Lawyers in the Sacramento region have a unique opportunity to become involved in community service. BOARDLINK, a program of the Nonprofit Resource Center, educates emerging community leaders about the roles and responsibilities of a nonprofit board member. Following training, the prospective board members are introduced to local organizations that need their skills and match their interests.

The two nights of highly focused training provide an overview of board member roles and responsibilities as well as practical examples of how to find board satisfaction. Topics include "how to choose a board that is right for you," "how to read financial statements," and "how to help with fund raising." Most of the lessons are conveyed with practical exercises done in small teams.

Following these sessions, BOARDLINK staff introduces the participants to nonprofit agencies for potential board service. Every effort is made to select organizations based on the candidate's interests.

Rhonda Canby, a partner with Downey Brand Seymour & Rohwer LLP, participated in the pilot group in 1999. She subsequently joined the board of Lilliput Children's Services, a northern California agency providing adoption services for children with special needs. After two years of active service, she is now vice president of the board.

Rhonda credits BOARDLINK for giving her an entry into the world of community service.

"I moved back to Sacramento after an absence of 20 years and was looking for a way to reconnect with the community. I have been involved with other organizations, but they are all work-related. This was the perfect opportunity to work with a cause that is very personal and rewarding to me."

"BOARDLINK gave me the opportunity to meet with organizations that were actively recruiting for board members. The training helped prepare me to make the right choice."

"I often refer our firm's associates to BOARDLINK when they ask me how they can become involved in the community. Board service is an excellent way to learn leadership skills and make connections in the community while supporting a good cause. Lawyers have unique talents and insights and I believe we have an obligation to share them with these organizations that help make our community a better place."

Lawyers on boards can provide a valuable service as a source of advice, helping boards make sound judgments. They may have beneficial insights when policies are drafted and can ensure that laws and legal regulations are obeyed. Depending on a lawyer's specialty, he or she may provide advice on topics such as employment issues or lease contracts.

According to the National Center for Nonprofit Boards, it's important to note that a lawyer who is a board member should not be the legal representative of the organization to the outside world. A board member is a servant of the organization, and changing to a client-attorney role creates too many conflicts of interest. However, a lawyer on the board can help an organization realize when there is a need to bring in professional legal help.

BOARDLINK has helped over 70 people--many of them lawyers--find a board that matches their interests.

The nonprofits that participate in BOARDLINK represent a broad range of community services, e.g., performing arts groups, family counseling, help for the homeless, breast cancer research, environmental causes, and animal assistance to name just a few. The organizations range in size and structure from very small with no staff to regional agencies with multi-million dollar budgets and large staff.

Finding qualified, committed board members is one of the biggest challenges for organizations - even for those that are well known and have many resources. K C Hannah, Program Director, says that until BOARDLINK was launched, most nonprofit boards did not have formal mechanisms for reaching out into the community.

"Many business and professional people want to serve on nonprofit boards, but they just don't know how to hook up or what it takes to be a responsible board member. That's where we step in."

"Boards often nominate new members who are colleagues and acquaintances because they don't know where to look for diversity. And many boards don't give a lot of thought to the importance of bringing in 'new blood.' They may need help understanding how people from outside their personal milieu can bring new perspectives."

"BOARDLINK is a great way for boards to meet new people who have time and talent to give. The response has been terrific, with a high level of satisfaction reported from both the agencies and the BOARDLINK candidates."

In addition to the training and introduction service, participants receive a manual that prepares them for board service. Later, when the BOARDLINK graduates are serving on boards, these training materials can serve as reference tools, providing helpful answers to questions that may arise.

Following the training and matching process, BOARDLINK staff members are available for follow-up support and advice. They answer questions as these new board members gain experience and can link them to other resources as needed. Future plans call for additional training sessions in leadership for those who are already serving on boards.

Information on the program, fees, and training schedule are available on the web site at www.boardlink.net.