Stepping into a board role can feel overwhelming. Many new board members worry about making mistakes, missing important responsibilities, or spending hours trying to figure things out on their own.

This workshop will help you understand exactly what your responsibilities are, what your organization needs from you, and how to work through common governance matters to help you have a great year ahead!

By the end of the workshop, you’ll know how to:

• Identify common elements of the nonprofit model
• Understand your role and responsibilities as a board member
• Navigate governance, board responsibilities, and decision-making with confidence
• Contribute to a team environment that makes better use of volunteer time

Boards only share a certain amount of time each year making critical decisions on behalf of the organization. Volunteers are more likely to stay involved when we feel we’re using our time productively. So, it’s important we know how to run effective meetings – it’s a critical part of building a productive team dynamic.

This workshop will identify the purpose of different association meetings, how we can maximize our time together and have a productive year, and of course, learn how to address common “time wasters” during board meetings.

By the end of this session, you’ll be able to:

• Articulate “why” we meet, not just the fact that we meet
• Identify the importance of tools like agendas and meeting minutes
• Learn how to make motions and run a smooth meeting process
• Better understand how to mitigate bad behaviour

Many non-profits struggle with volunteer turnover and filling roles. But recruiting volunteers is only part of the challenge. Keeping people engaged, connected, and motivated can help you build a strong and sustainable volunteer team!

This workshop shares practical approaches you can use to attract the right volunteers, create positive volunteer experiences, and reduce the time spent replacing people who leave.

By the end of this session, you’ll learn:

• Recruitment strategies for different types of volunteer roles
• Ways to create a positive volunteer experience
• Relationship-building techniques that encourage long-term involvement
• Practical solutions to common retention challenges

Are you struggling to grow membership? Does it feel like people don’t understand what membership offers or why it matters? This workshop will help you create meaningful connections with residents, demonstrate the value of membership, and build stronger community support.

You’ll leave with practical ideas you can put into action right away, whether you’re recruiting new members, trying to get existing members to renew, or building excitement around your organization.

By the end of the session, you’ll understand:

• How to attract new members by focusing on relationships, not transactions
• Ways to communicate the value of membership
• The importance of face-to-face promotions
• Practical strategies for turning one-time supporters into engaged members

Does your organization rely on a small group of dedicated volunteers, or perhaps feel nervous about key leaders stepping down? Without a succession plan, recruiting new board members can feel stressful and time-consuming.

This workshop will help you take a proactive approach to board recruitment and leadership development, so your organization is better prepared to create more structures that help manage turnover and change.

By the end of this workshop, you’ll know how to:

• Build the skills and confidence of current and prospective board members
• Identify the strategies you need to address volunteer turnover
• Create practical structures that guide board succession planning
• Design your own Succession Plan

Many organizations hear from the same small group of people and struggle to engage a broader cross-section of their community.

This workshop will help you design engagement activities that reach more residents, create space for different perspectives, and lead to more informed decisions. When people feel welcomed and heard, they are more likely to participate, contribute ideas, and stay involved in community initiatives.

By the end of this session, you’ll be able to:

• Identify barriers that can prevent people from participating
• Understand design bias, and learn why “good intentions” do not always work
• Plan community engagement activities that are welcoming and accessible
• Reframe inclusive engagement as relationship-building

Many boards face the challenge of understanding and interpreting their bylaws, and how policies and procedures can be used to strengthen their means of governing a not-for-profit. We will discuss bylaw standards required by the Province of Alberta, common (and optional) practices that are in place, how to pursue bylaw amendments, and how basic policies and procedures can bring further clarity to board governance.