How should the Sub Deb Club handle conflicts of interest when personal commitments could affect decisions?

• A. Ignore conflicts and proceed with decisions.
• B. Disclose conflicts and recuse themselves from related decisions; the board determines suitability to participate.
• C. Discuss conflicts only after decisions are made.
• D. Remove the member from the board entirely.

Answer: (B)

Managing conflicts of interest is about protecting the integrity of the group’s decisions. When a personal commitment could influence outcomes, disclosure lets everyone understand where bias might exist. The proper step is for the conflicted member to recuse themselves from discussions and votes on the related matter, and for the board to decide whether they can participate at all on that issue. This keeps decision-making transparent and focused on the organization’s interests, while still allowing the member to contribute in other areas. Ignoring the conflict, waiting to address it after decisions are made, or removing the member entirely are not as effective: ignoring it undermines trust, post-decision discussions don’t mitigate bias, and removal can be unnecessarily punitive or excessive. The best approach balances accountability with ongoing involvement by disclosing, recusing, and letting the board assess participation on the specific issue.