(WINTER PARK, Fla.) – The Florida Rural Legal Services, Inc. (FRLS) Board of Directors convened for a comprehensive two-day retreat at The Alfond Inn in Winter Park from July 26-27, 2024. The event, facilitated by Tikisha Brundidge, PhD., focused on strategic planning and board training to enhance the organization’s governance and service delivery.

The retreat began with a session led by the FRLS Marketing and Communications Director who captured video recordings of each board member. These snippets highlighted their passions, bios, and career journeys, adding a personal touch to the retreat and documenting the dedication and diversity within the board.

The core of the day featured a detailed LSC Board Training session from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., addressing the board's fiduciary and oversight responsibilities within LSC’s fiscal regulatory and internal control requirements. This crucial training ensured that board members were well-versed in their roles, enhancing the board's effectiveness and compliance with LSC standards. The morning session concluded with a lunch at Sixty Vines, fostering camaraderie and informal discussions.

Saturday's agenda kicked off with an icebreaker session at 10:30 a.m. to build rapport among board members, fostering a collaborative atmosphere. This was succeeded by an implicit bias game designed to enhance awareness and understanding within the group, a critical step toward ensuring equitable and inclusive governance.

The activities continued with "Great Board A Mighty" from 1:30 p.m. to 2:45 p.m., which provided insights into effective board governance, emphasizing the importance of strong leadership and strategic oversight. The board then focused on a SWOT awareness session, analyzing strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats facing the organization. This session was vital for strategic planning, helping to identify key areas for improvement and growth.

The day concluded with "ED’ing the ED," a session focused on executive director evaluation and development. This training was essential for maintaining high standards of leadership within the organization, ensuring that the executive director receives constructive feedback and support for professional growth.

"The insights and strategies developed during this retreat will significantly strengthen our Board, enabling us to better support and guide FRLS in its mission to serve Florida’s service areas," said FRLS Interim Executive Director Iola Mosley.

The retreat wrapped up with a productive and engaging weekend aimed at fortifying FRLS’s capacity to serve Florida’s communities in need of free legal services.