I'm am the President of a 75 year old community theatre group finishing my second and last term as President.  We are about to elect our new executive board, but are unable to come up with a candidate for President.  This organization has spent six years making difficult and drastic decisions to save it from the brink of financial disaster, and possible dissolution.  However, now that we've made it through these large and complex issues, no one wants to be in charge.  We are an entirely volunteer-run organization with a 14 member board, and the President traditionally sets the tone and keeps things moving. A few years ago we changed the very flaccid President-Elect position (people were less interested in being president-elect than they were in being president) into a Vice-President with very specific and significant duties.  However, it is no longer a given that the VP will be the next President.  In our current situation, that will definitely not happen.  Our VP is great at what she does, and would like to continue, but does not have the skills that would make her an effective President.  We've got a wonderful group of kind, hard-working people on the board these days, but finding someone willing to take on the top of the pyramid is proving impossible.  We have made it through such hard times that we've learned, if nothing else, the President MUST be organized, consistent, an excellent communicator, and a leader.

Any words of wisdom out there?

 suzyQ

Good thoughts DanLB!

Also not only but just a thought Suzy!

Maybe 14 on the board has become too unwieldy & they would find it difficulty with that many?

I have been in a number of groups with large board membership & found at least 20% of them, are only there growing cobwebs!

In these cases, we have reduced the amount to 7 & appointed more sub committees. Who?s concerns are specific theatre departments, with a board member as the sub commitee chairman &/or also holding/elected in that portfolio! The members of departmental sub-committees, are by virtue of their appointment, an ex-officio of the Board, therefore can attend as an advisor/observer!

This works well in a lot of theatre groups here!

Also some of the best Presidents, I have ran into, never had to run over! Have been the most unlikely people, one would think of being able to hold that office, & previously had no direct interest in theatre, until they did become it!

While I wouldn?t discount anyone, even your present VP, because these days, with all the technology & long life batteries available, she may just need a regular maintenance check &/or lube & oil change?  

Thanks DanLB, Gaafa and Mike for your feedback!  I agree with your comments on the peril of "too big" boards.  Everyone on our board has a very specific job, so some of the positions actually are more like committee heads, but they operate under "director" titles, such as "Publicity Director," "Membership Director", etc.  and they report to the rest of the board at our monthly meetings.  But there still needs to be that President overseeing the board to make sure everything's moving along.  Our recent meeting failed to answer the question of "where and who's the next president?", but atleast the VP is in place to temporarily take the reins. 

thanks for sharing your thoughts,

suzyQ

I just read your original post properly Suzy!

What a wombat I?am!!! 

In that case just have the board,appoint you, in a new position & capacity, as the Immediate Past President!

Who would be able to nurture & assist any new elected President along, also be there, if turns out to become pineapple shaped!