By Reid A. Zimmerman
MnSF-Metro Region Interim Director

Does it make sense to purchase nine of the same thing when you only have need for one?

Probably not! Yet, for the past several decades, the Minnesota Senior Federation has been buying many different things in a quantity of nine when there was really only need for one. MSF has had, or should have had, as many as nine insurance policies, nine financial audits, nine tax filings, nine corporate filings with the secretary of state and the list of nines goes on.

I’m sure you are aware that my reference is to the Minnesota Senior (state) Federation and the eight regional entities. This redundancy of effort and expense has cost this collection of organizations an estimated $70,000 per year in unnecessary, redundant or unfulfilled expenses. Multiply that by several decades and you can see the magnitude of the negative financial impact created by having nine different organizations when there was need for only one. Something needs to be done!

The challenge before MSF is to find an organizational structure that will enhance and encourage the grassroots nature of MSF while allowing for the effectiveness and efficiency of financial and membership processes. The structure of the organization needs to support and enhance the mission, programs and public policy initiatives MSF wants to accomplish.

Since the beginning of my relationship with MSF in January, I have come to realize that most MSF members want to be involved and have a voice in development of public policy and presentation of legislative issues at local and state levels. I can only name a few members who have a strong desire to be responsible for legal fiduciary issues, review budgets and the financial audit, stay current with nonprofit legal requirements, make personnel policy decisions or get involved in the hiring or firing of the CEO. Even some of our present board members would rather not be involved with these concerns.

Our existing organizational structure, however, mandates these same legal and governance responsibilities to more than 100 individuals in a variety of configurations. That is a lot of people.  It is much more efficient and effective to have a small group of 10 to 12 capable, knowledgeable and conscientious civic leaders to take responsibility for legal complexities of non-profit governance of the organization. It is also important for the success of the organization that some of those board members have current relationships with business, or have professions that will provide expertise such as: legal counsel, financial proficiency, human resource knowledge and philanthropic ties. With a group like that in place it will allow our hundreds and thousands of active members to work on legislative, health, tax, retirement and insurance issues so critical for so many seniors in Minnesota. 

The new organizational configuration allows membership of MSF to have a significant impact on the direction and agenda of the organization while at the same time creating an effective and efficient governance structure. 

This organizational structure was the culminating work of the transformation committee comprising MSF members and staff. The group worked for five months to develop this model. You can see the importance placed on MSF members as the electoral group that selects the majority of the members of the board of directors, through service on the advisory council to the board and to carry out the work of the organization through the working committees. The model also clarifies functions and responsibilities of board members and staff reporting structure.

The transformation committee will be continuing its work alongside the board of directors of the MSF state organization to finalize bylaws, financial policies and operational documents important to the effective management of the new entity. This work will be ongoing this spring and summer, with the new organizational structure to be officially initiated at the state convention in October. We will continue to report to you on their activities in the months ahead.