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Short essays offers common sense for boards

Jasche Boge

Common Sense for Board Members: 40 Essays About Board Service Edgar Stoesz. Intercourse, Pa.: Good Books, 2000. 96 pp. $8.95 US.

In our Mennonite Brethren community, most national and provincial conference ministries, as well as many local church ministries, are governed by boards. Board members are generally elected or appointed and then expected to do the work, usually with little or no training relating to their board service.

Common Sense for Board Members is a collection of 40 essays written by Edgar Stoesz, drawing upon his experience as a board member of both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, most notably Habitat for Humanity International.

Each essay is devoted to a single topic and limited to two pages. The book is easy to read. Topics include board responsibilities, board work, board meetings and a quick synopsis of things to enjoy and watch out for. While I would have liked to see more than one essay dealing with finances, I resonate with the overall concept that the use of good common sense makes for effective board members.

This is an excellent primer for rookie board members and those considering board service, and is a good tool for seasoned board veterans.

Jasche Boge is moderator of Canadian MB Conference and is a member of McIvor Ave. MB Church in Winnipeg.

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Last modified February 11, 2002.

© 2002 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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