On 12/30/07, daniwo59@aol.com daniwo59@aol.com wrote:
While there is much to say about your entire post, since it is rather long, I will focus on this point. Previously, you hinted at a rejection the idea of community elections, i.e., the community does not choose. Now you are adding to this that neither Board nor Staff choose.
Who is left? Outsiders? Large donors? Wikilovers? My Aunt Gertrude?
A panel of experts who can evaluate the skills criteria seriously. So in order to evaluate whether a potential Board member would be successful at fundraising, you might want someone who has a track record of fundraising for the organization; in order to select someone who would bring the required legal skills, you'd want an accomplished legal expert (think Lessig or Moglen caliber), in order to find someone who can represent community values, you'd want a highly respected member of the community, etc. I did not say the ED should be _on_ the panel, only that they should advise the Board on how the panel would be constructed.
So it would probably include "outsiders" and wikilovers, it might include a large donor, and it is unlikely to include your aunt, though I do not know her.