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  • 1.  Seeking Input - Board Structure - State Trade Association

    Posted 08-20-2014 05:37 PM
    As part of an overall strategic planning effort, BCAW is looking to restructure our board of directors.  Currently the board is comprised of 38 positions representing 11 geographic districts and a total of approximately 170 members throughout Wisconsin.  We also have 4 officers elected by the general membership at the annual meeting, plus 8 seats held by "active" past presidents.  With the exception of the president, all officers are elected annually, without term limits.  The president is also elected annually, with a 2 (successive) year limit.  Our officers are very active in much of the program administration and is not viewed to be an honorary or figurehead type position so we are not considering doing a single year term or term limit.

    We have an informal expectation that the officers will move up through the chairs, but that is not currently in our by-laws and operationally, has become a challenge with fewer people able or willing to be president.

    We are looking to stagger our officers' election to every-other-year with 2 year terms.  We are curious how other state associations of similar in size/scope handle the issue of term limits (do you have them and if so, what are they) and whether or not you allow a past president to "recycle" back after serving their initial term limit?  If you do allow them to recycle, are there any restrictions (like not within "X" years of their last presidential term, etc.).

    If you do not use a nomination/election process that has a succession plan built into it (like automatic succession through the chairs), how do you develop and assure candidates for president are prepared with the institutional knowledge necessary to be successful in the volunteer leadership position of president?

    We are also interested in learning how many board positions you have in a constituency based model and what do you base the numbers on?  As stated, we have 11 districts based on geography and each is represented based on the total number of bowling lanes in their area (not the number of bowling centers).  The minimum number of district directors is currently 2 . . . some districts have as many as 4.

    Our association is very dependent on local implementation of our programs so it will be a delicate balance of creating a governance structure that is nimble as well as supportive in the execution of key initiatives.  Finding the delicate balance of engagement and willingness to serve, with the work we need our volunteers to be involved in, has alluded us for several years, hence the efforts now to make changes.

    I sincerely appreciate the input from you and thank you in advance for your time.

    Best wishes,
    Yvonne

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    Yvonne Bennett CAE, SPHR
    Executive Director
    Bowling Centers Association of Wisconsin
    Pewaukee WI
    (262) 783-4292
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    Higher Logic


  • 2.  RE: Seeking Input - Board Structure - State Trade Association

    Posted 11-08-2014 12:15 PM
    While my original post didn't receive any online responses, I did speak with a few of my WSAE peers to obtain some input and advice.  I thought I'd provide follow-up on where we are.

    We are proceeding with the steps necessary to make several significant changes to our governance structure!

    1.  We are taking action to dissolve our 501c4 foundation on 12/31/14.  We are through all steps necessary to take this to a membership vote on 12/1/14.  We anticipate no challenges.

    2.  We are moving to reduce our board from one of a geographic structure and 38 members to a more nimble and focused 13.  This will include establishing an election cycle that will have two officers + four directors up for election each year, for two year terms.  The immediately past president will be the 13th board member.

    3.  There will no longer be the expectation of "moving up the chairs" and instead, we'll encourage folks to contribute in the areas of interest.  We have eliminated the Sgt at Arms and replaced it with the position of VP.

    4.  The only term limit we've established is for the position of president, and that will permit two 2-year terms.

    5. We will also allow the "recycling" of past presidents who wish to serve as president again, after a minimum two year absence from the position.

    6. We will be eliminating most standing committees in favor of ad hoc task forces for special projects and for a limited time.

    There are some other changes being made, but these are the most significant and impactful on how BCAW functions.

    I want to thank all who provided input.  One of the most significant contributions was the recommendation to read "Race for Relevance."  The message drove home the reason why our governance needed an overhaul.  The volunteer members on my strategic planning work group working on this governance initiative found the information too relevant to ignore . . . which makes me smile!

    When I see everyone in December, we will have just had our annual meeting earlier that week.  I hope to be sharing even more good news from BCAW.

