Should board members serve on committees?

Are there advantages to having board members sit on committees? Or do the disadvantages outweigh the advantages? We have found that having board members serve as liaisons to committees is often a substitute for good internal communications systems. We also believe that in most cases the disadvantages outweigh the advantages.

Time is limited; can someone do both jobs well? Creative thought is valuable; will a board members opinion truncate new thinking? People have their own personal beliefs; will such beliefs serve as a filter in what is communicated? Leadership development is key to the future; will the board member be taking up space that should go to still evolving talent? Associations are designed to be collaborative and democratic; will members perceive that a small group is trying to control everything? The board is entrusted with oversight across all programs; will participation on a committee create a set of topical constituencies on the board? Staff members support committees; will inappropriate staff/board member alliances be an inadvertent result of the liaison strategy? Chairs are expected to lead committee work; will committee members differ to the board member?

These are a few things to think about.