[Foundation-l] Where we are headed

Sat Jun 3 21:19:53 UTC 2006

Anthony DiPierro wrote:
>>>You've given your own suggestions above, but what is the board going
>>>to do, say "hey, Gavin Chait said this is how we should do it, so lets
>>>go with it"?  I don't think it's going to happen.
>>
>>Why not?  I have 15 years experience in South Africa developing and running
>>non-profit organisations in fields as diverse as HIV / AIDS, education and
>>small business development.  I've worked with student-run, university-based
>>organisations, corporate funded ones, and institutional versions.  I have
>>fund-raised, written proposals, developed ideas and implemented them.  Some
>>of my ideas even work.
>>
>>I'm probably not the only person with this sort of experience on this list
>>but I do have some idea of what it takes to run a self-sustaining non-profit
>>social benefit organisation.
>>
>>So why not listen to my suggestions?  They are my opinions, based on my
>>experiences.  They are freely and honestly given.  I don't have all the
>>answers but I may be able to save you some bother.
> 
> 
> Well, I'm personally a big believer that there needs to be a competent
> central figure during this process.  Maybe you agree with me, and
> maybe you don't.  I'm also a big believer that Jimbo, the only current
> candidate, is *not* competent at such a task.
> 
> So hey, if you could convince the board that you have what it takes,
> I'd say hire *you* as interim CEO.  Unlike some others I don't think
> the interim CEO has to have a tremendous resume as a top leader of
> huge organizations - someone with the experience you describe would
> probably be good enough, and probably a *lot* cheaper.

I'd say that right now, we need a CEO who understands plainly what our 
troubles are. It is not the case of Gavin right at the moment. I can't 
speak of the future :-)

> Maybe you'd even be willing to take on such a role for free.  If so,
> even better.
> 
> As an alternative it'd be nice to get someone with your type of
> experience on the board.  Preferably as an additional member, but if
> Jimbo's control issues won't allow the board to expand then maybe Ant
> or Angela would be willing to step down (we could give her some sort
> of new title like "Volunteer advocate" and an advisory position).

It is nice to see how quickly you would like to get rid of the community 
representatives :-) Don't worry, there is a chance that happen.

Perhaps... I must clarify something here. I think that legally speaking, 
the decision to expand the board is not in the sole hands of Jimbo. It 
is a decision which should be made by the board. In short, if 4 members 
vote expanding the board and Jimbo votes against, expansion will occur.

Current problem is to define whether board members should be appointed 
and/or elected, as well as the proportionality of community members 
versus external members. External should be appointed, but the question 
was whether community members should be appointed only, elected only or 
a mix of the two. Note that in case of election only, Gavin probably has 
no chance to be on the board as a community representative. We could 
possibly imagine a solution such as 2 community members elected every 
year for 2 years. Plus 5 appointed.

> Of course, all of this is dependent on you being 1) willing, and 2)
> able to demonstrate your ability to handle the task.  And it goes
> equally well for anyone on this list who can convince Jimbo that ey
> can do it.

If Jimbo is the only one to decide who to appoint, yes.

> Anthony

Ant