<div dir="ltr">Cameron,<div><br></div><div>My view is different on a couple points:</div><div><br></div><div>1) I do *not* think the board is supposed to manage day to day operations. When things are working well, we should be establishing an annual budget, putting in place policies, reviewing operations, and making some unusual or strategic decisions. I think it is a (mild) failure in budgeting when we are making individual decisions about spending items (though a few at least are exceptional), and for the most part things should be operated day to day by the various subcommittees and officers.</div>
<div><br></div><div>2) 2-3 hours per week is somewhat on the high end for actual core board work. I'd say more like 2-4 hours per month is the minimum. </div><div><br></div><div>I do particularly like the point that board members should sometimes except to take on extra initiatives. Here I'm thinking about things like reviewing the operation of some sub-committee, or writing up proposed policies and seeking feedback from the community. </div>
<div><br></div><div>I think an accessible description of board member responsibilities on the board of directors page is a helpful thing. Thanks for working on it.</div><div> </div><div>Best regards,</div><div>Frank<br><div class="gmail_extra">
<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Wed, Aug 13, 2014 at 4:36 AM, Cameron Shorter <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:cameron.shorter@gmail.com" target="_blank">cameron.shorter@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000">
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.<br>
Maybe think of it as a moral contract.<br>
<br>
If others think it is a good idea, I suggest we add to this page:<br>
<a href="http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Board_of_Directors" target="_blank">http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Board_of_Directors</a><br>
<br>
Are there other points which should go on this list?<br>
<br>
<p style="margin:0px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Times;font-size:medium;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:normal;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px">
What is
expected of a board member? Boring legal details are listed in
section 3 of our<span> </span><a href="http://www.osgeo.org/content/foundation/incorporation/bylaws.html" target="_blank">bylaws</a>,
but I think it would be helpful for us to extend this to practical
guidelines. Something like:</p>
<p style="margin:0px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Times;font-size:medium;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:normal;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px">
* The board's
primary responsibility is to efficiently and effectively make
decisions regarding the day to day running of OSGeo (<a href="http://www.osgeo.org/content/foundation/incorporation/bylaws.html" target="_blank">bylaws</a> section
3.1).</p>
<p style="margin:0px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Times;font-size:medium;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:normal;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px">
* Board
members should expect to spend 1 to 3 hours per week on board
activities.</p>
<p style="margin:0px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Times;font-size:medium;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:normal;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px">
* 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.</p>
<p style="margin:0px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Times;font-size:medium;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:normal;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px">
* 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.</p>
<p style="margin:0px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Times;font-size:medium;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:normal;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px">
* Board
members should monitor and contribute toward discussions on the
board email list, and aim to vote on motions within 2 working
days.</p>
<p style="margin:0px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Times;font-size:medium;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:normal;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px">
* Board
members are not paid for their service (<a href="http://www.osgeo.org/content/foundation/incorporation/bylaws.html" target="_blank">bylaws</a> 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. </p>
<p style="margin:0px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Times;font-size:medium;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:normal;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px">
* Ideally some
board members should be prepared to speak on behalf of OSGeo at
events.</p><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888">
<br>
<pre cols="72">--
Cameron Shorter,
Software and Data Solutions Manager
LISAsoft
Suite 112, Jones Bay Wharf,
26 - 32 Pirrama Rd, Pyrmont NSW 2009
P <a href="tel:%2B61%202%209009%205000" value="+61290095000" target="_blank">+61 2 9009 5000</a>, W <a href="http://www.lisasoft.com" target="_blank">www.lisasoft.com</a>, F <a href="tel:%2B61%202%209009%205099" value="+61290095099" target="_blank">+61 2 9009 5099</a></pre>
</font></span></div>
<br>_______________________________________________<br>
Board mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:Board@lists.osgeo.org">Board@lists.osgeo.org</a><br>
<a href="http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/board" target="_blank">http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/board</a><br></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><div><br></div>-- <br>---------------------------------------+--------------------------------------<br>
I set the clouds in motion - turn up | Frank Warmerdam, <a href="mailto:warmerdam@pobox.com" target="_blank">warmerdam@pobox.com</a><br>light and sound - activate the windows | <a href="http://pobox.com/~warmerdam" target="_blank">http://pobox.com/~warmerdam</a><br>
and watch the world go round - Rush | Geospatial Software Developer<br>
</div></div></div>