[Foundation-l] Improving links between chapters and the Foundation

[Thomas Dalton]

On 3 September 2011 17:55, Jon Huggett <jon.huggett at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> On Sep 3, 2011, at 09:25 , WereSpielChequers wrote:
>
>> Increasing the mutual overlap of boards is a tried and tested way of
>> reducing such tension, it doesn't always work, (in wiki speak it isn't magic
>> pixie dust) and we are in this situation despite having two WMF members
>> nominated by the chapters. But it is an option and it is a governance model
>> that lots of organisations find works for them.
>
> +1
>
> Many other organizations use mutual overlap of boards to help communication, foster collaboration, and share skills (e.g. fundraising): e.g Action Contre La Faim and Opportunity International.  There use a variety of ways of managing "conflict of interest", such as by defining whether overlapping members have a veto, vote or voice.  Wikimedia Foundation has two board members selected by chapters, without any pressing and immediate concerns about "conflict of interest".  If chapter boards want overlapping membership with WMF, or other chapters, there are many ways to make it work.

I'd say there might possibly be some ways to make it work!

The chapter selected seats on the WMF board work because the occupants
agree when they join the WMF board that they will act in the sole
interest of the WMF and they are not permitted to be on a chapter
board or payroll at the same time as being on the WMF board. The same
thing in reverse, where the WMF selects someone to sit on a chapter
board but that person is no longer directly affialated with the WMF
and is supposed to act in the interests of the chapter probably
wouldn't work, since there aren't enough people with sufficient
experience of the WMF that aren't still affiliated with the WMF to
have one of every chapter board.

Having a WMF representative with a voice but no vote could work, but I
wouldn't count that as them being a board member. There is also a
serious problem with language barriers. Chapter boards aren't going to
hold all their meetings in English for the benefit of the WMF
observer. If the WMF could find someone the speaks the relevant
language, then it could work. You could expect the chapters to demand
observers in WMF board meetings too, of course! (The existing chapter
selected board members don't count, for the reasons given above.)

Could you elaborate on the ways it can be made to work where the board
members with other affiliations have a vote?