Step In, Step Up: Everything a new community board director needs to know

Joining a community organisation is good for you and good for the world. And you've carried that to the next level - you've joined the board, where you can really make a difference.

Now you're on, though, there are some things you need to sort out. You need to know what you've joined, and how it works, and what it does, and what you're taking on. There's a surprisingly large pile of stuff you need to know, or at least need to have handy in case of fire.

You need to be clear on your responsibilities and on top of your duties. You need to be watching out for the things that could go wrong, just in case. The best way to understand the task in front of you is through experience, and if you hang on in there that'll come - but right now you could use a hand with it all, and it'd help to have a guide handy you can dip in to from time to time when tricky questions come up.

That's what this is.

It's not brain science or rocket surgery. Serving on the board of a community organisation is mostly common sense, mixed with a liberal sprinkling of common decency and common values. It's about acting morally, ethically, within the law, and in the best interests of your organisation.

This book, and the other guides produced by Our Community, are about empowering community group board directors with the knowledge that will make their contribution even more effective. It's about being prepared - being able to recognise when issues arise, and having the tools to work your way through them.