[Foundation-l] board candidacies

[Jimmy Wales]

Erik Zachte wrote:
> I really should have gone to bed a few hours earlier and have postponed any
> reaction to after a good night sleep. Too late, damage done.
>
>   
No damage. :) 

> Still I Anthere could have gotten a more cordial answer, instead of Jimbo's
> factual remark and a joke by someone else.
>
>   

Yes.

> I suppose you mean the US law. We could have an interesting discussion of
> what the consequences are of the foundation being based in the US, but I
> suppose it would confuse matters now.
>
>   
I think it is much worse in other countries.  I know that it is not 
possible to be both an employee and a
board member at a UK charity, and I think it is the same for a Verein in 
Germany.  In the US, it is possible that
someone could be a board member (for which they can not be paid, as far 
as I know), and also have a different job
in the organization.  (For example, a programmer, community manager, 
press liason, whatever.)

I thought that the question, as posed at the board panel, was absolutely 
excellent, by the way.  I think it would be a
grand thing for board diversity if we could pay people at least something.

What we *can* do, and what we *will* do, is be generous within the 
bounds of the law in terms of covering
legitimate expenses of board members related to their service.  For sure.

Also, as we are growing as an organization, it may well be that the 
right solution to this is to have some excellent community
members as employees, and a much larger board of directors which acts 
like a more traditional board of directors so that it can be a part-time
commitment.

--Jimbo