[Board] docs for new directors

[Seven (aka Arnulf)]

Thanks Tim,
the foundation should have provided this information much earlier and
not leave it to you to dig it up. I tend to forget that the processes
are not second nature to everybody in OSGeo...

We had an amendment to our bylaws some time back (Frank, do you have a
link on this?) allowing votes by email given all nine members participates.

Cheers,
Arnulf.

On 09/19/2011 10:22 AM, Tim Schaub wrote:
> 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
> 

-- 
Exploring Space, Time and Mind
http://arnulf.us