AORE Annual Report 2013 | Page 7

WHERE ARE WE NOW? A BOARD MEMBER’S RETROSPECTIVE   It  has  been  an  extraordinary  year  for  the  Association  of  Outdoor  Recreation  &  Education!   It  was  a  year  of  new  partnerships,  new  initiatives,  and  new  member  benefits.   For  the  board  of  directors,  it  was  a  year  of  laying  the  groundwork  for  effective  and  lasting   governance  for  the  association.  When  AORE  hired  its  first  executive  director,  the  board   recognized  that  the  existing  governance  structure  needed  to  be  reworked  to  accommodate  the   organization’s  growth.  A  review  process  ensued,  taking  in  the  research  and  hard  work  of  previous   boards.  We  looked  at  different  models  used  for  non-­‐profit  organizations  and  enlisted  the  help  of   an  outside  consultant  called  the  NEW  Center.  The  consultant  helped  us  explore  best  practices  for   leadership  specific  to  AORE’s  size  and  scope.  As  the  board  was  looking  to  adapt  its  governance   policy,  it  recognized  that,  like  with  any  institution,  its  officers  needed  professional  training  and   guidance  in  leading  a  non-­‐profit  organization.  With  this  in  mind,  AORE  sent  the  president  and   president-­‐elect  to  a  training  in  Ann  Arbor  entitled  “How  to  be  an  extraordinary  chairperson”  and   it  was  very  successful.  Through  consulting,  professional  development,  and  diligence,  the  board   produced  a  working  draft  of  the  AORE  Board  Governance  Policy  by  the  2013  pre-­‐conference   meeting.  Moving  forward,  the  board  will  work  to  implement  this  policy  and  make  the  best   decisions  for  AORE’s  membership  and  stakeholders.  In  addition  to  a  new  governance  policy,  the   Financial  Advisory  Committee  was  created  this  year  to  ensure  smart  fiscal  practices  for  AORE.   Where  are  we  as  an  organization  now  and  where  do  we  want  to  be  in  5  years?  10  years?  We   work  in  a  dynamic  profession  with  constantly  changing  issues  and  trends.  It  is  the  responsibility   of  AORE  to  stay  in  tune  with  these  changes,  and  apply  our  resources  and  energy  accordingly.  The   board  and  national  office  are  becoming  more  adept  at  recognizing  these  trends  to  meet  the  needs   of  AORE  members.  Currently,  access  and  land  issues  are  at  the  forefront,  and  AORE  has  b