Some organizations use the audit committee as the compensation committee to review and recommend approval of the appropriate compensation and benefits of the executive director or CEO. Some organizations use the audit committee as a sort of “ombudsman” and channel complaints to the audit committee for the committee’s investigation and resolution.

An audit committee is not a strict requirement for federal tax-exemption; however, the IRS has signaled its encouragement of audit committees, consequently every tax-exempt organization that does not already have an audit committee should strongly consider creating one. See Corporate Governance for Nonprofits Series (ProBono Partnership).
https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/nonprofit-audit-guide/frequently-asked-questions

Who should serve on an audit committee?
Typically the audit committee comprises board members and other individuals not paid by the nonprofit. In order to function effectively, the committee needs to be independent (e.g. not paid or compensated by the nonprofit.)

Ideally, those serving on the audit and finance committees of a nonprofit possess what is termed, “financial literacy.” A financially literate board member is one who can look at the organization’s budget and recognize whether there are warning signs. The American Institute of Certified Public Accounts has compiled a Toolkit for Nonprofit Audit Committees.
https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/nonprofit-audit-guide/frequently-asked-questions

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1. Acknowledge the donation in writing to the donor, and if needed state the purpose for which they donated the funds.

2. Make a paper copy of the check or Paypal receipt for the Club’s records. According to the IRS only those donations of $250 or more are reported on the annual 990 report.

3. If the donations are made in memory of a club member, the family may also want to thank the donors, so a copy of the name and address of all of the donors is helpful to accommodate the family.

4. If the donation is made for a specific project, i.e. 4-H, or the apiary at the local park, then those funds are “restricted funds” and may only be used for the donor’s specified purpose. Restricted funds are NOT part of the general club budget.

Additional donation information
One of the things that clubs need to know is that for credit/debit/check gifts less than $250 the donor can deduct without an acknowledgement from the recipient (their bank draft or card statement will suffice), but for gifts of $250 of more regardless of if it is cash, check, or charge the donor must receive an acknowledgment from the recipient with the statement ” no goods or services . . .” in order to claim the deduction on their taxes.

No matter the type or amount of donation, it is good public relations to acknowledge every donation, whether it is a donation of supplies for the bee yard, or club picnic, or a cash donation no matter the amount.

For property or stocks the rules get more complicated and additional tax forms, as well as appraisals may be required. The nonprofit never determines the value of donated property: a receipt for the donor’s property purchase or an appraisal determines the value.

Additionally, time is of the essence in sending out the thank you letters. As always it is best to check with an accountant knowledgeable in charitable contribution reporting if there are questions, and review IRS publication 1771 ( https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/substantiating-charitable-contributions )

Disclaimer: LEAD for Pollinators is not a CPA or attorney. For legal and accounting advice consult a licensed attorney or accountant.

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As more people become aware of the role of pollinators, legislators are facing citizen proposals to change the way they classify, and manage lawns and public spaces. One of the targets of change is a group of plants called “weeds.” Weeds are defined as “plants that are not valued where they are growing” and “usually have a vigorous growth.” Combined with a post WWII nationwide movement to have green carpet-like lawns, communities adopted a range of laws that encouraged manicured green spaces at the cost of plant diversity. Some also prohibited where property owners could grow what plants, such as vegetable beds on front lawns.

Research confirms those expanses of green are barren of any contributions back to the ecosystem and are expensive and high maintenance. There are an estimated 40 to 50 million acres of lawn in the US: 40% is residential lawns, 20% lines roadsides, and about 3% is on golf courses. As more land gets developed, there will be a decrease in available food species pollinators depend on, contributing to their decline and extinction. It may also affect us. One out of every three bites of healthy food we eat is courtesy of pollinators.

How to Make Changes
Making legislative changes can be challenging. Besides going against accepted practices, new laws can inadvertently impact others. I know what it’s like to be on both sides of those proposals. For many years I made a number of suggestions to our local government for non-profits I started, beginning with an animal shelter in 1979. Then for 8 years I sat on that same government entity listening to others make their proposed changes and improvements. In 2015, I worked with a Missouri State Beekeepers Association team to change Missouri’s honey labelling laws.
The good news is the process is the same; the challenge is finding out who to know and who supports the concept you are proposing.

