Workshops

Board Development Program workshops cover a variety of issues in six thematic areas (modules):

  • Ethical and legal aspects of board membership
  • Roles and responsibilities in the organization
  • Policy development
  • Organizing and directing the board's work using committees
  • Managing the work of the organization
  • Building a better board 

The focus in each of the modules is on:

  • Identifying key concepts
  • Applying those concepts to the organization's situation
  • Acknowledging and celebrating accomplishments
  • Identify opportunities to improve governance practices

At the end of the workshop, the instructors work with the participants to identify a reasonable number of items that the board can work at during the next 4 months to enhance their governance practices.

Delivery

Volunteer instructors deliver board development workshops. Our volunteer instructors have worked with not-for-profit organizations as board members, senior staff, or both. As a result, they bring a wealth of practical experience and knowledge that they can share with an organization's board and senior staff. Since our instructors are volunteers, just like the boards they work with, our workshops have a unique peer-to-peer environment that encourages openness, learning and problem solving.

  • Offered to not-for-profit organizations registered under various legislation, including The Societies Act and Libraries Act in Alberta
  • Available across the province
  • Customized workshops typically last for ten hours
  • Offered weekends during September through June (long weekends excluded)
  • Presented by trained, experienced volunteers

Fundamentals Workshops are tailored to the specific needs of the organization booking the workshop.

Open Workshops are open to board members from a variety of organizations. The content of Open Workshops is usually fairly broad and generic.

All workshop booking is coordinated through the Board Development Program Office.

Locations

Workshops can be provided in any Alberta community. Instructors from across Alberta will travel to communities to deliver the workshops. The BDP covers all the travel, accommodation and related costs for volunteer instructors. Since 1998, we have provided at least one workshop in more than 100 communities.