Representative Governance

In the last article, CEO Tracy Todd highlighted the distinctions between constituency based and representative governance. Here, I will expand on the board’s role as a representative of AAMFT.

As the elected representatives of AAMFT, board members wear two distinct hats. Our original hat is, of course, as a member. We must be members in good standing to be eligible to hold office as an elected representative. Our most important role as a board member is oversight of the association. These include financial, legal, and business aspects and involves the explicit duties of care, loyalty and obedience. In order to bridge member wants, needs, and expectations board members must understand these duties. The other hat we wear is as ambassadors of the corporation. We serve as ambassadors to the membership in order to balance the needs of members with those of the corporation. As elected representatives, board members are the link between the organization and the membership.

At the top of our job description is to represent the AAMFT membership in determining and overseeing the organizational performance of the association. The board’s unique job is distinguished from the CEO in that our efforts are concentrated on the general outcomes which are set by governance policies and the strategic goals and objectives for the association. Our governing policies are written at the broadest levels and address what are referred to as the “Ends”—and which are delineated in the strategic plan. These include all the organizational products, impacts, benefits, outcomes, recipients, and their relative worth.

The board is charged to operate in all ways mindful of its trusteeship obligation to those who morally own the organization, the AAMFT members.

On behalf of the AAMFT membership, the board governs the association with knowledge-based planning. Our commitment as a board is to remain focused on policy and to envision and refine those ends outlined in the Strategic Plan for the overall good of the association. The distinct manner of our ambassador role is that the board governs with a style that emphasizes outward vision rather than an internal preoccupation or micro-management, encouragement of diversity in viewpoints, visionary leadership more than administrative detail, clear distinction of board and chief executive roles, collective rather than individual decisions, future rather than past or present, and proactivity rather than reactivity. AAMFT’s model of representative governance means that the board will have a forward focus on behalf of the association and profession, and representing values of transparency, integrity, and ethical practice.

Specifically, the board is charged to operate in all ways mindful of its trusteeship obligation to those who morally own the organization, the AAMFT members. Thus, being the link between the organization and its members requires that board members adhere not only to our corporate duties, but with the necessary diplomacy required of a trustworthy ambassador. The diplomatic role of the board members is to facilitate the mutually beneficial relationship between the association and its members.

I hope you consider your leadership skills well suited to this role. I invite you to think about your interest and willingness to run for a position as an elected representative on the board. It is indeed a unique honor and privilege to serve as a member representative for AAMFT.