The purpose of this book is to act as a guide to good governance by exploring its various aspects and the key elements of success. It is intended to be used by anybody who is a member of a board, particularly in the nonprofit sector. This book is intended to help board members maximize their effectiveness both individually and collectively. Individual contributions are important, because a board can be effective only if all people on that board accept that they have an individual responsibility to put the interests of the organization, subject to legal requirements, ahead of all other considerations. This can sometimes be a lonely, demanding, and even courageous mission. (Contains 4 tables.)