[Foundation-l] Board statement of responsibility

[Sue Gardner]

Birgitte SB wrote:
>
> --- On Wed, 5/21/08, Nathan <nawrich at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>   
>> From: Nathan <nawrich at gmail.com>
>>     
>> Are Mike and Sue open to reviewing
>> alternative versions
>> presented?
>>     
>
>
> "Some time ago, the board received a new draft of its future "board statement of responsibility".[1]
>
> "It is worth noting that this is a very preliminary draft"[2]
>
> "What Florence has now shared is the first draft of that document. We're not at a stage of voting on or signing this either."[3]
>
> I interperted all the emphasis on "draft" to mean that it is negotiable. 

Absolutely, that's correct.

As I said before, much of the value of these kinds of agreements lies in 
the conversation that precedes them.  The conversation we're all having 
now (board + staff + here on this list) is precisely the point. What do 
we consider to be personal disparagement versus constructive 
disagreement. What do we consider to be a conflict of interest, and how 
do we want to handle them.  In an organization that prizes transparency, 
what do we feel needs, nonetheless, to remain confidential - e.g., to 
what extent do we want to talk publicly about donor names, staff 
salaries, internal board discussions, etc. For each of those (and other) 
questions, there are legal/regulatory considerations, and there are also 
important values-oriented considerations.   It's a good conversation to 
have.

I would characterize the agreement -as given to the board- as a straw 
proposal. It's a draft, on paper, intended to get the conversation 
started. It may stay 99% the same, or 80% or 50%. It's intended to get 
us started.

Having said that, I do feel for Mike. I don't think it's possible to 
craft a document that will fully satisfy every single person :-)

>
> [1]http://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/foundation-l/2008-May/042984.html
> [2]http://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/foundation-l/2008-May/042997.html
> [3]http://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/foundation-l/2008-May/043026.html
>
>
>       
>
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-- 


Sue Gardner
Executive Director
Wikimedia Foundation

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