The following are some of my suggestions on how to prepare yourself, and take on, making changes. These principles will work for the various levels of government with the focus on your local government.

Do your homework.
You are going to be the “voice’ of the proposed change you want made. You need to know as much, if not more, of anyone about every aspect of the proposal. You will need to:

• Research and know your local ordinances. Check with your city clerk to get a good starting point.
• Understand how your local governing body operates.
• Know your state laws and how they impact your community.
• Identify the alternative(s) you want.
• Make sure your alternative(s) will “fit” your community.
• Take photos to “show” the change you want made. Better yet, have a demonstration of what you are proposing. Some people are not exposed to alternatives so make it easy for them to understand what you are proposing. Something visual is much easier to understand than a long description.
• Remember to do an inventory of your own practices. If you yourself are not following what you propose it won’t take much to defeat it.

Identify who will challenge proposed changes.
Knowing who may oppose you may help you assess how difficult, or easy, it will be to make the changes you are proposing. Who may be opposed and why?

Start with the most impacted. How do the neighbors feel about the proposed changes, are they supportive of your efforts? One of the easiest steps you can take is to set up a demonstration somewhere – your own property or a local nearby school or vacant property. Put up signs explaining what you are doing. A number of national groups offer attractive signs that can be part of your effort to educate people. You will also find a percentage of people who don’t understand.

Education is the best approach before you make a proposal; enlisting the support of well-respected community members can help increase understanding and backing. Another group will be opposed because the change impacts them directly. If you can substantiate how your proposal will benefit them – less work, less cost, possible voter support – you will get the attention of this group.

A percentage of opposition will be from people who don’t like change. Set those names aside because you may have enough support to get your proposal approved without them. In general, people who don’t like change are a tough group to convince otherwise.

Once you have identified your opponents, prepare how you will address their concerns. Is there someone else who can talk to them besides you? Do you have arguments to address their concerns? As with a lot of things in life, it’s who you know who can make a difference.

How does your government work.
Spend extra time getting to know how your government works and how proposals get reviewed and approved.
Discuss with city government officials one on one.
Identify their concerns and note how you will address them.
Address their concerns in your one-page summary.
Check with other groups that have approach your government to make changes; learn from their experience and follow their advice.

Identify who may support changes.
Just as important as knowing your opponents, you need to identify those individuals and groups who will support you. You may need to call on them to help you with your proposal. Are they

• Neighbors?
• City officials?
• Community groups?

If they look like the same groups that could be opposed, they could be. It is up to you to know who the principal influences and decision-makers are and where key individuals stand. The more you know about the critical players in these groups, the more successful you will be getting your proposal approved.

Prepare yourself.
You need to know your proposal so well that you are talking about it in your sleep.
Here are some things you can do to prepare yourself:

• Develop a one page summary of issue/proposed solution. Include photos!
• Practice an elevator speech, which is a 15-second, easy to understand pitch. What are you proposing and why?
• Practice a media interview. Who/what/where/when/why/withwhom/how much. Keep your answers short. Summarize.

Depending on other factors, such as when your supporters can help, set up a contact calendar. Making changes can take time. Having a calendar will keep you focused and help you make the meetings and other events that will require your time.

Once you feel you are ready, set up your list of potential contacts.

Rally supporters.
The first names on your contact list should be your supporters.

Neighbors ok? Make sure to have their support. Pass out one page summary copies to them. Get them organized and ready to help you with emails, attending meetings, making phone calls, answering questions.

Talk to other support groups. Identified other groups that agree with you? Ask them to attend/email and show support. Some groups pass resolutions showing their collective support of proposals. Depending on your timeline, get on their schedule to debate and vote on your proposal.

One of the more popular approaches to show support is to circulate petitions. Don’t focus on numbers; make sure the signatures are from people who understand the issue and truly support it.

Make your case/presentation.
Ready to make your proposal? Know what the meeting rules are and follow them:

• Pass out one page summary of issue/proposed solution (with photos)
• Listen to discussion; take notes on who is supporting you.
• Encourage support groups to attend meetings with you.
• Observe time limits.
• Dress professionally.
• Follow-up one on one with supporters.
• Track your issue.

