Association Executives Committee/Governance Best Practices Work Group
Friday, November 2, 2018
Boston, MA
Meeting Summary

Work Group Purpose

Identify best practices and provide input to NAR staff supporting their efforts to create a governance policies and procedures toolkit that all associations can reference when reviewing their bylaws and policy manuals.

Background

This work group was formed out of a need identified by the Collaboration Work Group, which identified governance as one of the hindrances to successful local and state association relationships. With additional resources, such as a toolkit that clarifies the differences between bylaws and polices, and the correct way to draw up both, AEC leadership believes association relationships can be strengthened and become more collaborative.  

Meeting Activity

Travis Kessler, co-chair, led the group in a review of the draft Governance Best Practices Work Group Final Report, which was created from information submitted by work group members and is organized into the following three sections: bylaws, policies, and best practices.

The work group agreed that it would be difficult to include a policy for what every board/association does, as there are multiple ways to achieve the same end result. They also agreed that a note should appear at the start of this document noting the difference between non-profit and for-profit associations.

Regarding the bylaws section of the draft report, the work group expressed a strong interest in providing a sample CEO contract in this piece. NAR Legal staff confirmed that this can be added to the report.

Under the policy section, the work group agreed to add sample policies for the following areas: attendance, investment, code of conduct, cyber security, disaster, internal emergency, investment, open vs. closed meetings, release of member data, and safety.

When addressing the best practices section of the report, Kessler acknowledged that this section will be dynamic and new best practices can be added as they arise.

Kessler discussed where the report will live on nar.realtor. Staff will work with nar.realtor staff to find the right home for this piece, some of which will likely end up in the Good Sense Governance piece on nar.realtor.

There being no further work to come before the group, the meeting was adjourned and the work group disbanded.

Work Group Members

Travis Kessler, RCE, CAE, Co-Chair (TX)
Carol Seal, RCE, Co-Chair (TN)
Erica Allen (GA)
Lynda Anthony (FL)
Jeff Arakelian, RCE (FL)
Wyndi Austin, RCE, CAE (CA)
David Bennett, RCE, CAE (FL)
Ryan Castle, RCE (MA)
Laura Crowther, RCE (SC)
Sheila Dodson, RCE (AL)
Jan Marie Ennenga (AZ)
Lance Evans, RCE (NY)
Megan Foos, RCE (OH)
Mary Grant (MT)
Tina Grimes, RCE (OR)
Allan Hetkowski, RCE, CAE (PA)
Helen Hossley (VT)
Jennifer King (SC)
Mike McGee (PA)
Chuck Michaels, CAE (FL)
Monica Pena (TX)
Denise Price, RCE (TX)
Sue Pyzynski, RCE (CT)
John Sebree, RCE (MO)
Nisha Thakker (VA)
Jim Wetzel, RCE (VA)

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