Chairman Of The Board

For two years I was a member of the volunteer board of Directors of Mississauga Parent-Child Resource Centres, an organization that operates Ontario Early Years Centres in two Mississauga ridings.

For professional women who are on maternity leave, or taking a little extended time out of the paid workforce while children are young, a volunteer board of directors has many benefits.  Volunteering on a board of directors is a great way for a stay at home parent to have regular contact with other adults in a professional setting.  It also allows a stay at home parent to keep valuable business skills current. 

All of this is topped off by the opportunity to give back to the community in a way that might not be possible when working full time.  Of course, many moms who work full-time also find that they are able to devote time to volunteering on a board.  I just haven’t figured out how they do it. 

And the list of benefits continues.  Having regular contact with other adults is great after entire days spent with kids.  You also get to use your brain.  For example, sitting on a board committee in an area you have not worked in before, may stretch your skills; or you may get to apply skills you already have in a new way.

There are also some benefits that are not entirely altruistic.  Anyone who says this is not part of his or her motivation is LYING.  The volunteer board role covers gaps in your resume.  For many professional women, the fear of having a one year gap, or several years, in the resume is one of the deciding factors to return to the paid workforce after maternity leave (or earlier).

For the organization, the benefits are huge.  A not-for-profit organization does not have the finances to hire professional board members to complement their internal management.  By accessing professionals via a volunteer board of directors, the organization is able to access a huge pool of talent that would otherwise be out of reach.

Some of the skills that are often requested are:

-    Fundraising – this is probably the most obvious
-    Finance/Accounting
-    Project management
-    Human Resources
-    Legal
-    Web/IT

Go to the next page for some organizations looking for talent!
There are many kinds of organizations out there looking for talent.  I found the most success by working with an organization that I could relate to and that had a mission I could believe in.  Before joining the board, I was a user of the Ontario Early Years Centres with my children.  There are many charities that would love your skills and perhaps some focus on a particular cause that is close to your heart.  Another area to consider is a community or arts organization.

Once you have decided that you have time and talent to give, the next step is to find organizations that could use you.  There are so many sources that I could not identify them all, but here is a starting point:

-    Board Match - Toronto area and Vancouver (interested parties must register, fill out resume and skill profiles and complete online training course)

-    Volunteer Canada

-    Nursery Schools or drop in centres (may need people for their own boards or may have a list of positions in other organizations)

-    Charity Village

It is not always easy to find the time when you are busy with a young family and work, but the pay-off is sure worth it.  The feelings you get, both from giving back and using your skills, will stay with you for a lifetime.  And the real winner is the organization that benefits from your talent."