By @Kelley Donaldson, APR, Community and External Affairs Manager, Monte Vista Water District
Candid Advice From a 25-Year Veteran Board Member
When Sandra Rose was elected to the Monte Vista Water District board in 1999, she was, by her own admission, a typical water user who knew nothing about the complexity or cost of water service. With eagerness to understand and serve her community, once sworn in she enrolled in CSDA’s Special District Leadership Academy and earned her Certificate in Special District Governance from the Special District Leadership Foundation in 2004. Twenty-five years later, she’s still serving, now as Board President, and she’s ready to share what those decades in the boardroom have taught her.
At this year’s CSDA Annual Conference, Rose was joined by Monte Vista Water District General Manager/CEO Justin Scott-Coe for a candid session titled Top 10 Board Member Best Practices. Together, they’ll walk through meaningful best practices that cover everything from meeting preparation and board conduct to staff relations and political boundaries — the kind of practical guidance that governance textbooks rarely spell out.
Some of the advice is straightforward but so simple it’s often overlooked. For those who won’t be attending the conference session, this article shares some of the insights that will be covered.
Read your board packet before you arrive — don’t open it at the dais.
Put your phone away during meetings; when the audience can only see the top of your head, they know your attention is focused elsewhere.
These may sound basic, but Rose has seen these things happen too many times.
More Tips for Board Members
Think carefully before endorsing candidates. As flattering as it may feel to be asked, endorsements can create unnecessary enemies and future complications.
Resist the temptation to use an elected position to bypass proper channels when dealing with other officials or agencies. Your role opens doors; it doesn’t replace due process.
Board and Staff Relationship Advice
Rose says that the foundation of an effective board-general manager relationship is mutual trust, and trust that is built through consistent, honest, two-way communication. If you need something, ask – but don’t go directly to staff. Carry your general manager’s business card to defer questions or vendor inquiries. Understanding each other’s roles helps provide better service as an elected official and as a district.
Rose is someone who came in knowing nothing, committed to learning, and spent 25 years figuring out what works. Her practical and candid message is backed with experience and confidence of someone who has been in the room when things go right, and when they go sideways.
Whether you are newly elected, considering a run for a board seat, or a seasoned member looking for a fresh perspective, this session offers the kind of honest, peer-to-peer guidance that can make you a more effective and impactful leader. Board members and directors, whether new to the role or seasoned over decades, can learn new skills and develop thoughtful leadership practices by attending the Special District Leadership Academy offered multiple times each year by CSDA.
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