You probably have seen the symptoms of board anemia -- low attendance and minimal participation at board meetings; lack of energy to work on committees in between board meetings; unreturned phone calls and unanswered appeal letters -- tell-tale signs that a nonprofit has the BB's or the Board Blahs! You know the disease has turned deadly when you can't get a quorum at a board meeting. The remedy is simple - apply each of the Four C's to your board each week. Complete recovery requires continual application for a period of approximately six to nine months. Severe cases may require a stronger dose and the assistance of a specialist (board development consultant).

• Composition: Does your board have the right mix of personalities? A well-functioning board needs leaders and followers, visionaries and oers, thinkers and feelers, people-persons and introverts. Recruit board members who are FUN and Effective!

• Competence: Do your board members have the necessary skills and training to effectively serve on the board? If not, training workshops might be part of the cure! Is the board president competent in leading the agency? If not, provide training or consider a replacement. Sometimes the medicine is hard to swallow.

• Communication: Does the board president communicate on a regular basis with each board member via phone, fax, letter and/or visit? Do board members communicate with each other in between board meetings? Communication counteracts the board blahs.

• Commitment: Board anemia sets in when board members have a dwindling sense of commitment. Ask each board member to recommit to the agency in a public ceremony. Each member should sign a formal contract to commit time, energy, resources, and money to the agency. Don't forget that gratitude enhances commitment. Continually thank your board members for their work and gifts before asking them for more!

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