Proper location, timing can help ensure successful board retreats

Often, nonprofits will use the start of a new year as an opportunity to have a board retreat that brings their senior staff and boards together to focus attention on specific long‐term tasks and issues facing the organization. Whether it's strategic planning, succession planning or bringing on new board members to fill the roles of those whose terms have expired, board retreats can be useful is a variety of ways by removing many of the usual distractions that are present at regular board meetings—and by carving out time away from the many other obligations that board members have on their plates throughout the year.