Board of Directors

Free Geek's 501(c)(3) status requires that we have a board of directors. And that carries with it certain implications, not the least that the BOD is responsible for seeing that decisions are responsible and in the best interest of the corporation, which also implies that the BOD would have the right/responsibility to last word on any decisions made by Council. Pursuant to the adoption of the 2011 governance proposal, the existing council-selected board will be enhanced with dedicated volunteer-representative seats (selected by core volunteers), seats representing different skills, stakeholder populations, and mission-related interests, and dedicated staff-board liaisons. When transition is complete, all directors will be holding specialized seats, with job descriptions. Board meetings will also be attended by liaisons from both the collective and non-collective staff.

At the council meeting in April, an ad hoc transition committee was formed to plan the changeover to this model. The council and board are now meeting together, with the council as an advisory body to the board.

Active projects

• Working toward a stable and healthy Free Geek
  • Bringing in a temporary consultant to help with this process
• Clarifying policies, past and present, and making them findable
• Pursuing transparency throughout the organization
• Increasing the size and capacity of the board
• Creating a more effective fundraising strategy, developing relationships in the community
• Preparing Free Geek's processes and records for auditability

Board Meetings

The board meets monthly; meetings are on the second Wednesday of the month, preceded by the council meeting (the council is now an advisory body to the board). The meeting starts at 6:15. The October meeting is the annual meeting as required in the bylaws. Board meetings are open, though occasionally the final segment of the meeting will be closed as an "executive session," wherein the board may discuss legally sensitive items. If an executive session is called, a reason will be given.

There is a Meeting Template that may be used when setting up a new Board Meeting. (Remember to copy commitments from the previous meeting's minutes.) Meeting minutes are posted to the directors email list and to the minutes list. Agenda items may not be added within a week of the board meeting, so that the board may be properly prepared.

Occasionally the board will have to make decisions via email: our policy on that is outlined here. Email decisions will be reported at the next board meeting.

Current Board Members

Board members are elected to two year terms, except where indicated. (When the board re-formed in October 2005, half of the positions were for one year terms to implement staggering of terms, and we still try to keep that ratio.) The number of directors is currently set (by resolution of the board) to 7.

Laurel Hoyt, Chair

Former Free Geek Education Coordinator; current volunteer.

Initially elected September 2005

Chairperson, October 2005 - October 2006, January 2010 - present

Secretary, October 2006 - January 2010

fourth term, ends October 2012

Jon Van Oast, Secretary

Current volunteer. Programmer, code-mercenary.

In order to avoid having to fix bugs in the DOS-based SMTP gateway he wrote for a Novell network, coupled with the fact that perl4 in DOS was frustrating him, Jon built his first linux box in 1992. It ran for 2 years hidden above the acoustic ceiling tiles in sub-basement level B of the university medical center where Jon worked. It ran for 4 more years there after he left, until he showed up in the middle of the night on a trip back home and took it with him back to Portland. Now you know how he and linux fell in love.

first term, started October 2006

third term, ends October 2012

Anne Glazer, Director

Intellectual Property Attorney

A geek about Free Geek. Crypto-hippie. In her spare time, Anne likes to collect, sort, cut and fold used paper.

first term, started 2008

second term, ends October 2012

Sayer Jones, Treasurer

(bio needed)

first term, started April 2009

second term, ends October 2011

Selected to fill vacated term at Council Meeting on April 15, 2009.

Dina Dickerson, Director for Development

first term, started August 2011, ends Oct 2013

Kathey Sutter, Director for Process

first term, started August 2011, ends Oct 2013

Past Board Members

this may not be a full list

• Bob Griggs, October 2005 - March 2006
• Joe Buckmaster, October 2005 - August 2006
• Wren Ng Thornton, October 2005 - August 2007
• Aaron Burt, October 2006 - October 2007
• Tim Collier, ??? - October 2008
• Oso Martin, August 2005 - February 2009, Free Geek founder, original incorporator of Free Geek.
• Seamus Campbell, October 2005 - October 2009
• Marie Deatherage, September 2005 - December 2009
• Shannon Beutel, October 2009 - October 2010

• Brent Campbell
• Laura Berg
• Jeff Finz
• Kenneth McGair
• Jim Deibele
• John Telford
• Michelle Brooks
• Mark Neiman-Ross
• Dennis Bridges
• Lewis Barr

Board Committees

Established at board meeting on October 14, 2009.

Audit committee

aims to make Free Geek prepared for an audit

Chair: Sayer

Additional members:

Staff representative:

Propagation (Intergalactic, Trademark Licensing, etc.)

merged with staff propagation committee, deals with issues surrounding other free geeks.

Chair: Anne

Additional members: Jon

Staff representative:

Board recruitment and development

Chair: Laurel

Additional members: Steve Forbush, Liliana Gaitan

Staff representative:

Relationship Development

developing free geek's social skills

Chair:

Additional members: Curt

Staff representative:

Director job descriptions

These descriptions have been approved by the board and are to be used as guidelines for selecting new board members and guiding the service/evaluating the performance of sitting board members. They can be changed at any time by the board.

• Responsibilities of directors applies to all directors.
• Board officers are selected by the board at the annual meeting in October. (What to do when officers change)
  • Board Secretary
  • Board Chair
  • Board Treasurer
• Other seats (these descriptions have been approved by the board. further descriptions-in-progress may be found linked from Groups to be represented on the board)
  • Volunteer representative job description

Useful links

• Bylaws
• Oregon Sec of State nonprofit services page
• 2011 governance proposal -- accepted by board and council in April 2011. In the process of being implemented.

• Board email list
• Minutes list for keeping track of other stuff in the operation

• Board Election Checklist

• Meeting tips: Facilitator, Scribe