympic Committee/National Paralympic Committee Assistants Program for Vanoc - Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games; and Field Executive for Scouts Canada.

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

Chilwin Cheng, Managing Partner of Ascendion Law, invites board chairs and executive directors to consider how they can nurture a culture that supports every board member to show up to board meetings – in body and in mind (i.e., having prepared for the meeting and ready to engage in conversations that govern!).

From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a Chartered Accounting firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management.

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

In the fifth episode of From Our Vantage Point, Michael McKnight, President & CEO of United Way of the Lower Mainland, joins Maria to talk metrics: ones that speak to mission impact. From Michael’s vantage point, it’s tough to determine the metrics that truly reveal mission impact and he acknowledges the imperative in figuring it out. When we are successful, the governance conversations at our board tables turn to a genuine focus on what matters – improving the lives of those in our community.

From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a Chartered Accounting firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management.

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

In this month’s podcast, Carol Dixon, Director, Mission Services & Volunteer Resources at Providence Health Care, joins Vantage Point to share tips and perspective on the topic: Volunteer Recognition: Just say No to Years of Service Awards.

Drawing on over 35 years in volunteer engagement (and a healthy sense-of-humour!), Carol provides us with a number of examples of high-impact volunteer recognition that won’t break the bank. From Carol’s vantage point, the key is to invest in thoughtful, individualized volunteer recognition.

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

Consent agenda are a potentially powerful tool to carve our space and energy for board members to have the most engaging and relevant conversations, allowing the board to spend more time governing, rather than managing, the organization.

From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a Chartered Accounting firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management.

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

Join guest speaker, Gordon Holley, President & CEO with Humanity Financial Management, to dive into the topic - Walking the Tight-rope: Employees vs. Independent Contractors. Gordon provides insights on the perceived benefit to individuals and organizations to engage in a contractor relationship, rather than as employer-employee.

From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a Chartered Accounting firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management.

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

Join guest speaker, Michael Blatchford, lawyer with Bull Housser, to dive into the topic: Board Term Limits: Friend or Foe? When I approached Michael about the possibility of bringing his expertise to this podcast, and provided him with a list of potential topics, Michael looked at today’s topic, Term Limits: Friend or Foe, and said…I’ve got a lot to say about that one!

From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a Chartered Accounting firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management.

🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.

Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.

Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.