LUE-42 Enterprises October 2021 Ezine

I Believe In Fairness, Fun, And Sharing What I’ve Learned With The People Who Make This Planet A Great Place To Live

Issue 128, October 2021

This autumn is starting off wonderfully. Here, it sometimes lasts only a few days and then the leaves blow away. This year the beauty is lasting and the colours, sounds, and smells all do my heart good.

September is my "new year," where I make resolutions, set goals, etc., but it was a blur, so I deferred to October. It's time for new routines (or recommitting to old routines) for my physical, mental, and spiritual health. Gratitude practices will also be ramped up.

September saw many boards come back to life. In fact, few boards get the summer off anymore, so it's more accurate to say that board meetings just got more frequent and longer. It has been good to see everyone again, even virtually.

Professional development opportunities are on the rise too, and I have taken some good stuff on governance, ethics, and generative thinking. I also had a road trip to Calgary to practice beer judging (it's real, honestly!). The events of this summer delayed me writing my exam, so it's time to get back in the saddle.

My football team (indeed the entire organization) has performed disappointingly this season, but my friends remain a beacon for me. I am grateful for all my friends and the many ways in which they lift me up, and not just with football.

I am pleased to tell you that Northern Light Theatre kicks off it's 46th season in November with my play "The Great Whorehouse Fire of 1921." Directed by Trevor Schmidt, it will be available live and on-line, so even if you're not in Edmonton you can still see it! Tickets are available at Northernlighttheatre.com

Despite mixed messages and restrictions, we held a celebration of life for Brian, in person and on-line. The event was theatrical, fun, sad, and (I think) a perfect send off. Many people helped make it that way, and I truly think Brian would have been thrilled at the spectacle of it all. If you're interested in viewing a recording, please message me.

So bring on October...I feel like I'm finally ready to step forward.

/lmwe

”Where's the thing that I haven't seen myself do before?”

-- Carmen Gimenez Smith

The Board's Annual Workplan

The board workplan template I use works pretty well to help boards to track and meet their obligations.

BoardSource has a resource that can help us populate the annual items that should appear in your board's workplan. Here are some highlights:

Annual filing requirements (Corporate Registry, CRA, etc.)
Employee payroll (confirmation that correct deductions are made, ROEs are provided, etc.)
Grant reports, as requested by various bodies
Evaluate CEO/ED performance
Review and update Conflict of Interest policy
Arrange for independent audit
Approve budget
Participate in board activities to strengthen relationships and effectiveness
Review contracts and licenses
Review investment policies

Periodically you should also review the bylaws, assess the board's performance, and review the strategic plan.

If you'd care to share your board workplan template, I'd love to see it!

/lmwe

“It takes as much energy to wish

as it does to plan.”

― Eleanor Roosevelt

"I hope I can be the autumn leaf, who looked at the sky and lived. And when it was time to leave, gracefully it knew life was a gift." -- Dodinsky

Some People Who Made Life Better in September

MaryJane Alanko, Bonnie Andraichuk, Stewart Burdett, Lori Bursey, Marc Chalifoux, David Cheoros, Chantelle Chevrier Painter, Cameron Connelly, Elaine Danalesko, Liz Garratt, Sue Huff, Kimberley Hunter & Stuart Lee, Michelle Hunter, Ian Jackson, Lynn & Don MacAskill, Jeff Mawson, Jenny Narine, Andy Northrup, Paul Rechner, Mike Smith-Knutsen, Kevin Tokarsky, Janna Tominuk, Theresa Tsoukalas, Elana & Jason West, Gerry West, Gord West, Jill Wood

“A sweet friendship refreshes the soul.”

-- Proverbs 27:9