[Board] docs for new directors

[Tim Schaub]

I recall having some confusion when I came on to the board last year
about director activities, meeting procedures, and the like.  Given
the new batch of board members, I think it would be a good time to
make sure we have these details documented.

Potential FAQ:

Q: What do board members do?
A: http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Director_Responsibilities

Q: That doc doesn't say anything about meetings.  How often to board
members meet?
A: The foundation bylaws
(http://www.osgeo.org/content/foundation/incorporation/bylaws.html)
say the board meets after the after the annual members meeting and
then at regular meetings on a schedule fixed by directors.

Q: How are board decisions made?
A: The bylaws (section 4.5) describe that a majority of members must
be present for an event to be considered a meeting.  At a meeting,
each member present is given one vote.  Strictly speaking (according
to the bylaws) an affirmative vote by the majority of members present
at a meeting constitutes a decision by the board.  In practice, we
don't consider a motion passed if there are any negative votes (not
sure if we have a doc on this).

Q: Is an IRC gathering a meeting?
A: The bylaws (section 4.4) say that an electronic medium may be used
and an event will constitute a meeting if members can hear one another
at the same time.  In practice, we often have IRC meetings and then
have a vote by voice if there are items that need voting on (I'm not
sure where the convention about email voting comes in to this).

This is a short and incomplete list.  If there are other questions
that new board members have, let's keep track of them here:
http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Board_of_Directors#Potential_FAQ

Tim

-- 
Tim Schaub
OpenGeo http://opengeo.org/
Expert service straight from the developers.