[Board] Suggested text for "Expectations for Board Membership"

[Daniel Morissette]

I don't think Cameron is inventing or changing any rules, he is just 
proposing to collectively document what is and has always been expected 
from a board member for the posterity.

FWIW I am also in favor of documenting our processes and expectations 
(in general) as much as possible to help future boards in their work, 
and I find that Cameron has exceptional patience to help with that 
documentation process (he managed to walk the membership to a consensus 
on the new charter member election process, something nobody managed to 
achieve before), so instead of shooting down his initiatives, I think 
that more charter members should help by contributing to them.

All that being said, I do not have the time and energy to argue this 
point any more, so this will be my one and only email on this topic.

Daniel


On 14-08-13 8:54 AM, nicolas bozon wrote:
> Cameron,
> I agree that rules and documents must/should not change during
> elections, because this is confusing.
> I also think that all past, present and future board members must/should
> already know what they should do, and what is working or what is not.
> Let us the Board change the many needed rules after elections, so it can
> also benefit from upcoming new director's visions, and hopefully from
> Charter Member's and Committee's input too.
>
> Best,
>
> Nick
>
>
> 2014-08-13 14:29 GMT+02:00 Venkatesh Raghavan
> <raghavan at media.osaka-cu.ac.jp <mailto:raghavan at media.osaka-cu.ac.jp>>:
>
>     Board elections have already started and I have made my first
>     nomination.
>     Please don't try to invent new rules after the process has begun.
>     Whatever
>     changes needs to be made can be discussed and made by the upcoming
>     new board.
>
>     Venka
>
>
>     On 2014/08/13 20:36, Cameron Shorter wrote:
>>     As we move into a board election, I think it would be beneficial
>>     to document what we consider should be expected of board members.
>>     I think that it would be helpful for potential board members when
>>     considering joining the board, and also something that board
>>     members can point toward if community members complain about lack
>>     of action from the board.
>>     Maybe think of it as a moral contract.
>>
>>     If others think it is a good idea, I suggest we add to this page:
>>     http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Board_of_Directors
>>
>>     Are there other points which should go on this list?
>>
>>     What is expected of a board member? Boring legal details are
>>     listed in section 3 of ourbylaws
>>     <http://www.osgeo.org/content/foundation/incorporation/bylaws.html> <http://www.osgeo.org/content/foundation/incorporation/bylaws.html>,
>>     but I think it would be helpful for us to extend this to practical
>>     guidelines. Something like:
>>
>>     * The board's primary responsibility is to efficiently and
>>     effectively make decisions regarding the day to day running of
>>     OSGeo (bylaws
>>     <http://www.osgeo.org/content/foundation/incorporation/bylaws.html> <http://www.osgeo.org/content/foundation/incorporation/bylaws.html>
>>     section 3.1).
>>
>>     * Board members should expect to spend 1 to 3 hours per week on
>>     board activities.
>>
>>     * Board members should sometimes contribute a little more, maybe
>>     negotiating with the community or external organisation, collating
>>     or developing ideas and writing them up, doing some extra research
>>     to back a decision, or helping with administrative work like
>>     taking minutes.
>>
>>     * Board members should attempt to attend all board meetings, which
>>     happen at a frequency of ~ once per month, which take ~ one hour.
>>     (Selection of meeting timeslots are to be negotiated to try and
>>     suit all members.) If unable to attend, the board member should
>>     attempt to provide opinions on issues before hand, and vote on
>>     motions afterwards.
>>
>>     * Board members should monitor and contribute toward discussions
>>     on the board email list, and aim to vote on motions within 2
>>     working days.
>>
>>     * Board members are not paid for their service (bylaws
>>     <http://www.osgeo.org/content/foundation/incorporation/bylaws.html> <http://www.osgeo.org/content/foundation/incorporation/bylaws.html>
>>     section 3.4), but should not be out of pocket if working for the
>>     board. For instance, a board member should be refunded travel
>>     expenses if requested to travel on behalf of the board.
>>
>>     * Ideally some board members should be prepared to speak on behalf
>>     of OSGeo at events.
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>
>
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Daniel Morissette
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