Governance and Committees

Better Committee Meetings.

“Not another time-waster meeting!” – have you heard a comment like this? 

I have observed and participated in some great committee and board meetings at early childhood services and no meeting has to be a time-waster or boring.  

It can be done. 

You can bring energy, heart, managem

Mentoring new people.

Are you finding that you have to twist the arm of an unwilling parent or person to be on the board or committee?

Here are some tips so you never have to do this again.

Most organisations, early childhood services included, wait until the president or chair, secretary, treasurer and other members announce individuall

Committee Member Commitment.

For their investment of time what do your board or committee members get back?  

It’s rare that someone will keep contributing if he/she is not benefiting from participating.

And those with the most to offer are often those with the least amount of time available and the greatest number of other c

Conflict of Interest.

A conflict of interest is when you, someone you are close to, employed by, or are personally friendly with may stand to benefit or gain in some way from a decision made at a meeting or within the service.

The board/committee, management, families and all involved in the early childhood service need to be confident that

Governance Training.

Most board members have little, if any, training on how to govern an early childhood service effectively.

They are often volunteers. 

They may come onto the board thinking their role is merely to support the supervisor or manager and mostly to fundraise and offer practical ideas for day-to-day operations.&nb

Management and Governance.

Governance and management are strengthened when these terms and roles are clarified and understood.

In early childhood services they often go together and it can be confusing to anyone without training in governance and management.

But knowing and understanding the difference is important – especially as Regu

ECE Business Structures.

Early childhood education and care services differ in organisational type. 

Here is an outline of different business types, the defining features, and broad legal requirements for each.

Owner-Operated or Sole Trader

Any person can own an early childhood service business.  They collect all profits