For the past 10 years, I’ve been an AVA board member, and today I’m president —well, at least for the next six months. Sometimes people ask me why I choose to devote such time and effort to this particular non-profit. Here’s why:
I believe…
- …that vaulting is the future of equestrian sport, and that vaulting is the ideal gateway into all horse sports. Its cost effectiveness, team orientation, safety record and fun factor can help create equestrians for life.
- …that every barn and stable in America would have better riders if all beginning equestrians participated in an introductory vaulting course.
- …that vaulting makes for safer equestrians, better balance, less injuries and more fun!
- …that there is room for “everyone” thru vaulting:
- males and females, age three to 73;
- those who start off unathletic (need a leg up?) to the elite athlete;
- “Horses 101” people to those who practically live at the barn;
- those who want to vault “just for fun” and those who dream of competing at WEG.
- …that some of my very favorite people come from the vaulting community and that as a group we can make a huge difference, grow vaulting, and have a raucous good time as we’re doing it!
If you, too, believe in vaulting, how do you know if you’re right for an AVA board or executive board position? (Nominations are open to all members until April 30!) After observing what works, and what doesn’t, here are my thoughts.
- Passion… PLUS! If you’re passionate about the sport, that’s a great start. And passion isn’t enough. The best board members are passionate, deliberate, focused and organized. We need a combination of great ideas and roll-up-the-sleeves work. If you’re willing to contribute great ideas AND lead a committee, a special initiative or an important strategic project for the organization, please consider running for the board!
- Ability to “Switcheroo.” To be an ideal board member, you must be able to take off your club/region/vaulter/parent/coach hat and replace it with your “what’s best for the organization as a whole” board hat. The best board members are those who can, above all, govern the organization with the goals of the entire non-profit in mind first.
(BTW, if your want to run for the board “so that the voice on my region gets heard,” that’s the specific duty of a Regional Supervisor, not a board member at large, or an executive board member. Regional Supervisors are elected in odd calendar years, so if that’s your goal, you might want to consider running next year for a regional supervisor slot.) If you can do the ole “switcheroo” and put on your board hat during your tenure, you might make a great candidate!
- Being There. All board members must attend all board meetings each year (two in person meetings—at the National Championships and at the Annual Convention—as well as at least one long board conference call), and are required by our bylaws to attend at least five of the six meetings during their two-year term. At the executive board level, the requirements are the three board meetings a year, and approximately 10 EB conference calls during the course of the year. And for the past two years, to start off the new terms with momentum, the EB has also started convene for an in-person brainstorming and strategy session around the September/October timeframe.
- Really BEING There. There’s a physical component to being a board member (butt in the seat during the board meetings), but the mental component is even more important. Can you really BE there for the AVA in between board meetings as well? Can you volunteer for and deliver results on committees you chair or special projects you accept? A board or EB position doesn’t have to turn into a second full-time job (except for those of us who are committed to that) but the commitment to do what you volunteer to do, and get the expected result in the timeframe agreed upon, is a very important promise to be able to keep.
How much time might it take? Depending on the particular project/initiative/committee, board members might expect to spend a minimum of 40-50 hours annually (that’s about 3-4 hours a month) on national work, in addition to meetings. But hey, it’s not really “work” if you’re making a difference and having fun at the same time, is it?!?
If you want to chat with me personally about a potential board or EB position, I promise to give you the “straight scoop” and keep it under my hat while you’re considering your options. And if what I’ve said makes you want to run for a position, go to http://www.americanvaulting.org/members/login/ to learn more!
Sheri Benjamin
AVA President
sbenjamin@americanvaulting.org
408-872-1562