Hi Andrew sorry for not getting back as quickly as possible it just the
fact that I was in bed when this email was sent. Anyway yes I agree
with what Alison has said and take that on board. I would like to say
that if the Board decides that I am able to sit on the board under 18
then I am happy but if they feel that I should be 18 then I also accept
that. I will still continue to be involved but from the backseat so to
speak.
Chris
________________________________
From: wikimediauk-l-bounces(a)lists.wikimedia.org
[mailto:wikimediauk-l-bounces@lists.wikimedia.org] On Behalf Of Andrew
Turvey
Sent: 11 September 2008 21:48
To: wikimediauk-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org
Subject: [Wikimediauk-l] U18 Directors
To Chris Wood - Great to know that you're keen to get involved and I
agree with others that we should try to be as inclusive as possible.
With only two days to go until close of nominations, I think it's too
late to change this rule - that has already been agreed by consensus -
that only 18+s can be candidates for the initial board.
However, one of the first things the new Board will do is draft the
rules of the chapter - its Memorandum and Article of Association - which
i guess will include details of the voting system for members of the
subsequent Boards - so please do input there. I personally hope we can
come up with a situation which allows 16-18s to be members of the Board
but also satisfies the Charities Commission. As you already mentioned,
the legal restriction is that Limited Company Directors have to be 16+
but the Charities Commission also has the power to intervene if they
fear "mismanagement" of the charity. I've put more details up at
http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_UK_v2.0/Candidate_FAQs#Why_do_B
oard_candidates_have_to_be_over_18.3F
There is nothing to prevent you from putting your name up on the list,
but the election committee will probably decide to invalidate your
candidacy.
While we're on that subject I presume that everyone is happy for - geni,
Andrew Whitworth and Jo Seddon - to be the election committee. In that
case, I'll put details up on the wiki. Also, is it the consensus that we
drop the 50% rule?
As to guarantor members, I am not aware of any legal restriction on the
age of members. I can't think of any reason we would want to restrict it
to over 18s, but I guess this is a decision for the inital Board in
consultation with the community.
Alison made an interesting point about it being a good idea if all
intial Board members had lived in the same place for three years,
weren't private renters, had bills in their own name, were in full time
employement, had no CCJs and were UK passport holders. I wouldn't want
any of these to be a requirement for someone to be a Board member and I
don't think it would be fair to introduce this at this stage, but I've
added it as a "voluntary question" here:
http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_UK_v2.0/Candidate_questions as
it might be useful for voters.
Finally, someone mentioned it wouldnt' be a problem if a person who was
a potential risk to children got hold of a U16's address because it
would be their parent's address. My though was, they may also be able to
get their phone number, email address, IRC contact, facebook/myspace
page etc etc - you'd be surprised how much information is readily
available. That's the issue I think we should be careful of.
Andrew Turvey