By Joan Cozart, M. Ed., Ed. S., and Joseph Cozart, Sr.

Chambers hold Board retreats for a variety of reasons: to make a mission adjustment, to devise a one-year plan of work, to prepare for an internal reorganization, or perhaps to discuss and create policies. But to get the most out of your participants, it is important to thoroughly think through the event in advance. This article offers some ideas for creating a productive and efficient Board retreat.
 
Be clear on your vision It may sound odd, but start at the end rather than the beginning. Having a clear picture of the results you need from your Board retreat will enable you to plan effectively.
If you conduct a retreat every year, it may not have the same level of intensity from one year to the next. There is a marked difference between a Board retreat at which you are creating or re-creating your Chamber’s vision, missionand values versus one in which you are validating the strategic goals of your current strategic plan or planning your program of work for the next year. The precision with which you plan either type of Board retreat should be the
same, however.
 
According to Jodi Ann LaFreniere, CCE, executive director of the Wake Forest (NC) Chamber of Commerce, “the amount of effort involved in planning the Board retreat has a direct correlation to the quality of the outcome.” By clearly defining the strategic direction of the retreat well in advance, you will ensure that you have all of the data and information needed to conduct an informed and comprehensive session. LaFreniere adds that “it is crucial to set the direction of the retreat with a clear agenda and buy-in from senior leadership.”

Click here for the FULL pdf.