From the article by the legendary Joan Garry

Put on a show: Your board rarely gets to see you in action as a public figure, impressing the hell out of external constituents. For the most part, they are in a board meeting with you and the most exciting thing you talk about is the completion of performance reviews. Do you have any video? Is there someone you can invite in to validate your fabulousness?

Give the inside scoop: Board members want to feel like they are part of a special club – that they know the “inside scoop” of your “industry.” That’s a big perk. How about a guest speaker? Bring in a big funder — maybe a key person from a foundation that already funds you. Or an expert in your sector? An academic? Have that person talk not about your organization but about the larger issues in your sector. Let them ask questions.

Goosebumps: Bring in folks who are touched by your work. If you are a lobbying organization, bring in an elected official “rock star” they can brag about. If you are a direct service organization, how about some of the folks who benefit from the work you do. Have your lead program person or the CEO moderate. This can be goosebump material. Goosebumps are the breakfast of champions.

Coffee Talk: Often as a board member, I felt like I didn’t get enough of the insights our CEO had about the work. In our case the CEO had been in his job for a number of years and had history and insight that I didn’t feel like I got enough of. Apart from the business of the board meeting, how about a 45 minute “interview” with your CEO – could be done by a board member or another person the CEO invites to participate who also has insights.

Friday Night Dinners: Do they HAVE to be only social? Methinks not. I recently worked with an LGBT families organization. Many of the board members have young children. I suggested that it would be interesting / insightful and inspirational for these board members to glimpse into their future. And so we invited a number of grown kids of LGBT parents to join us for coffee. Board members arrived the next morning feeling as if the board meeting had already begun in some ways and were inspired by the young men and women who joined us.