volunteer boards – is there a better way?

Governance Issues in Professional Regulation

CLEAR Seminar

Council on Licensure,

Enforcement and Regulation

Toronto, Ontario

March 24, 2011© CLEAR 2011

Volunteer Boards – Is There a Better

Way?Bruce G. Matthews

Real Estate Council of Ontario

Council on Licensure,

Enforcement and Regulation

Toronto, Ontario

March 24, 2011

Overview

• Challenging the status quo• Characteristics of an ideal Board/Council

and an ideal Board/Council member• Compensation issues• Operational issues• Recruitment issues• Education/Training issues• Q & A

Council on Licensure,

Enforcement and Regulation

Toronto, Ontario

March 24, 2011

Challenging the Status Quo

• What is the status quo?– Mix of professional and public members– Nominal compensation

• Travel expenses, perhaps small per diem

– Misaligned interests between the individual members and the regulator

• “You get the government you deserve”

• 2nd Law of Thermodynamics

Council on Licensure,

Enforcement and Regulation

Toronto, Ontario

March 24, 2011

An Ideal Council/Board…

• Appropriately sized• Focused• Organized• Representative

– of the profession being regulated– of the population being served

• Self-aware and self-correcting• Embodies good governance

Council on Licensure,

Enforcement and Regulation

Toronto, Ontario

March 24, 2011

An Ideal Council Member…

• Prior Board experience– Understands policy governance– Understands meeting rules/procedures

• Interests aligned with that of the regulator

• Comes prepared• Engaged

– committee work; meets commitments

Council on Licensure,

Enforcement and Regulation

Toronto, Ontario

March 24, 2011

Why Can’t We Have It?

• What are the impediments?– Qualifications versus interest– Expectations versus reality– Legislative constraints

• What can the regulator do to overcome them?

• How do we attract a wider pool of candidates? Can we enhance that pool?

Council on Licensure,

Enforcement and Regulation

Toronto, Ontario

March 24, 2011

Four Areas for Attention

• Compensation

• Operational Issues

• Recruitment

• Education / Training

Council on Licensure,

Enforcement and Regulation

Toronto, Ontario

March 24, 2011

Would Pay Make a Difference?

• Should Board/Council service be a purely altruistic endeavour?

• The “cost” of Board/Council service– Sacrifices made by volunteers– Does the level of employer support

matter?

• $$ as a carrot to lure qualified candidates

Council on Licensure,

Enforcement and Regulation

Toronto, Ontario

March 24, 2011

Would Pay Make a Difference?

• The “value” proposition– Do you get what you pay for?– Should compensation / reward reflect the

organization’s perception of the role?

• Risks– Attracting those solely interested in the $$– “Sauce for the goose is sauce for the

gander”– Heightened performance expectations

Council on Licensure,

Enforcement and Regulation

Toronto, Ontario

March 24, 2011

Operational Issues

• Is your organization attractive to potential Board/Council members?– Expenses reimbursed promptly– Expenses pre-paid vs. reimbursed– Other travel policies– Staff prepared / organized / responsive

• Would existing Board/Council members recommend the role to others?

Council on Licensure,

Enforcement and Regulation

Toronto, Ontario

March 24, 2011

Recruitment

• Where do Council candidates come from?– What is the motivation?

• Should candidates be actively recruited?– What role can the regulator play?

• Nominating Committees– Perpetuating the status quo?

• Managing expectations• Getting employer support

Council on Licensure,

Enforcement and Regulation

Toronto, Ontario

March 24, 2011

Education / Training

• Board member training has become de rigueur– Typically delivered after a person has

been elected / appointed to the Board/Council

– Timing issues

• What about candidate training?– Maximize the opportunity for informed,

focused candidates

Council on Licensure,

Enforcement and Regulation

Toronto, Ontario

March 24, 2011

Summary

• Don’t have to settle for the status quo• With effort, we can address the gaps

and maximize the potential for improvement

• Four areas for attention:– Compensation– Operations– Recruitment– Education / Training

Council on Licensure,

Enforcement and Regulation

Toronto, Ontario

March 24, 2011

Q & A

Council on Licensure,

Enforcement and Regulation

Toronto, Ontario

March 24, 2011

Speaker Contact Information

Bruce G. MatthewsDeputy Registrar, Regulatory ComplianceReal Estate Council of Ontario3250 Bloor St. W., Suite 600Toronto, Ontario M8X 2X9T: 416-207-5149E: bruce.matthews@reco.on.ca