Michael, Your post has captured the essence of the the type of "symbiotic" relationship that reinforces the commitment of an institution to its board, which in turn generates a return commitment from the board to the institution. Active and engaged boards are in fact, the life blood of an organization and if the organization conveys the type of respect you have illustrated, the board will outperform and exceed expectations. As you've stated, clear communications between the board and institution are essential and reinforce the mutual respect and a synergistic relationship. Conveying appreciation to board members cannot be underestimated and I suspect the massage your offer is a valued expression of that appreciation, which I'm sure generates an even stronger connection. I'm sure following the path you've alluded to in your post will continue to reap benefits in your future relations with your board members. Best regards, Dr. Robert Roehrich