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Called to Serve: Creating and Nurturing the Effective Volunteer Board

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Called to Serve: Creating and Nurturing the Effective Volunteer Board

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Item Description

In Called to Serve internationally respected CEO Max De Pree offers experienced advice on how to create a successful nonprofit board.

Now retired as chairman of the board of Herman Miller Inc., Max De Pree has been lauded by Forbes, Fortune, and The Wall Street Journal as one of the most sensitive and successful leaders in the business world. This experience comes through clearly as De Pree lays out the nuts and bolts of nonprofit organization and provides the direction necessary to establish and nurture a volunteer board.

Based on De Pree's many years of service on nonprofit boards, his work as a consultant in the field, and his work as a teacher who has already used this material successfully in numerous seminar settings, Called to Serve will benefit readers involved with any of the wide range of volunteer-based organizations, from boards of churches, hospitals, and libraries to boards of public works, foundations, and schools.

Product Details

  • Author: Max De Pree
  • Publication Date: 2001-06
  • Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
  • Product Group: Book
  • Manufacturer: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
  • Binding: Paperback, 362 pages
  • Features:
    • ISBN13: 9780802849229
    • Condition: NEW
    • Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
  • Package Dimensions:
    • Dimensions: 780L x 520W x 40H
    • Weight: 25
  • List Price: $10.00
  • ISBN: 0802849229
  • ASIN: 0802849229

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Customer Reviews

Average Amazon User Rating: 5.0 stars

4 stars A second option for fine tuning... 2008-04-06

Reviewer: James A. Venskus

An interesting format of letters back between friends about service on a board. I believe it's best read after other more structured infomation on the roles and functions of a board, then round out your perspective and understanding with this fine work. Very short, an easy read.

5 stars a primer for working with volunteers 2006-02-20

Reviewer: K. King

Called to Serve is recommended reading by all YMCA staff who work with policy making volunteers. It is designed as "letters to a friend" and covers the why, how and what in working with volunteers/boards in a conversational way. It is not overwhelming, nor does it get into a lot of governance issues. It leads you to understand the meaning and purpose of volunteerism and many, many lessons as to roles of volunteers, meeting development, strategic planning, effective committees, etc. I highly recommend it!

5 stars Powerful Insights In Concise Form 2004-10-22

Reviewer: rodboomboom

Truly an enjoyable, profitable read with many treasures for the one seeking advice on non-profit or volunteer boards.

This is packaged in letter form of author writing advice to a friend about such board memberhsip and leadership.

Just a few of the many gleans one will get: "the board does have obligations in the short term, but the future, with certain expectations, comes first"; "desigining an agenda by following the lines of a bell curve"; "one of the great time wasters for any group is the routine of giving progress reports when there's been no progress"; and the wonderful story of the postmaster who would not be bothered out of a meeting until he heard it was to receive thanks.

One reading this wants to be on any board that Max is on. Also, to invoke some of his wisdom tenderly yet passionately given in this work. Buy one for yourself and all members on your board. It will bring more joy to the member and more service to the organization.

5 stars A Primer for Non-Profit Boards 2001-12-11

Reviewer: KC

De Pree's latest addition to his leadership books such as best-selling Leadership is an Art, Leadership Jazz, and Leading without Power, has turned his vast experience with non-profit boards into a helpful volume about creating an effective volunteer board. The book covers generalities like the expectations of board and staff, as well as specifics like how to construct an agenda. De Pree gets as specific as stating, "The chairperson should not permit anyone to read to the board." Amen to that! The book can be read quickly, referenced easily, and would help create basic principles and expectations for the board. Anyone working with a volunteer board would do well to provide a copy for each board member.

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