Call for Nominations: A New Board Member Testimonial

New Board Director Testimonial

By Mare Grohowski 

Although I’ve served on nonprofit boards before, I didn’t fully understand what I was signing up for when I nominated myself to join the Hancock Trails Club Board of Directors. And even though I’d been involved with the club, I still didn’t quite know what “being on the board” would entail. Before being voted in, I had only helped clear trails in the spring and fall. Trail clearing was a great way to give some love back to the trails I enjoy so much, and I assumed board service might simply mean more chances to do hands-on work like that.

While there has been a little more hands-on work, being on the Board has really been a front-row seat to what the trails and the club need year-round: at monthly meetings, you hear about maintenance issues sooner, you help shape events and priorities, and you get to turn “someone should do something about that” into an actual plan. With several Board seats opening up next month, I wanted to share a glimpse of what the role has been like for me during my first full year as a director—in hopes that it makes it easier for you to picture yourself (or someone you know) stepping into one of these positions.

What directors actually do

• Attend one full board meeting each month.
  We meet on the third Tuesday of the month, typically for 1.5–2 hours.
• Serve on 1–2 committees.
  Most of the real work happens in committees—things like events, trails, organizational needs, and communications/outreach. Committee members coordinate between meetings, move tasks forward, and try to keep the full board meeting focused and efficient. Each committee chair prepares a short report to share at the monthly meeting. There’s also a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer who form the executive committee and whose leadership keeps the organization afloat. 
• Stay responsive between meetings.
  Questions and time-sensitive items come up (especially around weather, trail conditions, or event logistics), so directors respond to emails and, at times, the board will make decisions via email when it can’t wait until the next meeting.

A few real examples from my year

• Lent my skills: Professionally, I work as an academic editor and communicator; for the Board, I was able to apply these skills on two grant proposals and offered some ideas for a monthly member newsletter. These small efforts allowed me to support the goals of the Board and its valued members while not requiring me to stretch beyond my skillset or comfort level. 
• Making participation easier: I coordinated the change of our monthly meetings to the Keweenaw Community Foundation instead of the Four Season Chalet so we could offer video conferencing access—a small operational change that made it easier for more people to attend and stay engaged. This is an ongoing task that I hope to support further; specifically, ensuring that all future meetings include a sustainable video conferencing option. 
• Jumping in when it mattered: During the first major storm of 2025, I was one of many volunteers who helped with surveying trail conditions and trail clearing ahead of ski-trail grooming. Truthfully, I had many additional opportunities to jump in when it mattered during monthly meetings by participating in discussions and votes. 

Who would be great at this (new voices welcome)

You’d be a great board director if you care about the trails and you’re willing to be dependable—show up, follow through, and communicate. The board needs a mix of strengths, for example:

• people who like hands-on projects
• people who are good at writing/editing (grants, communications)
• people who can help with planning events or coordinating volunteers
• people who bring community connections and outreach ideas
• people who ask thoughtful questions and help the club make good decisions

Newer members and community members who aren’t involved yet are absolutely welcome—I believe that the best ideas come from fresh eyes.

How to raise your hand

If you’re even considering it, I’d encourage you to reach out, ask questions, or sit in on a meeting (or next meeting is Tuesday, April 21 at 7-9 PM at the Keweenaw Community Foundation and on zoom) to see what it’s like. 

To nominate yourself (or someone else), navigate to and complete the self-nomination form at the link https://forms.gle/kQqriQfNRZAyMGqm7 by May 1 and contact info@hancocktrails.org with any questions. 

HTC can’t continue without its valuable Board of Directors. Thank you for considering how you can support HTC and the trails by sharing some of your time and skills. 

Posted on April 19, 2026 in General, Trail News.