journal features

farewell to my non-profit board

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-eight years and a million words

Toronto, 2019.03.26

Tonight was my last night of service on the board of directors of Cycle Toronto, an advocacy organization with a vision of a future city that's safe for cyclists. I served on the fundraising committee for a year, on the governance and IT committees for three years, as board vice-president for a year, and as chair of the IT committee for two years. During that time I witnessed a major project run into the ground, was pushed into a couple of temper tantrums, and managed to move the dial but a little. None of the strategic ideas with which I went into it got the time of day from the board, and I found myself mostly in a care-taker role. Still, it was an invaluable experience and a very good opportunity to learn how boards do and do not function.

rand()m quote

The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to such a pass that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others. And having no respect he ceases to love, and in order to occupy and distract himself without love he gives way to passions and coarse pleasures, and sinks to bestiality in his vices, all from continual lying to other men and to himself.

—Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamazov