BoardRoom Institute Partners with Club Leadership Alliance

Using Technology to Educate Club Committee and Board Members.

As a member of your club’s board of directors, are you struggling with your club’s governance model? Do you understand the role you play on your club’s board? Are you aware of your fiduciary responsibilities as a board member… or ??

There’s an exceedingly wide gap between what many boards of directors and committee members know and what they should know about their private club’s operation.

Why? Because, yes, many people elected to their club boards have experience as board members rather than as members of a non-profit 501(c)(7) board, the modus operandi for many private clubs. It’s often something they haven’t experienced.

?As well, clubs need to make sure that their board members are well-informed and educated about their roles as board members.

So, what’s missing? How ‘bout the right kind of education for your board members?

“The education of a club’s committee and board members is crucial,” said John Fornaro , CEO of the Association of Private Club Directors , publisher of BoardRoom magazine and CEO of BoardRoom Institute .

“For the longest time, there’s been a gap in education for committee chairs, committee and board members, especially when we’ve seen such growth in the educational programs and processes for private club general managers and other staff members.?

“To be blunt, even as various groups and companies have made efforts to educate volunteer committee and board members, a tidy, compact way of getting education to these volunteers has been lacking,” Fornaro added.

Today, that’s changed because of BoardRoom Institute, a customized online educational platform designed specifically for private club boards, their directors, committees, committee chairs and others associated with private club governance.

BoardRoom Institute’s core mission is to help clubs operate efficiently by optimizing the relationship between the volunteers and the paid executives through collaborative governance, helping them understand their fiduciary duties and reducing the liability of board members and the club.

“Our objective is to bring affordable and credible club governance orientation to board members and committee members of private clubs,” Fornaro espoused.?

Today, BoardRoom Institute is doing so through a partnership with the Club Leadership Alliance .?

This brings together three of the industry’s most highly respected consulting firms KOPPLIN KUEBLER & WALLACE , McMahon Group, Inc. and Club Benchmarking in partnership with BoardRoom Institute.

“The owners and team members within the Club Leadership Alliance have the experience, credibility and expertise I’ve been seeking in a partnership,” emphasized Fornaro.?

“I’ve known and respected Dick Kopplin , Bill McMahon, AIA, OAA and Ray Cronin for over 27 years. They’re the missing link in making BoardRoom Institute a true solution to private clubs’ governance and leadership issues today,” Fornaro added.

BoardRoom Institute provides shared knowledge, makes annual orientations affordable, mitigates micromanaging (the scourge of all private clubs), and ensures all stakeholder understand their duty of care with an emphasis on legal and fiduciary obligations. It promotes board and committee development and growth.

“All great clubs have one thing in common; they get their governance right and this is what BoardRoom Institute can help them do,” expressed Kopplin.?

“BRI can provide an outstanding education for general managers and club board and committee members. Additionally, the knowledge shared from club industry experts can reduce or eliminate the issue of micromanagement – one of the most vexing issues in clubs – by providing role clarification for club employees and members volunteers who serve the club as board of committee members,” Dick Kopplin.

“It sounds basic, but the fact board and committee members don’t have a strong understanding of their roles and responsibilities remains one of the fundamental challenges facing private clubs today, ” explained Gordon Welch, CCM, CHE , president of the Association of Private Club Directors, the parent association of BoardRoom Institute, BoardRoom’s education arm.

“Board members and committee members ‘think’ they understand how to run a club, but without a proper introduction to the many facets of club management and the industry, they and their managers will fail.

“Board members must be educated about the 501(c) (7) organization. Some clubs provide an orientation or overview of the club’s operation. APCD believes that effective board leadership and governance requires an ongoing commitment to board development and a healthy board/staff relationship. We work to effect positive change with club boards and their committees through collaborative governance,” Welch elaborated.

“Our mission is to help clubs operate efficiently by optimizing the relationship between the volunteers and the paid executives through collaborative governance. And to reduce the liability of your board members and the club,” explained Fornaro.

