Ethics and Governance: Implementing the New Accountability

Director Course #930.1

In the new era of cooperative accountability, boards and management are expected—and some cases required—to implement standards, programs, and procedures involving such issues as codes of conduct, document retention, whistle blower protection, fraud risk assessment, and financial transparency.  But questions remain about how to actually implement such programs.  This course is based on NRECA's 2004 Ethics and Governance Workshops.  It will present practical strategies to help electric cooperatives design and develop plans and programs that address these new expectations.

Key topics include:

• The Sarbanes/Oxley Act, the “Cascade Effect” and the emergence of new standards of corporate accountability
• Implementing whistle-blower protection, document retention, and fraud risk assessment programs
• Developing and implementing a practical code of ethics