Hi Wesley,
I've dealt with lots of boards - as staff and as a board member. Each is
unique, but I've put some general feedback:

1.  What is the frequency of the meetings of your museum's full Board of
Trustees?  Monthly? Quarterly? Something else?...if so, what?

My experience has been that it very much depends on the role of the
board - are they a working board? Or are they more of an governing
board? 
Working boards I have dealt with have met monthly for reporting and
decisions, but have also had regular monthly or bimonthly committee
meetings to do the actual work. 
Governing boards I've dealt with have met alternate months or quarterly.

In my experience, the biggest problem with meetings is not the
frequency, but the effectiveness. No one wants to go to a 2 hour meeting
every month where after hours of reports and discussions you don't feel
like anything has been accomplished. Establishing a board structure
where there are committees that do work and report back to the full
board for decisions/guidance, having a consent agenda, providing
materials well in advance so participants can come prepared, all these
things will do wonders for increasing effectiveness of a meeting, which
will should reduce grumbling about frequency/duration.

2.  What is the frequency of the meetings of your museum's executive
committee of the Board of Trustees? Monthly? Quarterly? ad hoc?
Emergency only?  Something else?....if so, what?

Most boards I've worked with have used the executive committee sparingly
- if a decision needed to be made in an off month or quickly, to work on
larger policy issues or to deal with ED review/salary.

3.  What are the terms of service for the members of the museum's Board
of Trustees?  One year? Two years?  Three years?  Something else?....if
so, what?

2-4 seems to be common. I'm a fan of 3-4. One year to figure it out, 1-2
years to really work/chair a committee/be an officer, one year to mentor
and train the new board members

4.  Are there any limits as to how many terms a member of the museum's
Board of Trustees may serve?  If so, what are they?

Term limits for board members are often a good idea, 6-8 years depending
on the length of terms. Most boards I've been involved with do allow
people who have termed out to step away for a year, or a term, and
return.


A HUGE issue that most boards don't deal with is transition of
leadership and succession planning. Having clearly defined board (and
committee) leadership roles is critical. As is determining how
leadership will change - will the VP becomes the President? is there a
president-elect or past-president role to allow for learning/mentorship?
On too many boards, the leadership position falls to the person who puts
up the least resistance. 

My 3 cents :)
And good luck!
Julie


Julie Carpenter
Senior Museum Specialist
Campbell Historical Museum & Ainsley House
51 North Campbell Avenue
Campbell, CA 95008
408-866-2758
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