KELT Recognizes Departing Board President
Thank you, Sue!
Please join us in thanking Sue McLeod for her work as Board President. Since joining the board in 2012, she has provided expert guidance for KELT's organizational development. During Sue’s tenure as President, she played a pivotal role in developing KELT’s most recent strategic plan, updating our organizational bylaws, and guiding us through national re-accreditation.
Strength, focus, and thoughtfulness are three characteristics that come to mind when thinking of Sue. She will continue to be an incredible asset to KELT as a Board member and Chair of the Governance Committee. We are thankful for her influence as a President, Board Member, and friend!
We recently asked Sue to answer a few questions in reflection of her time as President:
What is your favorite KELT preserve?
It’s hard to pick a favorite, because each preserve is something special. When I lived in Bath, Thorne Head was my “go-to” preserve when I needed a walking break from the office. Lilly Pond was a favorite place for my mentee (teenage boy) to explore different trails, get a little lost, and delight in finding the pond. Merrymeeting Fields was my “show-off” preserve when I wanted friends visitors to see the unique and special Merrymeeting Bay. I could go on – but you get the idea!
What motivated you to be a Board President for an organization like KELT?
That’s a long story! One of my first contributions as a board member was to facilitate discussions and decisions about how we could have better succession of officers. There were a number of reasons the board had long-tenured presidents including that board members didn’t feel ready to step into the large shoes left behind by our founders. Since I helped create a system where board members could step up, it was important that I be willing to step up myself. I have held leadership positions in other organizations (businesses and non-profits) and knew that KELT is a strong and supportive organization. Being president is an important job, but wasn’t overwhelming. And we have a line of successors ready to step into the role in the future. I think we’re a stronger, more resilient and sustainable organization as a result.
Do you have any words of encouragement for future generations to become more involved as board members?
Being a board member is both an education and an opportunity to impact an organization you care about. Each board member has an important role in providing oversight, questioning the decision-makers, and offering insights and ideas from their own experiences. No matter who you are, you have something to contribute! You’ll also learn about teamwork, decision-making, facilitating meetings in an orderly way, how the money works, what goes on behind the scenes of the organization to create success and deal with difficulties. Finally, you’ll meet great people who are also passionate about the mission of the organization, and you’ll be teaching them and learning from them, too.