[CSL board] officer selection process

[Melissa Carino]

Thanks for emailing out, Dan.

I realize I did arrive a little late, but I was there when the  
discussion happened with Fred & Karen.  From what I recall, when Fred  
declined, Laura then offered up Karen.  We voted, and then Karen  
asked what it all entailed.  Maybe she asked this before we voted.   
Not completely sure.

My question was more towards how it became Karen as the next  
alternative.  And how no one else was considered.

Again, I'm not pushing this discussion because I wasn't considered (I  
would have declined too), but it's just more of the process.  And I'm  
not trying to undermine Karen --- I think she'll be an excellent  
Board President.

I just don't believe there was enough discussion on who else to  
consider with everyone in the room (or at least when I was there).   
And I also don't know how it would seem for those officers in  
absentia - excused or not.  If I was absent (esp excused), I wouldn't  
feel good to not have a voice/vote for this change in officers.  And  
I realize it would have been better for me to bring this up as we  
were going through the process.

This is my first time as a voting member on a Board so I'm looking at  
this as a learning experience too.  And I'm concerned about this  
process as I'm wondering if other Boards do it this way.  Maybe we  
can systemize or institutionalize this process for future?  I know  
everyone is very comfortable with each other, but as we add on newer  
people to the Board, I feel it's important to have a process where  
everyone has a voice/vote and a process to work with.

And in response to Charlotte and I not interested in the Treasurer  
position, I feel it would have been nice to be considered for other  
positions.  Treasurer has very different responsibilities from the  
Pres, Vice, & so on...

With that, if others don't have concerns, I don't think we need to a  
do-over.  Just feel we need to be aware of this in the future.

Thanks for your time...have a great weekend.
~melissa
Oh, please let me know if there are more questions/concerns.  And if  
I'm not being clear enough.

On May 18, 2007, at 5:40 PM, Dan MacNeil wrote:

