Rockaway surfers

I live in the Rockaways, a beach community in the borough of Queens, New York City.

As I was running earlier this morning,  I read a post by Chris Brogan about communities.  He says,

“We don’t just join communities because we like a product or service or thing. We gather around people who feel what we feel, and we share passion for things that bring us some sense of pleasure or joy, or even healing.”

A passion for the beach is what brings me into the local surfer community.  A rare and joyful zone populated by wetsuits, knowing smiles, and a shared sense of wonder.

My September board meeting

I belong to another community that is drawn together by the Queens Council on the Arts.   My board members and I play golf together. I body surf with artists in the Rockaways. Every so often a group of us indulge our inner nonprofit knitters in a knitting circle.

Seattle knitting circle

We are many groups of unapologetically focused people that overlap and overindulge at times but all in the name of goodness, not evil. And the more ways we connect and care about each other, the stronger we are as a community.

Is it me or is asking someone to volunteer to be on a board, assume fiscal responsibility for an organization, fundraise, advocate and show up for meetings seems like a lot to ask?  I think people like to hang out with the good news.  With other people they enjoy being in the trenches and in the spotlight with.

What do you see when you visualize your ideal board? Your brain trust?  Your inner circle?  What part is passion, the desire to make a difference, the networking potential?  And what do you bring to the mix to make it better and a joyful experience?