    Best wishes and again, thank you!
    Yvonne

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    Yvonne Bennett CAE, SPHR
    Executive Director
    Bowling Centers Association of Wisconsin
    Pewaukee WI
    (262) 783-4292
    -------------------------------------------


    Higher Logic


  • 3.  RE: Seeking Input - Board Structure - State Trade Association

    Posted 11-08-2014 12:19 PM
    >>>1.  We are taking action to dissolve our 501c4 foundation on 12/31/14.  We are through all steps necessary to take this to a membership vote on 12/1/14.  We anticipate no challenges.<<<

    I should have said that we will be merging the operations of our foundation into that of the association since nothing that we do in our 501c4 entity is unique to what our association is doing in terms of providing scholarship opportunities and events for youth bowlers.

    YB

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    Yvonne Bennett CAE, SPHR
    Executive Director
    Bowling Centers Association of Wisconsin
    Pewaukee WI
    (262) 783-4292
    -------------------------------------------

    Higher Logic


  • 4.  RE: Seeking Input - Board Structure - State Trade Association

    Posted 11-10-2014 11:24 AM
    Yvonne, a well-deserved congrats to you as this appears to have been well thought out and considerable work that often goes unrecognized. You look like your on your way to much improved association governance.

    For your 501c4, I'm curious as to why not, either now or at it's origination, not incorporate as a c3? We are looking into incorporating a c3 based on a small, but growing scholarship fund. Just an initial opinion we have is the charitable tax deduction benefit of a c3 would help in fund contributions from our members.

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    Martin Tirado CAE
    Chief Executive Officer
    Snow and Ice Management Association, Inc.
    Milwaukee WI
    (414) 375-1940
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    Higher Logic


  • 5.  RE: Seeking Input - Board Structure - State Trade Association

    Posted 11-11-2014 12:01 AM
    Thanks for your kind words Marty.

    Our Foundation was originally incorporated at a 501(c)3 back around 1988.  In the mid 1990's, several state bowling associations were audited by the IRS because our Grand Prix scholarship program, the sole activity of our foundation, was deemed to not be for "the public good" as a charity and the (c)3 was revoked for us and three other states back in 1995.

    The Grand Prix program is a youth bowler retention program, only available to member centers and their bowlers.  Hence, not really a charitable activity.  The foundation's board at that time opted to restructure and take the IRS's option to convert to a (c)4.

    Fast forward to my coming in earlier this year.  It was clear to me that we didn't need the corporate and governance structure for our Grand Prix scholarship program, especially since the association (a c6) was already doing several other youth scholarship programs.

    The added administration of the activities of the Grand Prix, are a bit of a PITA, since the association runs the tournaments and does the administration, and then transfers the money over to the foundation to maintain the restricted liability accounts until the student(s) graduation and are eligible to apply their scholarship funds we're holding to their college or post education bills.

    There hasn't been a separate staff, only the board/governance and the related things like banking accounts, etc.  The bookkeeping alone, was way more than necessary . . . too complex and for no end benefit or value.

    My long term vision is for us to create a true 501(c)3 that will be a public charity, not to benefit only our members and their customers.  That is important in that most companies and especially other 501(c)3's will only make donations to those with the c3 exemption from the IRS. It's part of our strategic plan . . . year four or five.

    I would say that if your foundation and the activities you envision will be viewed as "for the public good" and not just to the benefit of your members or their employees/families, you should be OK.  But if not, you could face some of the issues Foundation of BCAW had back in the 90's.

    Hope this helps as you navigate through your situation.  I look forward to the opportunity to catch up with you in person at the Dec. 4th event.

    Yvonne

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    Yvonne Bennett CAE, SPHR
    Executive Director
    Bowling Centers Association of Wisconsin
    Pewaukee WI
    (262) 783-4292
    -------------------------------------------


    Higher Logic