Be ready to work with media.
Sometimes there is a tendency to go straight to media with an issue. I recommend you talk to potential supporters and voters first. Sometimes getting media support can appear as pressuring a governmental entity and that can strain the working relationship.

On the other hand, most government meetings have local media attending. If you don’t know who they are before you attend the meeting, introduce yourself during a meeting break and get their names and contact information. Be ready to provide yours.

• Give media your one-page summary of issue/proposed solution (with photos)
• Be prepared to answer questions.
• If you don’t know, say so, then follow up with the information they requested.

Track your proposal.
One presentation will not usually do it so you need to shepherd your presentation. Keep your calendar updated and follow up on any requests for information.

• Follow-up with elected supporters. Ask them for their help and thank them along the way. Keep asking what happens next.
• Count your votes. Know how many votes you need and where you are in getting those votes.
• Be patient with the process but keep after it.
• Provide updates; keep answering questions and keep in contact with your supporters.

With time, and persistence, you should be able to make the change you want made.

Charlotte Ekker Wiggins has a master’s degree in management from Webster University. She was elected to her 25,000 population city government from 1999-2007. She is the author of “Bee Club Basics or How to Start a Bee Club,” a management guide for local bee clubs available on Amazon. More info at www.charlotteekkerwiggins.com.

The post Changing Laws To Support Pollinators appeared first on Lead For Pollinators.

From our survey in May of this year, 77% of association leaders will still offer virtual attendance to their members for their continuing education.  When providing speakers for local meetings, and state and national education 66% of leaders said they would offer virtual speakers to save travel costs for speakers, 55% to reduce the climate impact caused by speaker travel, 88% to expand the educational opportunities to members and groups, and 77% of leaders will welcome virtual speaker participation to meet the safety and health concerns of speakers.  The survey response most telling concerned feeling safe to return to large event activities:

What size event will you feel comfortable attending in person?

76%     10-25 people

23%     26-60 people

1%      61-100 people

0%       101-250 people

0%       251-500 people

0%       500+ people

Successful leaders need to adopt a “new normal.”  That new normal includes the opportunities many groups discovered in being able to provide national and international speakers to their members.  Many groups welcomed members from outside their county and state due to the caliber of speakers the group sponsored.  Educators are not limited to just our county, state, region, or country.  With virtual options local, state, and national events can provide high caliber speakers from across the country, and the globe, and reduce our carbon footprint at the same time.  The speaker, as well as the conference attendees, health, travel risks and constraints must be recognized.  At the time of this writing Canada still has restrictions on US travelers to Canada.  Not until August 9^th does the 3 night hotel “quarantine” cease. 

In a survey of event planners by Encore they found “more than one-third of planners have adopted a hybrid approach in the past six months and nearly 60% plan to use hybrid going forward,” for their events and association education.

Organizations will decide to participate on-site at events on a per case basis.  Business owners who have been vendors in the past have to weigh the health risks to their employees who work a vendor table: Are the vaccine rates low in a state, is the event indoors, are masks required or not required, how comfortable do the staff feel attending the event, etc.   The return on investment from an exhibit table or vendor table at an event has always been determined by the financial return on investment (ROI), but now the ROI also includes health costs to the staff or volunteers. 

The Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development surveyed national and international insurance carriers highlighted at the beginning of the pandemic that “  . . .few companies have business interruption coverage that is likely to respond  . . . exposing the existence of an important protection gap for some pandemic-related business interruption losses.” 

According to Economics Observatory, “The multi-faceted nature of the Covid-19 pandemic has meant that it has affected many lines of business where there is insurance coverage. The affected areas include, but are not limited to, business interruption (for example, disruption to supply chains and inability to operate as normal due to government measures), trade credit insurance (cover for businesses if customers who owe money for products or services delay payment or do not pay at all), travel, cyber liability (due to increased working from home) and event cancellation.”

Very few state and national groups even secure event insurance, and of course never thought they would have to cancel an event, even due to weather.  With climate change, impacts to events, and the subsequent vendor and exhibit tables, registration fees, and venue deposits and costs, will be at risk.  For the future, an event must place insurance as part of their conference expense.

