Members of the nonprofit community in Battle Creek, Michigan were given the opportunity in late 1995 to learn about the Carver Policy Governance Model.  Over 300 individuals attended sessions where John Carver presented his model of policy governance.

John Carver provided a new model of board governance that energized board members to build strong, vibrant organizations that achieve goals.  This approach focuses on allowing boards to govern by making policy, articulating the mission of the organization and sustaining the   vision.  It promotes the coordinated use of community      resources to strengthen the boards of nonprofit organizations.

Today 12 organizations in Calhoun County are using the the Carver Model as a result of these sessions.  The Carver Connectors is a group of CEOs and Board Presidents from these organizations, which meet quarterly to discuss:

• Mechanisms for maintaining the discipline of the model
  
• Mechanisms for ownership linkage
  
• Ends work
  
• Implementation challenges and solutions such as a shared orientation of new board members, CEO    evaluation, recruitment of new board members
  
• Available or needed resources