Nick, something that can help to recruit board candidates is to offer a small overview of what board participation might entail. People outside of a board might have limited appreciation of what a board seat entails and consequently, they might not easily grasp how well their skills and knowledge might blend and contribute. It is helpful to mention how often meetings are held and how. Generalizing the forms of contribution that a successful candidate might offer is helpful.
Of course, there are those people who have sat on boards who might also bring some level of expectations. Even within the same organization, year on year, not all boards are created equal. They tend to pattern how they function based upon who sits on them at any particular time. Formal, informal, precise and structured, casual or laid back, strong communicators or followers, every board can operate within the same general guidelines, and yet be wholly different in behavior. I cannot recall exactly what was described in Wooden Canoe either in the most recent issue or in the past so if this overview was offered, I apologize for the repetition. Monthly online meetings might have been mentioned?
Anecdotally, it interesting to see the immediate value that returning board members may offer. Sometimes a hiatus can help a person to focus their thoughts. Being sidelined for a few sessions can also allow issues/initiatives to structure themselves during that absence.
