These were more-or-less the closing words to Doug Miller and I, the two newest members of the WES Board of Trustees, as we concluded the Trustee welcome dinner on Tuesday, June 18. They followed two hours of extensive overview of what the WES Board is, how it functions, what to expect as a Board member and what not to expect, what the Board’s governance structure is and what it is not, and so on. It could be a little bewildering (and sometimes was) to take this all in at once, but several things have already stood out for me as I enter my Board service:

1. Being proactive is what a Trustee is about. This means taking on Board assignments that often may not necessarily be within one’s area of expertise and comfort, but what’s equally clear is that a willingness to risk initial falls on the face is how most of us grow and get more adept at doing these tasks. The veteran members of the Board made it clear to us newbies that no Trustee is expected to be an expert at the assignments they take on, but they are to give their most diligent efforts and to ask for help when they need it.
2. The WES Board of Trustees is a team. We are individuals who discuss and even debate about the many complex issues and functions of this place called the Washington Ethical Society, but when question(s) have been called, we speak with one Board voice on the outcome. This can be a hard challenge with topics that are divisive among members, even in a community as caring as WES. I would like to think, though, that the members of WES look to the Board to be that unified governing body that takes seriously its role of speaking clearly for our community when it is needed and working together as a team to accomplish this in the best possible ways.
3. The WES Board exists to serve the entire WES community. It means taking into account what might be best for both the WES membership and for the principles we stand for here. It means, too, that sometimes that balance is or can be seen as unequal and to weigh, as a governing body, when that is sufficient and when more needs to be done. WES is a work-in-progress and has been since it began in the mid-1940s. Its Board of Trustees recognizes that we build upon the work that was done for the community before we served, and that our work will be built upon afterwards, always evolving, always changing.
4. The WES Board is a great group of people. My own subjective opinion, but I’m sticking to it!

So, “buckle up” indeed. Whether the road’s bumpy or smooth, I’m looking forward to the ride!
Josh Blinder, WES Board of Trustees, 2019-2020