I read a great article once on the development of a board. It talked about how in the beginning a board is usually made up of the most dedicated volunteers, and after time it transforms into a managing board that may have volunteers on it but the main function is to manage finances and legal issues, etc.
Without a staff I can see how maybe just a few people are doing the brunt of the work. After 50 years we still see that at our theatre, the group changes every couple of years though. Even though we have a large staff for the size of our town, we do still require our board members to sign a contract. Being a member is required. Donating is required. Board meetings are absolutely required--I think only two of twelve can be missed before you're dismissed. Being on at least one committee is required also. And I almost forgot, coming to the shows is required.
I understand that you want to show your volunteers that your board is dedicated, but not all good board members are going to be able to best serve your organization by showing up to clean or paint or haul things, etc. If you have a well-rounded board, that isn't probably the case. Everyone should chip in, but some folks are better serving in different ways (fundraising, publicity, organizing parties or events, legal services, financial advice, etc.)
When you recruit be careful not to fall into the trap of lureing people in with the old "it's not that much time, it's not that hard, it's fun, you'll like it" speech. We've found the more we spell out exactly what we expect, the more dedicated and surprising community members we've found interested in serving for us. And it's been great for our growth overall.
Instead of spending all of your time focused on doing the dirty work--how about shifting focus to recruitment and delegation. Also a HUGE job, but one that needs to be done. You'll soon find those golden volunteers who help because they really enjoy it and can take some of that pressure off of you. If the work is making you bitter, you need to change the way you approach it so you don't stop loving what you're doing.
I think it's great that you've got such a heart for your organization, too. Good luck in the future.
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