“BoardRoom Institute brings affordable and credible club governance orientation to private club board and committee members. It offers the latest technology to educate, inform and prepare private club committee members, potential and present board members and club presidents for their roles and responsibilities. This includes legal issues, fiduciary duties and hundreds of other issues that will most likely confront private clubs today,” John Fornaro.

In a nutshell, BoardRoom Institute offers customized online education for private clubs. It offers flexibility; it’s convenient and cost-effective and provides course variety with access to expert speakers and content. It’s personal education with repeated access to course material.

“Because BoardRoom Institute provides information aligned with the best practices endorsed by the Club Leadership Alliance and embraced by top-performing clubs, there are many reasons to admire and trust it as a resource that prepares and engages board and committee members,” commented John Schultz, CCM, CCE , CEO of the Club Leadership Alliance. ?

“Club-specific practices and processes are brought to life, preparing club leaders to be informed, strategic stewards of their club and to meet their responsibilities from day one.?

“When a club has informed leaders, this facilitates strategic stewardship and empowers managers and staff to provide compelling member experiences. These core values are at the heart of the Club Leadership Alliance and BoardRoom Institute. The most highly regarded and recognized industry experts and brightest minds are behind BoardRoom Institute and they all have direct experience with the topics they cover in the video modules.?

“The numerous benefits of online board education for a club’s board of directors and general manager begin once a club is aligned with a reliable resource. This is why CLA partnered with BoardRoom Institute. It’s education that is aligned with the core values and best practices that we endorse and that top-performing clubs embrace to remain relevant and enduring,” John Schultz.

“Access to board and committee training materials is the wave of the future. The days of big binders and packets of paperwork have passed,” offered KK&W principals Dick Kopplin, Kurt Kuebler and Thomas B. Wallace III CCM,CCE,ECM .

“Virtual onboarding and training for roles and responsibilities saves time and offers volunteer leaders the convenience of reviewing the instruction on demand. Educated leaders are more effective, thus creating a better volunteer service experience and a more efficient board.?

“Convenient access to information makes board meetings and decision-making more efficient when participants arrive prepared. It also offers accountability tracking for the club. This is great news from a legal-verification standpoint and allows for review of each person’s commitment to the club’s best practices,” the trio added.

“In addition, top candidates that clubs are recruiting will look at tech tools that can help them be more successful in their club positions. Clubs that are not making technological investments in their operations and amenities won’t attract and retain top talent. Candidates prioritize clubs that embrace and invest in technology,” they said.

“BRI is a key resource to club professionals and their boards and committees to provide a common understanding and framework for continuity and success. By providing prospective, newly elected or appointed volunteer leaders understanding of best practices in the industry and doing so in a framework to then track effectively who has been exposed to these best practices, clubs can more likely minimize risks of failure of alignment and can drastically improve and address the most common element of dysfunctional club leadership –misunderstanding of roles, responsibilities, the club business model and a whole array of other issues,” elaborated partner Kurt Kuebler.

?“BRI is not intended to be an ‘end all be all’ for every club, but proven best practices are outlined and club leader may then adapt standards for their respective operations.

“One size doesn’t fit all, but by providing this common framework, dedicated leaders can develop and memorialize standards that become the framework for continued success in the future, rather than having to ‘reinvent’ each year as different perspectives and, oftentimes, agenda-driven volunteers participate and join the board or are appointed to committees," Kurt Kuebler.

“The single most cited element of inconsistency in club operations is lack of standards of operation for both staff AND volunteer leaders. BRI is the only available source to address and help club leaders address this fundamental issue plaguing many clubs around the country,” he stressed.

“Given the constant churn in the volunteer leadership, on-demand education regarding the private club industry is not a luxury; it’s a necessity,” exclaimed Ray Cronin, co-founder and CEO of Club Benchmarking.

