I Like Policy… There, I Said It!Submitted by Dave Albrecht, Chair of the CLN Board and Executive Director of Two Hills Adult Learning Council
And I am not ashamed to admit it!
I came out of the policy closet two years ago when I joined the Community Learning Network (CLN) Board. And while I realize that admitting to a love of policy may not make me the most exciting person at a dinner party, I have decided to embrace it.
Yes, I am one of those people. The kind who gets excited about a well-written policy, appreciates a good governance discussion, and believes that a policy manual should be more than a three-inch binder gathering dust on a shelf.
I know. I should probably get out more.
Policy doesn't have to be a four-letter word!
Let's face it. Mention the word policy at a Board meeting and you can almost hear the collective groan. Eyes glaze over, someone suddenly remembers an urgent appointment, and another Board member starts studying the ceiling tiles.
But here's the thing: Good policy is actually pretty exciting! (Okay, perhaps exciting is a bit of a stretch for some people, but stay with me.)
Policies are the foundation of good governance. They help Boards make consistent decisions, clarify responsibilities, protect organizations, and keep everyone rowing in the same direction.
And perhaps most importantly, they help prevent those awkward Board meeting moments when someone asks, "Do we have a policy for that?" and everyone suddenly becomes very interested in their coffee.
From Dust Collectors to Living Documents
Too often, organizations treat policy development as something to check off a to-do list.
Write the policy. Approve the policy. File the policy. Forget the policy.
Repeat every five years, preferably when someone discovers the binder during an office cleanup.
But what if we started thinking about policies differently?
What if policies became living documents that actually guided our decisions, supported our staff, and helped our organizations achieve their missions?
What if policy discussions became opportunities for meaningful conversations rather than exercises in wordsmithing?
And what if we could talk about policy without putting half the room to sleep?
Now THAT would be something worth celebrating!
Come Out of the Policy Closet with Us!
On Monday, November 23, 2026, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., the Community Learning Network is hosting a session that takes a fresh look at nonprofit policy development and governance.
This isn't about spending an hour debating whether a sentence should say "shall," "must," or "may" (although I confess, I do enjoy a good debate about those words).
Instead, we'll explore the practical side of policy: what works, what doesn't, the challenges we face, and the lessons we've learned along the way.
Bring your questions, your experiences, your frustrations, and maybe even your favourite policy horror story. We've all got at least one!
Whether you're a seasoned Board member, a staff person navigating organizational policies, or someone who has been avoiding the policy binder for years, there's a place for you in this conversation.
So, come join the conversation!
Because life's too short for bad policies, dusty binders, and Board meetings that could have been avoided with a little clarity.
And remember, the first step is admitting it: "I like policy."
There. Doesn't that feel better?