The negative media coverage resulting in mass illnesses, whether from food, the “basic” flu, or Covid-19 will cause years of damage to an event.  See these two articles about an event, and a community group that became “super spreader events” even with precautions.

Poor service by a conference venue, such that the mention of the city causes others to also groan with dissatisfaction and bad memories, haunts many an event.  Bad memories linger in attendees, speakers, and exhibitors.  Add to that a low vaccine rate, and the looming winter flu season, and event planners are setting themselves up for a highly problematic experience for all.  If your event becomes a super-spreader event, no events for the industry will ever be held in that city in organizational memory after that.

Humbled and pained’: Calif. tech exec’s indoor conference becomes COVID superspreader

After Its Superspreader Rehearsal, A Community Choir Struggles To Sing Together Again

Association Now offers four tips for event:

“It all starts with safety protocols. Even as the risk of contracting COVID-19 decreases, attendees remain cautious. They expect cleanliness and social distancing protocols to be in place and want to be reassured that the locations where they’re staying and meeting are adhering to them.

Secondly, the pandemic has made teleconferencing the norm. Attendees have become more comfortable with that experience, and some may even prefer it–after all, it’s more convenient and less expensive than traveling. Coupled with the fact that there are still many people who don’t feel safe attending meetings in person, offering both options–to attend in-person and via teleconference–is a smart strategy. This hybrid offering is now part of a new normal that attendees both expect and appreciate.

Third, outdoor spaces are now preferable for meetings, so destinations with open-air offerings have a leg up. This goes for all gathering places, from facilities to after-hours venues. Being able to offer that fresh air is sure to increase attendance, help attendees feel safer and enjoy themselves more.

Lastly, now more than ever, events need to offer something new and unique. There needs to be a hook or some wow factor because there are still many people on the fence about attending in-person events.” Moreover, events with experiences that are more effective in person, such as teambuilding excursions that build motivation and camaraderie in a way that teleconferencing can’t, are sure to lure more attendees and have a bigger impact.”

Even as vaccination rates rise, health concerns and safety protocols will continue to be important for many event attendees.  Washing of hands, and hand cleanliness should continue to be promoted in large groups.  Having more physical space in which humans can interact is healthier over-all.  Vendor areas that are human traffic jams should have been, and are unhealthy and unsafe for the attendees and the vendors.  Food service buffets have raised health concerns for decades.  If the event is health conscious the attendees will value it, and be willing to pay more for an event that implements health standards for every aspect of the event. 

Joanne Brooks of Successful Meetings Start Here offers “Top tips for reducing contagion and keeping attendees safe at face-to-face meetings,”

1. “Negotiate a flexible cancellation policy with the venue, in case local levels of Covid-19 are high and it is unsafe to hold the event. You will need to determine how much of a refund will be provided and how close to the event date it will be offered. 
2. Require attendees to complete temperature checks and show proof of vaccination or provide a negative Covid-19 test result. Covid-19 sniffing dogs, which have been used at airports and some events, are another option.
3. Make sure that the event staff, speakers and vendors have also been tested or vaccinated. Provide a separate set-up area just for the staff to reduce contact. 
4. Consider closing the meeting rooms for 30 minutes between sessions for proper cleaning and disinfection. Be sure to sanitize all microphones and equipment between speakers.
5. Make air-flow adjustments, such as opening windows and using ozone air purifiers, to minimize the risk of contagion.
6. Use digital scanners for contactless registration. It’s also a good idea to invest in contact-tracing technology, so you are prepared in case there are any outbreaks on site.
7. Add one-way aisles and schedule visiting times for the exhibit hall to control traffic. 
8. Implement a no-handshake policy and use digital business cards, so attendees can safely exchange contact information.
9. Use server-attended stations and staggered meal times to avoid crowding and create a safe food and beverage experience. You can also offer to-go containers, so attendees can eat in their rooms if they are more comfortable doing so.”

Leaders providing member association education will ensure the longevity of their local, state, and national association only if they embrace the “new normal.”  Take your feedback from your audience and make the changes to protect, educate, inspire,  and grow your audience.

The post Planning Your Member Education appeared first on Lead For Pollinators.

