[Foundation-l] Board statement of responsibility

[Florence Devouard]

Mike Godwin wrote:
> Anthony writes:
>>> As to your suggested changes in wording, feel free to make those
>>> recommendations to the Board. Again, it's worth keeping in mind that
>>> the drafting of this Statement was done at Board request.
>>>
>> That definitely surprises me.  How exactly did the Board make such a  
>> request?
> 
> I think this question is best directed to Board members themselves and  
> not to me.
> 
> 
> 
> --Mike

Originally, Sue suggested she would be happy to have the board sign such 
a document. I suppose it follows the fact staff was asked to sign such a 
document.

As a result, at the last board meeting, Mike showed with a (first) draft 
document, which purely contained 1) non disparagement agreement and 2) 
confidentiality agreement.

Following the statement that this document was not okay on several 
important points, Mike accepted to work again on the document. I asked 
that be added to it references to the duties of board members.
1) fiduciary duties (see my mail on the topic: 
http://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/foundation-l/2008-May/042475.html)
2) values (see the current reference: 
http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Values)

The board agreed for the document to be reworked in a draft.

The resulting second draft
1) did not bring much changes to the non-disparagement agreement
2) appropriately addressed issues related to confidentiality obligations
3) rather appropriately addressed issues related to fiduciary duties
4) added a new COI policy, with obligations to not only disclose COIs, 
but to actually avoid them entirely, and get approval from the board in 
case there is a conflict
5) does not mention anywhere the values I was thinking of.

Ant