[Foundation-l] Where we are headed

[Gavin Chait]

In response to Anthony and other related posts:

> Someone is needed to bootstrap the
> organization ... I think it's important to make it
> clear that this isn't a permanent position, though.  In part, because
> it's dangerous to assign such a position when you really have no clue
> what the position is

> One thing I think is important though is the interim CEO should be
> made aware that a big part of eir job is going to be explaining eir
> actions to the entire membership

So far the CEO / COO / Director *interim* position can be summarised as 
follows:

"We need help real fast.  We don't know what help we need and would like you 
to tell us.  Please don't ruffle any feathers.  Don't do anything without 
telling everyone in the community.  We'll get back to you about what we 
decide."

So, appointing an *interim* CEO / COO / Director will have a result 
equivalent to not appointing an *interim* CEO / COO / Director.  The core 
problem: "We don't know what to do next and we need help deciding what to 
do," won't have been solved and can't be solved until the board and 
community decide.

> You've given your own suggestions above, but what is the board going
> to do, say "hey, Gavin Chait said this is how we should do it, so lets
> go with it"?  I don't think it's going to happen.

Why not?  I have 15 years experience in South Africa developing and running 
non-profit organisations in fields as diverse as HIV / AIDS, education and 
small business development.  I've worked with student-run, university-based 
organisations, corporate funded ones, and institutional versions.  I have 
fund-raised, written proposals, developed ideas and implemented them.  Some 
of my ideas even work.

I'm probably not the only person with this sort of experience on this list 
but I do have some idea of what it takes to run a self-sustaining non-profit 
social benefit organisation.

So why not listen to my suggestions?  They are my opinions, based on my 
experiences.  They are freely and honestly given.  I don't have all the 
answers but I may be able to save you some bother.