“Clubs with sound, foundational, perpetual education and orientation of volunteer leadership enjoy continuity of vision centered on the requirement that clubs are continuously and consistently evolving.

“For the board, BoardRoom Institute offers insight and information on demand and for the general manager, it offers the ability to scale leadership educational seamlessly,” Ray Cronin.

“The beauty of the BoardRoom Institute is that it provides club leaders easy, flexible access to educational modules delivered by club industry’s most knowledgeable and experienced experts, all at a low cost,” expressed Frank Vain , president of the St. Louis-based McMahon Group.?

“The modules cover a broad range of topics, from the macro trends impacting the private club industry to tools and tips on how to govern, manage, fund and plan a successful club.?

“As the saying goes, knowledge is power and effective delivery of this power comes from widespread understanding and adoption of the best practices that work in the unique environment of a private club. This begins with informed leaders - volunteers and executives that understand the club business model and their role in creating a high-quality, high-value member experience,” Vain added.

“A key advantage of the BoardRoom Institute is how easy and cost-effective it is to provide quality information throughout all levels of the organization. Members no longer need to attend a meeting or do a lot of research on their own. They can tune into a large library of topics when it suits their schedule. It’s also possible to monitor participation, so the club leaders and management can know that the other board and committee members have reviewed the Information,” Vain stressed.

“The efforts of the volunteers are what make the private club such a special entity - they are self-governed political, cultural, social, and economic labs. Clubs can’t function effectively without the efforts of the members, but they also can’t work effectively with misguided or emotional input from the members.?

“Access to online education means these folks can learn proven best practices when it fits their schedule. It can be a training ground that can help groom future leaders right at the start of their participation on a committee and help them as they progress through Increasingly responsible roles,” Frank Vain.?

“One of the core values of the Club Leadership Alliance is informed leadership. The more the volunteers and executives understand the most effective ways to govern, manage, fund, plan and maintain their club, the more effective they can be in discharging their duties.

“This is essential in creating the nirvana of clubdom: Strategic governance and empowered management. Unfortunately, this is the opposite of what exists at many clubs: micromanagement by well-meaning but often misinformed volunteers who try to apply the practices from their professional experience to a private club’s complex social and operational environment,” Vain cautioned.

“When the leadership and executive understand the club business model, which recognizes that dues revenue and capital generation are the critical elements supporting the promise of club membership - preferred access to quality amenities and programs - they clearly understand their respective roles and responsibilities. In this model, they can work together to make their club successful.”

From KK&W’s point of view, there are other benefits for the club’s board and general manager.

“Secure portals with dashboards displaying how key performance indicators can be tracked, along with other key data, provide real-time insights on operational progress,” articulated KK&W principals.?

“The highest performing clubs now use key performance indicators on three levels: board, committee and per operational department. This enhanced reporting is easier to read and access to it allows board and committee members to be more informed, leading to more efficient meetings.?

“The ability for board and committee members to access and review information at their convenience increases the likelihood of their engagement and involvement and boosts their confidence and understanding of the material. This creates more informed leaders who make better decisions for the club," Tom Wallace.

“For the GM, using technology allows for increased efficiency, better communication and saves time. It also ensures there is one designated space for all the documents to ‘live’ for easy access and reference,” they added.

“BoardRoom Institute offers essential education for board members,” continued CLA’s CEO Schultz.?

“Whether a seasoned board member wants to learn more about a specific area that will help them address a certain issue or challenge, or a new board member requires a comprehensive orientation, BoardRoom Institute makes that information readily available, as does the Club Leadership Alliance Board Portal powered by BellesBoard.?

“Both are searchable repositories of documents that include committee education. A board member can learn the ‘why’ behind the importance of confidentiality, for example, and their fiduciary responsibilities as a board. And again, it’s BoardRoom Institute, so you know it’s comprehensive and reliable information,” Schultz emphasized.

