[CSL board] thoughts: strategic (meta)

[Melissa Carino]

I don't think Josh's proposal has been seconded yet so I second it.   
I think it is a good idea; however, I personally would not be able to  
participate on the committee at this point as my schedule and  
commitments are kinda out of control for the next few months.

I think what's challenging is that with so few (and busy!) people on  
the Board, it may be difficult in convening a committee meeting,  
discussions, etc.  And I also think it's more effective when the  
whole Board is together in person, figuring this out together.  But  
it is important to have a starting point.

Another suggestion in addition to answering the question, "What is  
the role of the Board?," is to research other organization's by-laws  
or descriptions of their Boards.  By researching best practices, we  
can develop a stronger description of the role of the CSL Board.  I  
can provide some Board descriptions from UTEC & BWF.  I believe this  
info of any non-profit is transparent to the public so maybe we could  
research orgs that are similar to the CSL.  I also have a legal  
handbook on Boards of non-profit orgs in MA from the State House.

Could someone confirm our next BOD meeting - date?  time (6p-9p,  
right?), location?

Thanks,
~melissa



On Oct 13, 2006, at 2:35 PM, Josh Harding wrote:

> Hi All -
>
> Dan is right - without an outside facilitator, we are likely to get  
> far less
> out of any meetings. Fred is also right - a meeting in which all could
> attend is highly preferable to multiple meetings.
>
> As such, I think (and it truly pains me to say this) it's advisable to
> cancel the strategic planning meetings in October. Although I got a  
> schedule
> everyone could live with, I didn't do it in time to adequately  
> organize the
> meetings.
>
> I don't think a special meeting of all members of the BOD is going to
> happen. It's been 'in the works' for almost a year now. If someone  
> else
> wants to take up this cause, feel free, but I'd like to propose a  
> different
> approach.
>
> I move for the creation of a committee for strategic planning  
> around the
> ideas below. This calls for a second.
>
> This committee would present a draft proposal for the amendment of our
> bylaws in the upcoming board meeting. The proposal would answer the
> following question - What is the role of the board? Ideally, it  
> would be
> voted in at this meeting. If that doesn't happen, the committee would
> present a final proposal to be voted in to our bylaws at the 1st  
> quarter
> 2007 BOD meeting.
>
> I would expect the following of the committee (at least):
>    - Have at least one face to face meeting attended by *all*  
> members of
> the committee before the next board meeting.
>    - Each member will publish his/her own thoughts on the matter to  
> the
> board list, and if comfortable doing so, cadre-politics.
>    - Have an active email discussion of options.
>    - Do whatever it takes to get a solid proposal to the next board
> meeting.
>    - Publish progress to the board list so that concerned parties  
> can give
> feedback.
>
> Dan - I'd like to see you as a non-voting member of the committee,  
> but you
> should have the most to say. If this happens, I'll volunteer to be  
> a member
> of the committee. I'll take time off work to attend a meeting  
> should it fall
> on a weekday. We'll need someone to chair the committee who has the  
> time and
> energy to be very proactive about getting results.
>
> If seconded, you are *required* to vote on this in a timely manner (I
> arbitrarily consider a timely manner to include some non-work hours  
> and some
> work hours: in this case midnight Monday 10/16). Laura - could you  
> please
> keep a tally on this vote if it is seconded? Also, with your vote  
> please
> state your interest in being a part of the committee, and whether  
> you'd like
> to be a leading part of it.
>
> I've proposed votes in the past, and they've fizzled. Some weren't  
> pressing,
> so I think people didn't feel the need to vote. If there is a  
> member who
> doesn't vote on this motion, perhaps you should reconsider your  
> ability to
> perform the duties of a board member. This is why: you have pledged to
> 'Participate in electronic votes as often as twice a month'. We  
> have not had
> an electronic vote in at least a month. (
> http://www.thecsl.org/go/about/board/#formal)
>
> Additionally, when you signed up, you understood that 'It is not  
> required,
> but it would be helpful if our board members could also: Help plan,
> Contribute to discussion of our internal and external affairs on the
> cadre-politics listserv.' (http://www.thecsl.org/go/about/board/ 
> #minimum)
>
> So it is not required, but it would be nice if each board member could
> consider and post their thoughts on the level of oversight the  
> board should
> take for the CSL. I'll be posting my thoughts next week. Depending on
> comfort level, that post could go only to the board list, or  
> (preferably),
> to cadre-politics.
>
> -Josh
>
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