Dear Julia:

You brought up different issues here. One glaring problem, for me, is that your husband’s employer is on the board, and that may present a conflict-of-interest and possible complications. For that reason alone, it may be a good idea for you to withdraw from this board.

The advice that you talk less and listen more, therefore, to other members, is a good idea, not only at the board but anywhere else.

Third issue: if your agenda being on the board is very different than others, it is like driving a car with a few drivers, you turn the driving wheel east, another member- west and yet another backward. The result- a mess, no… forward movement and maybe an accident. If there is no common goal that is more powerful in execution than individual agendas, the board is ineffective, useless. If that is the case, it is  another reason to withdraw from it.

anita