“For the general manager, online board education is easily shared with department heads and/or managers with responsibility as committee liaisons. It allows a unified approach that gets each constituency on the same page. It allows the setting of expectations and accountability through understanding and top-to-bottom alignment.?

“For both boards and general managers, participating in online board education is due diligence that can stand up against the legal issues that can come back to haunt the club.

“BoardRoom Institute is very much the key to understanding board dynamics and is essentially a road map that facilitates informed leadership at the club,” Schultz maintained.

“The technology behind BoardRoom Institute means that club leaders can provide flexible, low-cost access to industry best practices to all stakeholders, from the president and executive committee to all committee members and, in fact, any interested members,” explained McMahon’s Vain.

“This can lead to widespread understanding and adoption of proven best practices for club success. The technology can also measure participation so the leadership knows that the other leaders and members are reviewing the information.?

“Effective governance is the engine that drives a private club’s success. Before BoardRoom Institute, it would take a member years of research and committee meetings to learn the business,” he added.

And, of course, the desired scalability and educational process flows from BoardRoom Institute’s online technology, a fact emphasized by the CLA-BoardRoom partnership. Twenty of the industry’s top leaders present content on about 85 different topics...information that’s constantly updated.?

“Topics include an introduction to private clubs and the history of clubs, governance, committee roles and responsibilities, club finance, best practices and strategic planning, and we’re adding two new sections for mindfulness and homeowners associations,” Gordon Welch.

Participants also have 24/7 access to the educational content.

“As the only? online board learning platform available, the best advantage is that users can log in from anywhere, anytime. It can be used in board meetings as a group or by individuals! This makes the platform easy to use and manage.

“The GM can have a whole team working with them. Boardroom Institute can be used for staff, committees and board members, and homeowners associations,” Welch added.

“Secure and live communication platforms are helping boards proactively address problems as they arise, rather than waiting for meetings to hash out challenges,” explained the KK&W partners.?

“Real-time messaging? is a more high-touch way to address member and staff issues and allows situations to be dealt with promptly. In addition to enhancing communication, technology allows club leaders to track feedback and situations, document a plan and close the loop. This makes handling difficult situations more comfortable and consistent for members and staff,” they explained.

“In combination with an effective club-specific board orientation and use of the Club Leadership Alliance board portal powered by BellesBoard, integrating BoardRoom Institute with a club’s approach to governance invests each club with the power to provide scalable options for education and understanding of the best practices that drive relevant, enduring clubs,” CLA’s Schultz commented.

“Adding technology solutions allows a club to show the proactive nature of their governance, and not simply that the club is doing what they did last year,” he advised.

“Board and management surveys conducted by Club Benchmarking clearly show that most boards do not recognize much of the basic information about the club. Most board members take an understanding of club governance, processes and business systems for granted, but few truly understand these areas,” Schultz offered.

“BoardRoom Institute provides an outside source for understanding complicated issues (like F&B) without creating a bigger issue or problem. Many ‘what if’ questions are answered by the experts in the session materials.

“BoardRoom Instituted sets the criteria and framework for the most important committee – nominating. All club committees can utilize the site, becoming familiar with club governance processes and practices. Those that become board members down the road will have an advanced degree of understanding from the beginning and an awareness of the value of informed leadership and strategic stewardship,” Schultz stressed.

In Ray Cronin’s opinion, “There is little to no scalable education for volunteer leaders without BoardRoom Institute. BRI is THE scalable governance education platform,” he emphasized.

And we leave the last words to BoardRoom’s CEO Fornaro: BoardRoom Institute is specifically designed for equity private clubs.?

? It cuts micromanagement by the board and committees

? Minimizes clubs’ and board members’ liabilities

? Saves thousands of dollars in consulting fees

? Allows board and committee members to access content on their time

? The GM and president, through access to the dashboard, can see what board and committee members have viewed and understand the content, and

? There’s accountability...the key to BoardRoom Institute. ? BR

Benefits and Advantages of BoardRoom Institute!

