deep knowledge and understanding about the organization. The key to making the board

effective is organizing the work of the board (Drucker, 2001).

 The board of an organization should reflect the makeup of the membership, which

includes people of different backgrounds, ethnicities, ages, and interest. If the board has

been homogeneous in the past, it needs to broaden its horizons and welcome new ideas

that emerge from interactions among different groups (Eisinger, 2002).

 Tweeten (2002) states, "dynamic, visionary boards are absolutely critical to the

 future of nonprofit, service delivery organizations" (p. 1). Twenty-first century boards

 are facing inevitable changes as a result of dramatic and continuing societal changes.

 These changes include, the way people learn, they way they view authority, philanthropy,

 and non-profit organizations, and they way they live, work, and play with emphasis on

 self-development, independence, flexibility, rapidly moving technology, and family

 (Tweeten, 2002).

 In the past, some boards with weak board members may have been able to operate

 inefficiently and still get by, but this will not be possible as organizations face the

 transformation process that is inevitable if they are to be successful. Boards can no

 longer afford to be dysfunctional. There is a dangerous tendency for some boards to be

 so attached to their past that they overvalue their history and are reluctant to embrace the

 necessary change that will make them effective (Tweeten, 2002).

 Organizational Changes for the Future

 There are several ways organizations will have to change to remain viable and

 effective in the future. Organizations need to realize that there are other ways for the

 meaningful involvement of people in their organizations other than on their boards.