Board, Not Bored

The Dynamics of a Highly Functioning, Energized Group of Organizational Stewards

Are board members born or made? Can they be taught? As an Executive Director, are you really listening to the notes your board members are playing or are you trying to conduct over discord? How can you help your board to tune in and march ahead in harmony?

Join us remotely on Wednesday, June 16th at 9:00 a.m. for Board, Not Bored; moderated, and presented in part by Barbara Cotton from the American Red Cross of Southeastern Massachusetts.

Hear from Robert Dwyer, Executive Director at the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History on how his board has evolved and continues to evolve as the Museum strategically plans for the final stages of acquiring Thornton Burgess/Green Briar Nature Center.

Cindy Horgan, Executive Director at the Cape Cod Children’s Place, will share the leadership trajectory over the last decade that has moved her organization from uncertain to confident, navigating necessary development that has positioned the organization to survive and thrive through the pandemic.

Barbara Cotton, new to her role as Executive Director with the American Red Cross of Southeastern Massachusetts during the pandemic, was charged with growing her board. Barbara will share HOW with a plan in hand and uncompromising determination, in just one year, she grew a board of just seven to now twelve board members who are highly functioning, engaged, and mission driven.

About Our Panelists

Robert Dwyer

Bob Dwyer has been the President of the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History located in Brewster, MA since 2006. Founded in 1954, the Museum’s mission is “to inspire appreciation, understanding and stewardship of our natural environment and wildlife through discovery and learning.” The Museum has three organizational strands – a museum, a nature education center, and a steward of conservation land. Housed in a 17,000 square foot building on an 80-acre site abutted by over 300 acres of conservation land; the Museum has approximately 1.600 members, supported by over 250 volunteers and has an annual visitation exceeding 55,000.

Bob retired from the University of Massachusetts/Boston where he was Director of Public Affairs and Educational Programming for the Center of Media Development. His responsibilities included management of interactive multimedia projects; research and application of new technologies; Producer & Director of Local Focus, a public service cable television series broadcast throughout the Commonwealth; project manager for the origination of international teleconferences; and supervision of a print design department. He received numerous awards for both cable programming and design.

During the thirty years he has been on Cape Cod, Bob has served on a number of local non-profit Boards including the Cape Cod Light House Charter School, Cape & Islands Boy Scouts, Cape Cod Technology Council, Cape & Islands Historical Association and Brewster Chamber of Commerce to name a few.

Bob holds a B.S. from Northeastern University in Business Administration and an Ed.M. in Interactive Technology in Education from Harvard University.

Cindy Horgan

Cindy Horgan is the Executive Director and Family Support Coordinator of the Cape Cod Children’s Place in North Eastham. Her background is in Family Work began with her work with teen parents in residential care. She taught preschool for five years as well. She recently completed her master’s degree in education with Wheelock College.

She is trained in many curriculums Family Development Credentialing, Parenting Journey, Nurturing Program, Talk About Touch, Babies Cry Have a Plan, Strengthening Families, and Connected Beginnings. Cindy has created her own curriculum Raising Healthy Families and created a DVD series of her work. Cindy has also coordinated the McKinney Vento Grant for the Dennis Yarmouth Regional School District creating awareness regarding the educational rights of homeless children, as well as the Coordinator for the Dennis Yarmouth Mental Health Grant which provided resources and programs for children ages 0-8.

Cindy has worked throughout the Cape providing Bullying Awareness training for many communities. Cindy provides both family support and education in many of our communities working with families of promise such as area shelters, and our local House of Correction. Cindy and her husband Dan continue the journey of raising 5 children ranging in age from 33 to 26.

Barbara Cotton

Barbara Cotton leads the Southeastern Massachusetts Chapter of the American Red Cross as the Executive Director. Charged with building and strengthening community partnerships, promoting programming and awareness around home safety and fire prevention, supporting our military, and communicating the need for a constant blood supply and the need for a diverse, well-trained and ready volunteer workforce, Barbara is the Red Cross ambassador to 81 cities and towns across Southeastern Massachusetts.
No stranger to the non-profit sector on Cape Cod, Barbara has held leadership positions at the Cape Cod Children’s Museum, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cape Cod and the Islands, and the Cape Cod Military Support Foundation. Partnering with numerous community agencies to leverage resources, she serves on several boards and committees, including Boston College Alumni Association of Cape Cod, Philanthropy Partners of the Cape and Islands as both a member and former Philanthropy Day Chair, and represents the American Red Cross on the Emergency Food and Shelter Program local board for the counties of Plymouth, Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket.

Barbara graduated from Boston College with a BA in English and a master’s degree in Education. A proud graduate of both CLI (Community Leadership Institute) and INP (Institute for Non-profit Practice through Tufts University,) Barbara lends her professionalism, expertise, and enthusiasm to advocate for those most in need.

Barbara lives in Mashpee with her husband, their three children and their new puppy, Charlie.