Using BoardRoom Institute’s online technology for private club board of directors and committee members’ orientation offers several advantages and benefits that also extend to the club’s general manager.

Advantages for private clubs boards of directors:

1. Convenience: Online orientation allows board members to complete their orientation at their own pace and on their schedule. This is especially valuable for busy professionals who may have limited availability for in-person sessions.

2. Consistency: Online orientation ensures that all board members receive the same information, reducing the risk of information gaps or misunderstandings arising from in-person orientations.

3. Accessibility: Online materials are easily accessible from any location with an internet connection, making it feasible for board members who are geographically dispersed or who travel frequently.

4. Reference: Online orientation materials can serve as a valuable reference for board members, allowing them to revisit important information whenever needed.

5. Interactivity: Well-designed online orientations can incorporate interactive elements such as quizzes, videos, and simulations, enhancing engagement and knowledge retention.

6. Scalability: Online orientations can accommodate new board members as they join the club, ensuring a standardized and efficient onboarding process.

7. Flexibility: Online orientations can be updated easily to reflect changes in club policies, procedures, or industry regulations, ensuring that board members always have access to the most current information. Members can learn at their own speed, review materials as needed, and engage with the content in a way that suits their individual preferences.

8. Enhanced board performance: Well-informed board members, because of comprehensive online orientation, are better equipped to contribute meaningfully to club decisions, strategy development, oversight and less micromanagement from board and committee members. Board members can use the resources to enhance their professional development.

9. Cost savings: Online education eliminates the need for travel expenses, venue rentals, printed materials, and other logistical costs associated with in-person training. This can result in significant cost savings for private clubs, allowing them to allocate resources more efficiently.

10. Access to expertise: Online platforms can bring in experts from various fields to deliver training. This allows private club boards and committees to access a broader range of knowledge and perspectives, which can be particularly valuable for topics that require specialized expertise.

11. Scalability: Online education can easily be scaled to accommodate many participants. This is especially beneficial for clubs with a large membership base or those wanting consistent training across different locations. It can accommodate new board members as they join the club, ensuring a standardized and efficient onboarding process.

12. Savings: Saves private clubs thousands of dollars in consulting fees.

13. Long-term success: Ultimately, the benefits of Boardroom Institute contribute to private clubs’ long-term success and sustainability. Well-informed, collaborative and efficient governance positively impacts all aspects of the club’s operation. It creates a more harmonious board and superior member experience.

Advantages for private club general managers

1. Time savings: Conducting in-person orientations for each new board member can be time-consuming for the general manager. Online orientation frees up their time for other critical management tasks.

2. Consistency: An online orientation ensures that every board member receives the same information and training, leading to a more informed and cohesive board.

3. Resource efficiency: Online orientations reduce the need for printed materials, meeting room rentals, and travel expenses, leading to cost savings for the club.

4. Improved communication: Online orientations can include clear explanations of the club’s mission, values, and policies, leading to better alignment between the general manager and the board.

5. Liabilities: Minimizes club and board members’ liabilities.?

6. Collaborative governance: Creates a shared playbook and focuses on collaborative governance between the volunteer board and paid management, leading to better synergy, improved decision-making and a more cohesive leadership approach.

7. Tracking and reporting: Many online platforms provide tracking and reporting features, allowing the general manager to monitor which board members have completed the orientation and when. This ensures compliance and accountability and can lead to continuous improvement in their understanding of governing principles.

BoardRoom Institute’s online technology for committee members and board of directors’ orientation benefits private clubs by providing a convenient, consistent and efficient learning and onboarding process. This, in turn, helps the general manager save time, streamline resources and foster more knowledgeable committees and engaged boards that contribute effectively to the club’s success and sustainability. ? BR

For more information about BoardRoom Institute contact John Schultz, CEO at (704) 309-3015 or Gordon Welch, COO at (918) 914-9050.