Meet Your Classmates

Meet Debra…

I answered a newspaper ad for board members placed by Garden Town Family Services two years ago. I met with the Executive Director, hoping I would find opportunities to contribute and to gain some career related benefits.

At age 41, I was hoping to re-enter the paid workforce as an account manager in the banking industry, my occupation before I became a stay-at-home parent to my two children. I knew that I needed to add some current leadership experience to my resume to achieve my career goal. I thought perhaps board involvement could give me that experience.

I was also excited about getting involved in Family Service's new mentoring program for teen parents. My cousin was a single mom at age sixteen, and back then there weren't any services to provide her with support. I saw how she and her son struggled. A mentor could have made a big difference! I guess I felt close to this cause, and thought maybe I could reach out to those girls.

The first few months on the board were a whirlwind! I didn't really have much of an orientation, except for that meeting with the Executive Director. We talked about the agency and its programs, and she invited me to the next board meeting. Well, before I knew it, the board had voted me on as a member.

I was quickly placed on the fundraising committee. You see, I had some time on my hands while my kids were in school, and I ended up being the only one who could get a lot of things done during daytime hours for the agency's fundraisers. I became the ticket printer, the balloon blower and the door prize requester. It's not quite the leadership experience that I thought would help me land the banking job that still isn't mine nearly two years later! And I've been so busy as a worker bee for all these events that I'm starting to burn out.

I've been asked to stand for re-election at the next annual general meeting. I'm not sure what to do. I think this is an important cause, but I'm feeling disillusioned with my board experience. Can you help me to figure out why I'm feeling this way?

Now you are ready to move to the next section - understand the board context and role.

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