...and how much those committees paid the CEO in total compensation in 2007. Did he earn it? See how his performance compared with that of other companies in his industry.

Along with various venture capitalists, GE, Goldman Sachs, and Wal-Mart are banking on big payoffs by investing in green technology. Is it time for your board to set a similar strategy?

Yes, ownership of a champion thoroughbred can be pricey, but you can find yourself a horse for as little as $5,000, and investing in a syndicate helps spread the risk. Worried about being taken for a ride? Read on.

So says one U.S. board member who recently returned from a trip to China. Here are some other impressions from directors, investors, and business leaders who went on the same trip, during which they met their corporate counterparts, questioned government leaders, and heard expat Americans and local Chinese discuss the ins and outs of doing business there.