Meet Your Board Member: Sarah MacDonald
How did you first get involved with BRCA as a volunteer?
Sarah: I first got involved with the BRCA volunteering with the Farmers’ Market almost 10 years ago! I was helping with set-up and then joined the committee. I was also involved with youth soccer. Both of my kids played soccer for several years, and I coached one year and was a team manager one year.
What led you to consider serving on the board?
Sarah: I was brought onto the board very naturally. I was acting as a liaison between the Farmers’ Market and the board, so I was attending board meetings. It was suggested I join the board in the role of program manager, overseeing the Farmers’ Market and other programs, since that position was vacant and I was already attending meetings. Seemed like a natural fit.
What is involved in being a board member?
Sarah: Being on the board goes beyond attending the monthly board meetings. There’s a commitment to doing the work between the board meetings. That might be sitting on a committee and working on projects, activities, or events, and then reporting back to the board. There are lots of options to suit your skills, interests, and available time commitment. There’s also a responsibility to be informed of what’s going on in the community and engaging with people within the community, in whatever form works for you and your role.
What do you enjoy about being a BRCA board member?
What I like about being on the BRCA board is of course the people; the board is a team. There’s plenty of opportunity to engage with people within the community. But I also enjoy participating in the discussions that form the community, whether it’s planning-related or an event or some other upcoming opportunity. I live here and care about where I live and the people I live around. So, participating and having a voice in the community where I live and seeing the direct impact of my involvement feels good.
What would you say to community members about joining the board?
Go for it! Join the board. You need to be able to commit to the time, but otherwise it’s fun! And you probably have skills to share that you didn’t even know about. Or you can learn new skills. I learned how to do website updates, which I really enjoy. I also learned how to (and not to) put up event tents! And if the board feels like too much, there are always committees to join.
