Author: Wendu Ejim

Bolstering Your Board: Tips for Supporting Nonprofit Boards

Posted on by Wendu Ejim

Bolstering Your Board: Tips for Supporting Nonprofit Boards

Posted on by Wendu Ejim

In the realm of nonprofit leadership, addressing the intricacies of board dynamics is essential. Nonprofit boards encounter a spectrum of challenges, from recruitment hurdles to strategic misalignments between boards and staff, and other pitfalls that can impede organizational growth. 

Navigating these challenges requires a strategic approach to achieve effective board governance.

In this power-packed webinar, Matt McEwan of Minutes Solutions, Jill Krumholz of RealHR Solutions, and Barbara O’Reilly of Windmill Hill unravel the complexities of nonprofit board management. They share valuable insights on building strong relationships, strategic planning, fostering collaboration and a culture of open communication, as well as leveraging technology for effective board support.

This webinar is not just a discussion; it’s a roadmap for nonprofits to overcome hurdles, enhance board effectiveness, and, ultimately, drive impactful change. Whether you’re a seasoned nonprofit professional or just starting, the insights shared by the panelists offer actionable strategies to elevate your organization. 

To access the full webinar, simply follow the link provided.

Watch Here

Minutes Solutions Inc.

Minutes Solutions is your trusted ally, dedicated to enhancing the efficiency and accountability of nonprofit organizations. As a professional third-party minute taking company, Minutes Solutions provides prompt, accurate, and objective minutes for nonprofit boards across various fields. Since 2014, the company has provided minute taking services for over 45,000 meetings for more than 3,000 organizations across North America. Its cohort of over 125 professionally trained minute takers in Canada and the U.S. undergoes rigorous training in industry best practices. This commitment ensures that nonprofit boards can streamline their administrative processes, allowing them to focus on their core mission.

WEBINAR: Improve Governance with New Technology and Processes

Posted on by Wendu Ejim

WEBINAR: Improve Governance with New Technology and Processes

Posted on by Wendu Ejim

Traditional governance practices often come with challenges, especially when adapting to remote and hybrid environments. Outdated methods, such as printing and mailing bulky board materials and managing all minute-taking in-house, can cause security concerns and severely limit the efficiency of staff and board members.

The solution? Innovative governance processes and technologies!

In this engaging webinar, Matt McEwan of Minutes Solutions, Kevin James Karas of Yoga Alliance, Alicia Meiklejohn of AOAC INTERNATIONAL, and Jordan Castel of OnBoard explore the dynamics of modernizing governance.

By embracing modern governance solutions, you can streamline your processes, improve communication, and enhance the overall efficiency of your association’s board. Learn from industry experts and gain valuable insights to transform the way you manage governance and compliance.

To watch the full webinar, simply click the link below and take the first step towards a more empowered board and a brighter future for your association’s governance.

Watch Here

Minutes Solutions Inc.

Minutes Solutions takes the minutes for ASAE and CSAE boards and committees. As a professional third-party minute taking company, Minutes Solutions provides prompt, accurate, and objective minutes for associations in every field. Since 2014, the company has provided minute taking services for over 45,000 meetings for more than 3,000 organizations across North America. Its cohort of over 125 professionally trained minute takers in Canada and the U.S. undergoes rigorous training in industry best practices that help make association meetings more effective and allow staff to focus on their core mission.

national preparedness month graphic

Strengthening Community Resilience Through Effective Governance

Posted on by Wendu Ejim

Strengthening Community Resilience Through Effective Governance

Posted on by Wendu Ejim

September ushers in National Preparedness Month, making it a perfect time for community associations to reinforce their governance structures in anticipation of inevitable challenges. This blog post explores the significance of preparedness from a governance perspective, highlights the critical role of record keeping, and offers insights on effectively using National Preparedness Month as an impetus for action.

The Imperative of Preparedness for Community Resilience

Preparedness isn’t merely a luxury; it’s a fundamental necessity. Whether grappling with natural disasters, public health emergencies, financial turbulence, or legal complexities, community associations must adopt a proactive approach to governance. Associations play a pivotal role in managing disasters and emergencies within their communities, and preparedness is the linchpin for smoother decision-making, response, and recovery during adversity.

How Minutes Can Help Your Organization

Accurate and detailed minutes are the foundation of good governance. They provide a historical record of meetings, decisions, and actions taken. During crises, minutes become invaluable for tracking resource allocation, understanding past decisions, and maintaining transparency. Well-maintained minutes act as a compass to navigate uncertainty.

National Preparedness Month and Your Community

National Preparedness Month serves as an annual reminder to evaluate and strengthen your association’s readiness. It provides an opportunity to scrutinize emergency plans, identify vulnerabilities, and refine procedures. Community associations can leverage this month to engage their members in preparedness activities and educate them about their roles in emergencies.