LEAD for Pollinators is thrilled to welcome Intern, Ayla Sumer.  She is a Texas beekeeper, and member of the Collin County Hobby Beekeeping Association, who will conduct social media outreach to K-12 students. 

As a high school junior at the Hockaday School she has extensive experience in science-related outreach, specifically with children. She implemented and leads an after-school STEM enrichment program at Joe May Elementary School.  She developed an engaging curriculum, collaborating with the school and meeting their educational needs over various platforms.  She successfully transitioned the program during the national pandemic providing the program virtually, navigating and utilizing various virtual platforms and collaborating with her team remotely.

Ayla exhibits a personal passion for beekeeping and conservation of this valuable species. She is a current recipient of the Collin County Youth Beekeeping Scholarship. “This scholarship has provided me with the opportunity to pursue my passion for bees and maintain my own hives. With the scholarship, I have also gained experience in outreach surrounding honey bee conservation with local schools, organizations, and individuals.”

This internship experience directly aligns with the LEAD for Pollinators mission to inspire and educate future generations in the importance of pollinators.  As a beekeeper Ayla, “deeply understands the pivotal role of bees in maintaining healthy ecosystems and sustaining agriculture.”  Ayla will be a wonderful asset in facilitating the LEAD for Pollinators mission.

Ayla’s outreach and education will be featured on LEAD for Pollinators’ Instagram and Facebook pages beginning in June.  Follow LEAD for Pollinators and Ayla’s outreach and education on Instagram  and Facebook.

The post Intern Will Inspire & Educate Future Generations appeared first on Lead For Pollinators.

Continue your beekeeping, gardening, farming, small business, and leadership education during 2021.  Forty-plus presentations will inform, inspire, and invigorate listeners.  Two series will be presented:  Log-in To Learn series and Creating Pollinator Habitat series.  Webinars will be held from 8 p.m.-9 p.m. eastern (7p central, 6p mountain, 5p pacific), and feature regional and national speakers who are experienced, knowledgeable, and engaging in topics important to beekeeping, pollinator habitat, healthy soils, clean water, community-supported agriculture, leadership, and small business.  Registration fee is $10 per webinar per person.  Group rates are available for member associations, clubs, and groups.  Live presentations will be recorded and available for individuals to pay-to-view the presentations across 2021.  For more information about topics, dates, and group rates visit https://leadforpollinators.org/log-in-to-learn-webinars/  or email us at info@leadforpollinators.org

Review the Schedule of Webinars.

Other opportunities with the Log-In To Learn and Creating Pollinator Habitat webinar series include:

Advertising at the webinars

Becoming a Sponsor of the webinars

And the Multipak Group Rate for 11 presentations for your group during 2021.

The post Inform, Inspire, Invigorate appeared first on Lead For Pollinators.

Club/Association officer’s name
Club/Association officer’s title
Club/Association mailing address (usually a P.O. Box or the treasurer’s address)
Club/Association or officer’s phone number
Club/Association website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. page links

You may want to add a tag line such as the club’s mission statement, or the day, time, and place of the regular monthly meetings, or annual event. For example: “Please join us at our member meetings the third Tuesday every month at 7 p.m. at 123 Maple St., Cooper, Oh 41234.”

Ease in contacting leaders in any organization is key to serving the members and the community, and growing the organization.

Disclaimer: LEAD for Pollinators, Inc. is not a CPA or attorney. For legal and accounting advice consult a licensed attorney or accountant.

The post Should the Board members have club only email addresses? appeared first on Lead For Pollinators.

Over 140 years ago, Captain Henry Martyn Robert wrote the first edition of what has come to be known as “Robert’s Rules of Order” (the Rules). This first edition spanned 176 pages and was intended to be a brief and simple guide for the average meeting-goer. However, after its publication, Captain Robert received numerous letters from readers inquiring about situations not specifically addressed in the first edition. This correspondence led to the publication of a more robust second edition only five months later. In 2011 the eleventh and most current edition was published, comprised of 669 pages of text, plus tables and an index, including responses to new questions and to technological developments since the publication of the prior edition (698 pages total!).