>> Was on my mind...and just curious.  But not an overly big issue.
>
> Thanks for bringing this up.
>
> I'm CC'ing the board list as this was a mistake that we (I) should
> acknowledge and do better on.
>
> Not a huge issue, but definitely something could have been done a  
> little
> better.
>
> Depending on what other folks have to say, this might be worth a
> do-over. (or not)
>
> A better process would have been to put this out to the email list  
> some
> time before the meeting for more considered discussion and/or put this
> later in the agenda so people arriving a little later could  
> contribute.
>
>
> Melissa Carino wrote:
>> When we voted for replacing Josh, how was it that Karen was the next
>> runner up after Fred?  What was the process?
>
> I think, the process was pretty much consensus / vote among those who
> were at the meeting when the agenda item came up. (10-20 (?) minutes
> after start of meeting)
>
> Josh said he thought that somebody who was geographically closer to
> Lowell should be president and that he thought Fred should be that  
> person.
>
> Fred said he'd rather not.
>
> (I think) Karen was the only one at the meeting when the agenda item
> came up, who wasn't already an officer, or ex-officer, so I looked at
> her and said "How about you?"
>
> She said "what do I have to do?"
>
> Josh said. "Work with Dan on board meeting agendas, sign some  
> documents
> and go to occasional meetings to represent the board."
>
> She said "OK"
>
> Laura said "all in favor say 'eye' "
>
> Everyone said 'eye'
>
>> Because I felt that Muriel, Charlotte, myself,etc weren't even
>> considered.  NOT that I want the position or anything.  I'm just  
>> trying
>> to understand the process.
>
> Muriel might not want want to step into an officer role w/o being  
> on the
> board a while and in any event was not at the meeting to be  
> considered.
>
> As I recall, Charlotte was happy to not be treasurer and has indicated
> that her capacity to do more on the CSL board is less than her desire.
>
> You've mentioned a similar capacity/desire mis-match and unless I am
> mistaken, weren't at the meeting when the item came up
>
> Karen was around and has for some time indicated a desire to do more.
>
> The fact that we re-elected Kristina treasurer in absentia contradicts
> the arguments above. If anyone wants to volunteer to run for  
> treasurer,
> I suspect Kristina may endorse her opponent's candidacy.
>
> General duties of treasurer include:
>
> 	1) Being more liable for finances than everyone else
> 	2) Keeping me from stealing
> 	3) leading/assisting with budgeting and projecting
>
> Specific duties include
>
> 	1) comparing bank statements to our ledgers
>
>
>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From:
>> divinerightofkings-bounces 
>> +melissa=bostonwomensfund.org at lists.thecsl.org
>> [mailto:divinerightofkings-bounces 
>> +melissa=bostonwomensfund.org at lists.th
>> ecsl.org] On Behalf Of Laura MacNeil
>> Sent: Friday, May 18, 2007 8:20 AM
>> To: board at thecsl.org
>> Subject: Re: [CSL board] Minutes May 8 2007 BOD Meeting
>>
>>
>> I just realized that I didn't list Muriel as "excused". I added her
>> below, but I don't know how to spell her name. She's also not on the
>> board list on the web site!
>>
>> Sorry, Muriel!
>>
>> Laura
>>
>>
>>
>> Laura MacNeil wrote:
>>> The Community Software Lab
>>>
>>> Board of Directors Meeting
>>>
>>> May 8, 2007
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Attendance: Laura M. MacNeil, Fred Martin, Charlotte Crockford, John
>>> Miller, Eric Bryant, Melissa Carino, Josh Harding, Dan MacNeil,  
>>> Karen
>>> Zgoda
>>>
>>> Excused: Paul Hansen, Muriel P.
>>>
>>> Absent: Kristina Ickes
>>>
>>>
>>> Meeting called to order 6:15.
>>>
>>>
>>> Laura MacNeil moved to renew terms for Josh Harding, Fred Martin,
>>> Laura MacNeil terms ending Feb 2009. Second Fred Martin. Passed
>>> unanimous
>>>
>>> .
>>>
>>> Laura MacNeil moved to elect Pres. Karen Zgoda, Fred Martin VP,
>>> Kristina Ickes Trea, Laura MacNeil Clerk. Second Fred Martin. Passed
>>> unanimous.
>>>
>>>
>>> Paul Hansen will not be renewing his term.
>>>
>>>
>>> Recruiting new board members.
>>>
>>> Laura will approach Russ Smith from CTI. Melissa suggested  
>>> constituent
>>
>>> client representatives: Art Somerville, Boys and Girls Club  
>>> (Michelle
>>> Meehan). Ask Dan Twoomey to approach Sherry Denak Service  
>>> Learning at
>>> Middlesex.
>>>
>>>
>>> Philanthropy Day May 22: CSL will buy table, Dan, Eric, John,  
>>> Kamala,
>>> Melissa are going. Three spots open.
>>>
>>>
>>> Non-Profit Purpose #4: By our example, we will encourage a culture
>>> that measures success based on accomplishment not wealth. Dan
>>> presented history of how CSL ended up with this purpose. People who
>>> formed group sentiments included a distrust of wealthy people,
>>> emphasis on money and not accomplishment may make groups slow. There
>>> was general consensus that this is a good purpose. Annual review of
