.jpg)
As I finish this article right after Memorial Day, I feel blessed to be part of such a wonderful board of directors. For those of you who do not know, the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of California has an unpaid board. We receive no compensation with the exception that our quarterly board meetings include sandwiches and small bags of potato chips. And for anyone who has attended a board meeting, take my word, those sandwiches are no where near “compensation.” However, I would also tell you that every time I leave a board meeting, I feel very well compensated.
Our board meetings are typically an hour and a half, maybe two hours, and we get down to business. Grants are voted upon, the annual Founder’s Dinner is planned, the MG Clinic at the University of California- Irvine is discussed, our investments are reviewed and now—our updated website has begun implementation.
In addition to the aforementioned, the relationships on the board are very personal. Many of us have worked together, or known each other, for many years. Families are discussed. Births and marriages are celebrated and unfortunately, when MG volunteers pass away, they are remembered. I always feel better walking out of a MG Foundation of California board meeting, then before I walked in.
This year I would like to grow our board of directors dramatically. While I am very happy with our existing board, I would like to hear from new potential members, who can come to the table with fresh ideas for the foundation and also grow our fundraising. As such, if you are reading this article, consider joining the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation’s Board of Directors. What is some of the criteria for joining our board?
- You must have a passion for helping people.
- You should like to work in groups.
- You must be willing to attend the quarterly board meetings consistently.
- You should have some type of aptitude to raise funds for the foundation, or have personal connections with other individuals who could raise funds for the foundation.
Do you need to have all those qualities I mentioned above? Of course not. Not many individuals do. However, if you do have two or three of the aforementioned attributes, I would welcome your call to our office. We can discuss with you in more detail about all your responsibilities should you become a board member. Better yet, if appropriate, you may want to sit in at one of our board meetings. Once you do, you may find that it is a responsibility that you want to take on.
And while I cannot pay you any remuneration for becoming a board member, I will guarantee that helping other people, becoming part of a team, making a difference in other people’s lives---will pay “dividends” for the rest of your life.
THANK YOU again for taking some time to stay engaged with the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of California. I wish all of you only health and happiness this summer and for many years to come.
- David Kohn