The Rules are designed to be a comprehensive guidebook for maintaining order and fairness, specifically when a large group of people meets to take action on behalf of an organization. Because of the Rules’ widespread acceptance and popularity over the years, many non-profit organizations have incorporated references to the Rules in their bylaws, constitutions, or other governing documents. In fact, the Robert’s Rules of Order Official Website makes it easy for organizations to adopt the Rules, advising an organization to incorporate the following language into its bylaws as one way of approving the Rules as the organization’s parliamentary authority:
“The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the Society in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws and any special rules of order the Society may adopt.”

Although it’s easy enough to adopt the Rules, organizations often don’t appreciate the practical implications of incorporating such a reference. We have highlighted five issues that commonly arise when an organization commits to following the Rules in its bylaws or other governing document.

1. Conflict with Bylaws or State Law. Because the Rules contain a comprehensive set of guidelines governing meeting procedure, a situation may arise where the Rules conflict with an organization’s governing documents or applicable state law. The drafters of the Rules acknowledge this tension, outlining the hierarchy of authority as follows: (1) applicable law, (2) corporate charter (e.g., articles of incorporation), (3) bylaws or constitution (or both, as the case may be), (4) the Rules, (5) standing rules, and (6) custom. Even so, a board must understand how the Rules fit within the hierarchy before proceeding with confidence. To illustrate this, imagine “The Best Charity” (TBC) is an Illinois not-for-profit corporation and has drafted bylaws adopting the Rules as its parliamentary authority. The bylaws generally are well-drafted, except they do not indicate whether the board of directors may take action without an in-person meeting. Because the bylaws did not address this issue, the chair of TBC’s board of directors, Careful Carmen, consults with the Rules and learns that a board can make decisions only during an in-person meeting of directors. Carmen advises the board accordingly. However, section 108.45 of the General Not for Profit Corporation Act of Illinois (the Act) states that “unless specifically prohibited by the articles of incorporation or bylaws,” any action which may be taken at a meeting of the board may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, is approved in writing by all of the directors (also called, “unanimous written consent”). State law always trumps the Rules. In this example, TBC was not harmed by failing to consult the Act instead of the Rules, but the outcome of such an error may not always be so benign. Accordingly, each board of directors should have a clear understanding of how the Rules fit within the hierarchy of applicable authority.
2. Unnecessarily Cumbersome for Smaller Organizations. The Rules theoretically further the purposes of maintaining order and fairness; however, they likely are unnecessary and cumbersome for an organization governed by a smaller group of directors, trustees, or members. As an alternative, many organizations opt for a “consensus” model of decision making. In this model, a board member introduces an idea or proposal, encourages discussion of the pros and cons among the entire board of directors, amends the original proposal, if necessary, and then seeks a consensus before calling for a vote. The consensus model is not perfect, but it generally avoids the tediousness intrinsic in the Rules and allows a board of lay persons to make decisions without the expertise of a parliamentarian.
3. Deference to the Parliamentarian. To properly understand and apply the Rules, a board of directors likely needs to elect or regularly consult with an individual well-versed in parliamentary procedure. As stated earlier, the most recent edition is comprised of 698 pages, making application of the Rules no easy task, especially if a dispute breaks out about a procedural issue. However, having a parliamentarian on your board could cut both ways. For instance, a board member who regularly says “that’s not what the Rules say” may possess a thorough understanding of the Rules, yet simultaneously wield his power in a way that is unfair to the other board members. Indeed, a well-meaning board of directors may be tempted to defer to the parliamentarian’s interpretation of the Rules, even if the majority might interpret the Rules differently. In an extreme case, reaching a stalemate may mean that an organization must hire a professional parliamentarian and possibly an attorney to settle a disputed issue.
4. Failure to Abide by the Rules. Though there surely are some organizations that follow the letter of the Rules, many others conduct meetings, carry on business, and make decisions without regard to what the Rules actually require. This raises the question: What happens when an organization requires adherence to the Rules in its bylaws but in practice the board of directors does not abide by its procedures? In many instances, failure to abide by the Rules will not have any practical effect—unless and until someone questions the validity of a decision made when the board did not observe the proper procedure. For example, in the context of bond deals, counsel for a tax-exempt borrower must feel comfortable that the borrower’s board of directors obtained proper approvals when executing the various deal documents and covenants. A reference to the Rules in the borrower’s bylaws could make it difficult for counsel to give an opinion, especially if the board cannot confirm that it carefully followed the Rules during its meetings. Similarly, a disgruntled director could refuse to leave office following a removal vote based on his position that the removal vote did not comply with the Rules. The board of directors will be left in the unenviable position of needing to engage in a parliamentary debate with a challenging director before being able to remove him.
5. Reference to an Outdated Version. One last consideration is that a poorly worded reference to the Rules in the bylaws may create uncertainty as to which version of the Rules should govern. As mentioned previously, there are 11 editions of the Rules in publication, and a statement such as, “The organization shall follow Robert’s Rules of Order,” may create ambiguity as to which version should apply. For example, should the version that was most recent at the time the bylaws were adopted govern, or the most recent version in effect from time to time govern? In addition, the earliest versions of the Rules are no longer protected by copyright, and several authors have republished variations of the original under similar names.

