ABCs of Life Insurance

Is the good ol’ girl system alive and well in NAWBO-OC? Is the board process a shoe-in for friends and those in the inner circle and clique? What I’ve found may surprise you.

Cathy Daugherty, immediate Past President of NAWBO-OC invited me to be part of the nomination process for the 2007-2008 board of Officers. Because I would want to be involved in anything Cathy was doing, I quickly said, "Yes." I had no idea what I had said yes to, so on the day of the event I had a lot of questions.

We met at Zov’s, a fabulous Bistro serving Greek food in Tustin. I started firing off the questions almost immediately. The first question was simple … what were we doing? Cathy explained that each February the immediate Past President calls for board nominations. Then, the President Elect proposes the NAWBO-OC members she would like to serve on the board during her tenure of President. In March, a committee comprised of the immediate Past President, two current officers on the Board, two non-board members, and the President Elect meet to interview the nominees and vote whether we feel they are a good fit for the position they have been nominated for. The President Elect does not have a vote – she is an overseer of the process. So, March 16th, we met to perform our nominating committee duties.

What an honor to be doing such an important task. I felt like a peacock showing its tail feathers. As we sat at the table and went over what the interview process entailed and who was being nominated, we went over the job descriptions of the positions. Holy Moly!

Whoever wrote the job descriptions and the position requirements certainly had the concern for the NAWBO member and her business in mind. I appreciated the way the prospective volunteer board member could see exactly what she was getting in to. Through the nomination questionnaire each nominee was asked to complete; it was apparent that NAWBO wanted to ensure that the member’s business was resilient enough to withstand the requirements imposed upon the position holder, that she had the support of her family, and that she understood the position she was nominated for. It was refreshing to see it wasn’t: "We’ll take anyone to fill the seat." Such diligence by NAWBO adds a validation and respect for the organization and board position itself.

Cathy then told us who we would be interviewing: Lydia Welton for the position of Secretary, Kimberly Gerber for Vice President, and Cassie Hoag for President Elect. We each had one question to ask, but we were instructed to make notes of observations on the questions the other committee members asked as well. The questions were well thought out, and the answers the nominees gave were insightful to how she viewed the position, leadership within the organization, and the responsibilities.

As we went through the interview process it was clear these women had been correctly identified for their nominated positions. Their respect for the organization, team work amongst other board members, and the leadership process was visible in their thoughtful answers.

When we finished the interviewing, we talked openly as a committee about our thoughts and feelings of the answers provided by the nominees. We voted for their selection to the position they were nominated for unanimously.

To someone not familiar with the process – they may see the whole thing as superficial or “for show.” Not so! One year, during the interview process, one of the nominees decided it was not in her company’s best interest to serve on a board at that time. So both the nominating committee and the nominees see the process as a vital and valid step in board selection.

The next step in the selection process was to put the nomination before the general membership. At this time, any member can petition to be added to the ballot and if properly executed that person is treated as another candidate. As of this writing, that hasn’t happened, but it is possible.

If you’re wondering how you can become more involved in processes like this one, or become a member of a committee within NAWBO – it’s simple. Ask any current board member, or go to the NAWBO-OC.org website. More information and contacts are available – just click on “Boards & Committees” in the left margin. Joining a committee is the best way to meet other members, learn about all the programs within NAWBO, and if appropriate –affect change through committee and board membership.

To sum up my impression of the process for nominating a board member … awesome! I walked away that March 16th with an enriched view of NAWBO, and a deeper respect for three successful fellow NAWBO members. I am delighted to report that the good ol’ girl system (or syndrome) is not a part of MY NAWBO-OC board, and that “who you know,” is not a defining factor of board nomination.

Lorrie Scott is owner and managing director for ConnectingCA.com – a website connecting people, events, and ideas, and BeautySeminars.com a resource for girls, women, and parents to build core qualities that enhance their quality of life and communication skills. Lorrie is also a freelance writer and author.