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Did You Know that LLL’s bi-annual board meeting is coming up? I’ve written before about the unique nature of our organization (we meet online!), but it seemed like a good time this week to get into a little more detail about just how we all “come together” to manage Labrador Life Line. Why? Soon, in the next couple weeks, all of our members will be “meeting up” for one of our board meetings.
Like any non-profit (or really, any organization for that matter), we get a lot of our ideas churning and actions in motion through our board meetings. In fact, they’re required by our charter to take place at least two times a year. Generally, this happens somewhere around May 1st and November 1st, and it happens – where else? – online!
Of course, it’s not particularly fancy – the good old instant messenger provides most of our support – but it does allow us all, from our different sections of the country, to meet in get the juices flowing about what LLL is doing successfully, what we still need, and how we can best meet the needs of our labs and their families in need.
The meeting goes a little something like this: each committee chair (that’s Triage, Fundraising, Publicity, Web, etc.) will submit a report shortly before the actual event. It’s then reviewed, and formally accepted during the meeting, where it’s voted on by the board members. Of course, this is pretty standard, but if you’ve ever been involved in a group like this, you know that it’s important. This way, all of us are on the same page about the group’s agenda, goals and where we’re at right now. It’s a great way to keep everyone involved and connected, even when literally, disconnected.
And even though we’re online, it still runs much like any other organization’s board meeting: our President takes through an agenda of items, minutes are taken, discussed and then we vote. And what do we talk about? Well, everything. This month’s topic of choice? We’re beginning the first preparations for the 2012 Cyber Show. This upcoming event is like our digital-version of a traditional dog show. Enter your dog (there are categories for Labs and non-Labs, alike!) via their photo and compete in a variety of categories: from Best Portrait to Biggest Tongue, (and don’t forget Most Extreme), there is a category for every dog to excel in. And of course, it wouldn’t be a dog show without the Best in Show. The overall winner will walk away with a whole basket of goodies, all provided by the generous donations of LLL sponsors. In fact, part of our goal at this season’s board meeting will be to start organizing this year’s show, and keep finding supporters and donors who want to help make this important fundraising event happen.
Want to know more? Stay tuned. There’s always another Did You Know right around the corner… (and expect a Post-Meeting edition wrapping up all of the high notes from this season’s board meeting)
Until next time,
-AL
LLL intern, Board meeting attendee, and Dog Lover