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@lists.wikimedia.org
[mailto:wikimediauk-l-bounces@lists.wikimedia.org] On Behalf Of Andrew Turvey
Sent: 11 September 2008 21:48
To:
wikimediauk-l@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_Board_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
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