October 22: Strategic priorities and board governance

North Shore Health’s next regular monthly board meeting is October 22. The agenda includes an update on the hospital’s major strategic priorities, known as the “Big Rocks.” It will have been two months since our last review, and the agenda allows just five minutes for each of the four priorities. Several target dates have passed. I’ve asked for a clear accounting of what is finished, what remains unfinished, and why deadlines were missed. I hope administration comes prepared with those answers and concrete next steps to get the work back on track.

On October 7, I asked the chair to include a discussion of the proposed governance charter and next steps, separately from the review of Matt Anderson’s draft policies. I received no response to that request. On October 16, before the board packet was distributed, I submitted the charter and supporting materials and renewed my request for agenda time. The chair left the charter discussion off the agenda, and the materials were not included in the packet sent to the board. His reply arrived October 18, after the packet had gone out, and said the meeting would focus on Matt’s policies without directly addressing my request to consider the charter.

I support reviewing those policies. I also intend to ask how they apply to our own practices: handling agenda requests, sharing information, following through on commitments, and addressing disagreements. My charter proposal would give ongoing governance work a defined responsibility and provide continuity when board membership changes.

Documents for public review

I’m publishing these materials to keep a public record of unfinished business: what the hospital committed to do, what remains unresolved, and what has been submitted for board consideration. Trust depends on follow-through and an open accounting to the community. When unfinished work disappears from the agenda without a clear explanation or next step, it erodes that trust.

Clinic collaboration is another item of unfinished business. At the October 23, 2025 meeting, Randy reported contact about resuming meetings between the boards and said more information would follow. My October 7, 2026 email requested an update on meetings between the chairs, topics discussed, opportunities identified, and next steps. Nearly a year after Randy’s report, no further discussion has occurred at or been reported to our board, despite requests for an update.

The documents below give residents a record they can return to as this work moves forward:

Open the public folder of supporting documents

The supporting documents are:

Strategic planning summary: The Big Rocks, proposed deliverables, and target dates.
Proposed governance charter: My proposal for organizing the board’s ongoing governance work.
Small Hospital Governance Examples: Background on governance committees at other hospitals.
AHA — Unlocking Governance Excellence: Supporting background on board governance.
October 7 request for agenda items and updates: My one-page October 7, 2026 email requesting agenda items and updates, including clinic collaboration.
October 22 agenda — North Shore Health website: The scheduled business for the meeting.

Additional correspondence documenting my agenda requests and the chair’s response is available upon request.

Attend the meeting

Thursday, October 22, 2026
Grand Portage Lodge and Casino
Open session scheduled for 9:30 a.m.

To attend by Zoom, contact Administrator Kimber Wraalstad at 218-387-3260 by 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 21.

With three board seats on the November ballot, residents have an opportunity to watch the board at work, hear the answers, and judge its follow-through.