In the last year, as a result of a thorough assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of its at
large board of leaders, Building Community reduced the number of board members to fifteen and assigned each to a specific area of work. They decided to name a president and three vice presidents (for administration, community participation and programs) who, with the past president, comprise the leadership team. Ms. Withrow describes this structure as another break with tradition. She notes, “Instead of simply standing in for the president in her absence, the vice presidents are each charged with a particular area of work [for which the president might
normally be responsible].” The goal of the restructuring is to make Building Community’s board of leaders a working board in every sense of the word. “Now,” says Ms. Withrow, “the only way to get on the board is to take on an interest area. Each person is there for a particular reason and they are ready and willing to collaborate.”