>>> nonprofit purposes. Proposed meeting in July or August to review
>>> purposes.
>>>
>>>
>>> Fund Raising Status/Plans
>>>
>>> The Lab was awarded the Greater Lowell Community Foundation grant  
>>> for
>>> $3000 to make Lab ergonomically correct - chairs, shelves to get  
>>> CPUs
>>> off desks. Eric signed up CSL for Techie Award for MVHub at NTen
>>> conference, which Lab won and included $1000 award.
>>>
>>>
>>> The Lab did not get "son of boomer" grant (national level grant
>>> similar to Mass Service Alliance). It was a highly competitive  
>>> grant.
>>> Eric is working on writing Associated Grant Makers boilerplate to  
>>> use
>>> for future grant applications.
>>>
>>>
>>> Parker Foundation - a number of people told Dan to apply for Parker
>>> Foundaiton and they'd support CSL. Marguerite Turcotte (Parker Fndn
>>> Fellow) said she'd push really hard for the Lab. Dan Holin of  
>>> Jericho
>>> Road and David Kronberg of Greater Lowell Community Foundation said
>>> they'd support Lab on a Parker grant request. Application will be  
>>> for
>>> overhead, salary for Fearless Leader, MVHub development, hire a new
>>> staff person to continue and maintain a volunteer program along the
>>> lines of the boomer program only to expand to IT vocational program
>>> interns. Focus would be youth development and community development.
>>> Could apply for $150,000. Providing desktop support is needed for  
>>> NPOs
>>
>>> and using Parker Foundation to support that need. They will fund  
>>> staff
>>
>>> position every other year. The board needs to consider developing
>>> sustainable way to support desktop support for NPOs. The Lab may be
>>> able to negotiate contracts with larger NPOs for desktop support.  
>>> Lab
>>> could pursue the vocational school and the high school for student
>>> interns. Melissa raised the point that Lab needs to pursue funds  
>>> such
>>> that salaries are sustained long term and foundation funds are  
>>> used as
>>
>>> leverage for more funding.
>>>
>>>
>>> Status MVHub: John Miller has been learning code for MVHub. The
>>> contract with Merrimack Valley Workforce Investment Board calls for
>>> them to pay for 50 hours of time to learn code and Lab pays for 50
>>> hours. Built in 40% more time on getting work done. They will pay
>>> $6700 for first two months, then Lab has to complete milestones  
>>> to be
>>> paid additional funds. Upon completion of project, Lab is paid final
>>> amount. Eric looking for funding for MVHub since it has very broad
>>> application. The board discussed the state 211 Initiative that is  
>>> call
>>
>>> in center for social services that isn't working so well but has
>>> support of various state agencies versus "self-service" MVHub.
>>>
>>>
>>> Boomer grant: The site visit withthe Mass Service Alliance went very
>>> well. Jane Benfy (CTI), Frank Peabody, Janet Clark (TURI), Boomer
>>> volunteers, Lab staff, 4 people from UTEC, and David Kronberg  
>>> came to
>>> show support. At the end of the meeting, MSA gave high praise to  
>>> Dan.
>>> (Very good. No one else is doing what you are doing.)
>>>
>>>
>>> New Business:
>>>
>>> Josh Harding asked Dan to project where the Lab would be in one  
>>> week,
>>> one month on various projects.
>>>
>>>
>>> One week - MVHub- Dan would be signing a contract with the MV  
>>> WIB. The
>>
>>> Boomer volunteers would take more time and Dan will follow up on  
>>> final
>>
>>> funding from MSA. On the Parker Foundation, Dan will send email to
>>> influential people to prepare approach; Set up meeting with Phil  
>>> next
>>> week. Ask Eric for time line to get grant in. AGM boilerplate - Eric
>>> should be done.
>>>
>>>
>>> One month - John will have learned code and will start working on  
>>> Data
>>
>>> Entry idiot-proofing for MVHub expansion. The check from MSA will  
>>> come
>>
>>> in. There will be a core group of volunteers who will be  
>>> reviewing and
>>
>>> contributing to John's work on MVHub. Follow up at next board  
>>> meeting
>>> to make sure this happened.
>>>
>>>
>>> Josh raised issue that many things are happening with Lab but
>>> potential donors are not finding out about it. We need to get the  
>>> word
>>
>>> out. Josh is willing to put out a Best of Status email on a periodic
>>> basis to distribute to a wider audience. Perhaps start a blog.
>>>
>>>
>>> Meeting adjourned 7:40pm
>>>
>>>
>>> Respectfully submitted,
>>>
>>> Laura M. MacNeil
>>>
>>> Clerk
>>>
>>>
>>> -------------------------------------------------------------------- 
>>> --
>>> ---------
>>> ###To unsubscribe send blank email to:
>> Divinerightofkings-leave at lists.thecsl.org ###
>>
>> --------------------------------------------------------------------- 
>> ---
>> -------
>> ###To unsubscribe send blank email to:
>> Divinerightofkings-leave at lists.thecsl.org ###
>>
>>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 
> ---------
> ###To unsubscribe send blank email to: Divinerightofkings- 
> leave at lists.thecsl.org ###