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ICN Editorial - Congratulations to the ICA!

Non-profit rebuilds corporate of board directors with seven new executives and medical professionsals.

I'd like to take this moment to congratulate the ICA for welcoming a new and greatly expanded corporate board of directors. This is their strongest corporate board to date. As announced in their latest ICA Update, seven new board members bring a wealth of corporate and professional experience to an organization that could greatly benefit from their wisdom.

While most non-profits are founded by a core group of dedicated patients, those that survive over the long term also have a mechanism at the board level for welcoming new people who have complimentary strengths and professional expertise, particularly in the area of non-profit budget auditing, planning and fund development. It's vital that board members serve their two to four year terms and then move on so that others can have the opportunity to contribute new ideas, and assess the organization from a neutral, critical eye.

The dynamics and enthusiasm of the corporate board so clearly sets the tone for an organization. As we learned from the United Way debacle a few years ago, board members must step beyond the information provided by paid staff. A board member not only respects the work of staff, but has the courage to evaluate their strengths and weaknesses. Perhaps their most important role is to conduct annual performance reviews of the Executive Director and/or senior staff member. We also encourage the new ICA board to consider holding public board meetings so that ICA donors and volunteers will have an opportunity to meet those who hold the future of the organization in the palm of their hands.

The ICA has faced significant financial issues which led, earlier this year, to the termination of their support groups. We hope that this new board, for the first time in ICA history, will publish their annual IRS Form 990's on their web site so that all financial questions can be addressed quickly, with the most up to date information. This small step can help to rebuild faith in the ICA.

We pray for their success for truly the health of the ICA influences IC activities throughout the USA. May they have the courage to move beyond old boundaries, the strength to work cohesively and create peace in the IC movement, and the guts to always ask their volunteers and donors how THEY, the corporate board, can do a better job.

This is not the time for a passive board. The US IC movement needs active individuals who will stretch their boundaries and lead the movement into a hopeful future.

Good luck!

By Jill Osborne