[CSL board] officer selection process

[Fred G. Martin]

I agree - this is too important to spring on people.  Next time there  
should be a more deliberative process, with everyone informed  
beforehand.

Fred

On May 19, 2007, at 9:47 AM, Melissa Carino wrote:

> 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
>>>>
>>>>
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