After describing the dangers and pitfalls of referencing the Rules, it is possible that an organization with a large body of voting members, such as a parliamentary or legislative body, could benefit from following the Rules during its meetings. But that is most certainly the exception rather than the rule. The overwhelming majority of non-profit organizations should avoid incorporating any reference to the Rules in their governing documents because of the complexities described above.

The attorneys in the Tax-Exempt Organizations Group at Quarles & Brady regularly advise non-profit organizations on governance best practices and are happy to discuss whether your organization should include (or remove) a reference to the Rules in its governing document.

Additional resources:
Ignore Robert’s Rules Thing
Law of Order: Key Terms
Beginner’s Guide to Governing Documents
Going for Consensus, Not Robert’s Rules
Martha’s Rules of Order

Disclaimer: LEAD for Pollinators, Inc. is not a CPA or attorney. For legal and accounting advice consult a licensed attorney or accountant.

The post Five Pitfalls of Putting Robert’s Rules of Order in Your Nonprofit’s By Laws appeared first on Lead For Pollinators.

The Cleveland Pollinator and Native Plant Symposium educates and inspires homeowners, garden clubs, landscape architects and designers, horticulturists, botanists, naturalists, educators, conservationists and anyone eager to learn about creating pollinator and wildlife habitats using native plants and trees to promote biodiversity and ecological resilience.

The 6th Annual Symposium has been postponed to 2021. The site secured for the planned September 2020 date did not allow for social distancing, and was not going to open to the public until July, making it difficult to work through the process to manage events and the public in such a short time. Therefore, this exciting, educational event has been postponed for 2021 in the greater Cleveland area.

Join in the conversation in 2021 meeting with national and regional experts to increase your knowledge of pollinators, native plants and planting designs that are robust and form ecologically valuable alliances. Our focus is on shifting traditional horticultural practices to creating landscapes for beauty, biodiversity, and a sustainable ecosystem. The program encourages participants to connect, exchange ideas and share information with each other and the speakers.

Featured speakers for 2021 (dependent on continuing availability for 2021):
Ian Adams is an environmental photographer, writer and educator specializing in Ohio’s natural, rural and historical garden areas. Twenty-three books of his color photography have been published, including Ohio In Photographs: A Portrait of the Buckeye State, co-photographed with Randal Schieber and a foreward by Ohio Governor John Kasich.
Since 1989, Ian has conducted more than 200 seminars and workshops in digital photography and has produced photographs for Country Gardens, Fine Gardening, Horticulture, Living the Country Life and Organic Gardening magazines. Symposium topic: iPhone Landscape and Nature Photography David Burke is the Chief Program Officer of Science and Conservation at Holden Forests and Gardens. His primary research interest as an ecologist has been the interaction between plants and soil mircroorganisms. Of special interest are mycorrhizal fungi that form mutually beneficial relationships with plants that can enhance plant growth, diseases resistance, drought tolerance, and affect plant community composition. David believes a better understanding of how mycorrhizal fungi interact with plants will be necessary to develop sound management of ecosystems. Symposium topic: The Mysterious Mutualistic System of Mychorrizal Fungi and Why We Should Care

