[Foundation-l] Future Board election procedures and guidelines

[Jussi-Ville Heiskanen]

On 7/21/07, Sue Reed <sreed1234 at yahoo.com> wrote:
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Jussi-Ville Heiskanen cimonavaro at gmail.com
>
>
> >It would be a sad day if you could buy into the board of Wikimedia
> >Foundation, like shares can buy control of a corporation. I know that
> > Jimbo has spoken on this matter to different effect, but this is my view.
>
> I think I know what your answer to this will be based on your response ... But, I >wanted to ask anyway and see if others chimed in. Many non-profit boards >expect each board member to commit to raising a certain amount of money for >the organization as a part of being on the board. Are you saying that you would >be against such a requirement?

I am not saying specifically that I would be against such a requirement.
Such a requirement, if it were made to *each* would not constitute buying
in to becoming a board member. It would be bad if it were an "auction" and
that person was appointed as trustee who promised the *largest* donation.
Even if a direct donation by the prospective board member themself, to me
it would be more in the nature of the price of a country club membership
than buying shares in a profit making company. To re-emphasize, I think
it would be sad if there was a "market value" for a seat on the board which
could go up and down according to how well Wikimedia was doing or other
considerations which would affect how much people would desire to be
on the board of Trustees.

I am not saying either that I quite see whether such a requirement would
ensure the best functioning of the board, but that is properly a separate
issue.


--
Jussi-Ville Heiskanen, ~ [[User:Cimon Avaro]]