Crafting a Robust Emergency Plan and Its Components

During an emergency, community associations are responsible for disseminating crucial information to residents, coordinating emergency services, and facilitating community recovery efforts, among other responsibilities. An emergency plan outlines the organization’s response to various crises. It encompasses the following:

  • Clear communication protocols
  • Well-thought-out evacuation plans
  • Strategic resource allocation strategies
  • Contact information for key stakeholders
  • Defined roles and responsibilities for board members, community managers, and residents
  • Procedures for assessing and addressing property damage

When creating the plan, consider the specific risks your community faces, whether it’s hurricanes, wildfires, or flooding. Customize your emergency plan to address these unique risks and ensure that it undergoes regular reviews and updates to remain effective.

The Value of Professional Minute Taking

Professional minute-taking services, such as Minutes Solutions, are invaluable allies on the path to preparedness. They guarantee meticulous documentation of all critical governance discussions and decisions, reducing the risk of misunderstandings or disputes during crises. At Minutes Solutions, we understand the unique challenges facing condominiums and homeowner associations (HOAs). Partnering with our team of expert minute takers allows you to focus on strategic planning and effective response, empowering you to lead your community with unwavering confidence and resilience.

Together, let’s build more robust, resilient communities.

The Evolving Role of Governance in Asset Management

Posted on by Wendu Ejim

The Evolving Role of Governance in Asset Management

Posted on by Wendu Ejim

The asset management industry, with its multifaceted operational dynamics and the sheer volume of financial transactions, has long been under the microscope of various stakeholders. And at the center of it all lies governance. It’s a term that has grown and evolved, reflecting shifts in industry standards, regulatory changes, and global economic paradigms. Let’s delve into how the role of governance in asset management has changed over the years, the catalysts driving these shifts, and the direction it’s taking as we chart a course into the future.

1. Governance Then and Now

Traditionally, governance in asset management was largely perceived as a mechanism for oversight and control. The primary objective was to prevent impropriety and ensure legal compliance. Today, while these elements remain crucial, governance has broadened to encompass facets such as ethical investment decisions, stakeholder engagement, transparency, and the integration of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors.

2. Drivers of Change

Several factors have reshaped governance in the asset management industry:

  • Regulatory Evolution: Post-financial crisis regulations, such as the Dodd-Frank Act in the U.S. and MiFID II in Europe, have ramped up requirements, emphasizing transparency, client protection, and risk management.
  • Stakeholder Expectations: The modern investor is more informed and demands greater transparency and accountability. Institutional investors, in particular, have emphasized the need for robust governance structures. Many firms now rely on professional minute-taking services to help manage their significant minute-taking needs and provide the transparency and communication their stakeholders have come to expect.
  • The Rise of ESG: The global momentum towards responsible investing has made ESG factors central to governance. Asset managers are increasingly held accountable not just for financial returns but also for their broader impact on society and the environment.
  • Technological Advancements: Digital transformation has brought about tools that enable more stringent oversight, better risk assessment, and proactive fraud detection.

3. The Future Landscape of Governance

The trajectory of governance in asset management suggests a few key trends for the future:

  • Greater Integration of ESG: With increased global emphasis on sustainability, ESG considerations will become even more integrated into investment decisions and portfolio management.
  • Enhanced Stakeholder Engagement: Asset managers will likely adopt more proactive approaches to engage with stakeholders, using platforms and channels that facilitate two-way communication.
  • Tech-Driven Governance: As technology continues to advance, AI and machine learning will play a more significant role in predictive risk analysis, fraud detection, and even in guiding ethical investment decisions.
  • Global Harmonization: As asset managers operate in an increasingly globalized world, there will be a move towards harmonizing governance standards across borders to facilitate smoother cross-border transactions and collaborations.

Conclusion

Governance in the asset management industry is not a static entity; it’s dynamic, reflecting the complex interplay of global events, stakeholder expectations, and technological advancements. For industry professionals, understanding these shifts is not just about compliance; it’s about steering their organizations toward a future that’s resilient, ethical, and positioned for long-term success.

As the realm of asset management continues to grow in complexity, robust governance becomes not just a back-office function but a strategic imperative, shaping decisions and defining the very ethos of the institution.

How Professional Minute-Taking Can Help

As governance in the asset management industry evolves, there’s an amplified need for precise, reliable, and seasoned minute-taking services. As the global leader in professional minute-taking, Minutes Solutions offers unmatched support for firms navigating this dynamic landscape. Our expansive team of meticulously trained minute-takers and editors equips us to manage the high volume of meetings that asset managers and financial service firms often conduct. Given our industry-specific experience, our team excels in documenting technical subject matter with clarity and precision. As governance protocols continually shift, partnering with Minutes Solutions ensures unwavering integrity and accuracy in your records.