Laura Ekatsetya is the Director and Head Horticulturist at the renowned Lurie Garden in Millenium Park, an ecologically sensitive oasis in downtown Chicago designed by Gustafson Guthrie Nichol and renowned Dutch designer, Piet Oudolf. Laura has been responsible for guiding Lurie Garden as it matures—maintaining the vision of the designers while leading it into a new climate era. Even though the garden is ecologically responsible by design, Laura has shifted the organization’s mindset from one of pure maintenance to one of constant improvement— challenging the garden to maximize its usefulness to the urban wildlife and human community. She has pushed the boundaries of design, experimenting with new ideas to preserve habitat for wildlife. Ekatsetya is an evangelist of the naturalistic movement, speaking world-wide and participating in the global initiative to change the way we think about gardens. Symposium topic: Wild By Intention Nadia Malarkey is a garden and landscape design professional who incorporates environmentally friendly practices to produce landscapes that enhance biodiversity and biomass, address habitat fragmentation and climate change, while enriching our experience of the changing seasons. Many of Nadia’s gardens exemplify how regenerative design, while addressing habit fragmentation and climate change, can be elegant, uplifting and enlightening. Nadia’s work has been featured in magazines and news articles, and she speaks at regional Conferences. In 2015, Nadia’s project “Regenerating Suburbia” was selected as a finalist in The Society of Garden Designers (United Kingdom) annual SGD awards for Planting Design. Symposium topic: Creating Captivating Bio-Diverse Residential Gardens: One Practitioner’s Path Of Discovery

Joel Hunt is the program administrator of the Ohio Department of Transportation’s (ODOT) Highway Beautification and Pollinator Habitat Program. Realizing the many benefits of roadside pollinator habitats, ODOT became a founding partner of the Ohio Pollinator Habitat Initiative (OPHI) in 2015. In late 2016, ODOT created a fully funded standalone Highway Beautification and Pollinator Habitat Program to capture the numerous opportunities available to establish new pollinator habitat on ODOT’s right of way. Symposium topic: Ohio’s Pollinator Highway Initiatives

Kass Urban-Mead
How might you enhance your pollinator habitat…with trees? Kass Urban- Mead’s research as an entomology PhD candidate at Cornell University explores the intersection of ecological forest management and sustainable crop pollination. Her “tree-climbing for bees” (sampling in canopies) explores forest habitats as sites not only for bee nesting, but also the possibilities they are collecting the vast amounts of pollen produced by flowering forest trees. Kass has written several extension articles for outreach and extension publications, given many community workshops and outreach events. Symposium topic: The Value of Forests for Insect Pollinators

Doug Tallamy’s work has been a catalyst for change at the grass-roots level, and has formed the principles that guide how we treat our landscapes for future generations. Doug says, “Biodiversity is not optional.” He is a professor in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology and the University of Delaware, where he has taught classes in insect taxonomy, behavioral ecology, humans and nature, and insect ecology. Doug’s book Bringing Nature Home was awarded the 2008 Silver Medal by the Garden Writers Association and The Living Landscape, co-authored with Rick Darke, was published in 2014. He has won the Garden Club of American Medal for Conservation, the 2018 American Horticultural Society Communication Award and the 2019 Cynthia Westcott Scientific Writing Award. Symposium topics: Nature’s Best Hope and Let It Be An Oak

Nadia Malarkey is a garden and landscape design professional who incorporates environmentally friendly practices to produce landscapes that enhance biodiversity and biomass, address habitat fragmentation and climate change, while enriching our experience of the changing seasons. Many of Nadia’s gardens exemplify how regenerative design, while addressing habit fragmentation and climate change, can be elegant, uplifting and enlightening. Nadia’s work has been featured in magazines and news articles, and she speaks at regional Conferences. In 2015, Nadia’s project “Regenerating Suburbia” was selected as a finalist in The Society of Garden Designers (United Kingdom) annual SGD awards for Planting Design. Symposium topic: Creating Captivating Bio-Diverse Residential Gardens: One Practitioner’s Path Of Discovery

The 2021 date will be announced on our website in February 2021. Learn more about the Sixth Annual Cleveland Pollinator and Native Plant Symposium HERE.

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