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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. Pursuant to the adoption of the 2011 governance proposal, the board has been 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 are also attended by liaisons from both the collective and non-collective staff.

Active projects

Working toward a stable and healthy Free Geek
- Bringing in a temporary consultant to help with this process
- Developing a high-level strategic plan
Clarifying policies, past and present, and making them findable (see Policy register)
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. The meeting starts at 6:15. The October meeting is the annual meeting as required in the bylaws. Board meetings are open, though occasionally a 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 (see making an agenda and meeting packet for the board). As of late 2011, there are three email lists related to board business: see knowing which board list to use.

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.

Dina Dickerson, Director for Development, Chair: first term, started August 2011, ends October 2013; second term, started October 2013, ends October 2015

Larry Lloyd, Volunteer representative, Treasurer: first term, started October 2011, ends Oct 2013; second term, started October 2013, ends October 2015

Mark Ralston, Director for the Environment: first term, started January 2012, ends Oct 2014

JA Magnuson, Director for Education, Secretary: first term, started May 2013, ends October 2014

Bethany Lister: first term, started November 2013, ends October 2015

Michael Colin: first term, started November 2013, ends October 2014

Steve Holden: first term, started March 2014, ends October 2014

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
Curt Pederson, Director for F/OSS, October 2007 - October 2011
Jon van Oast, October 2006 - December 2011
Laurel Hoyt, September 2005 - February 2012
Anne Glazer, Director, Intellectual Property Attorney - first term, started 2008, second term, ended October 2012
Kathey Sutter, Director for Process, August 2011 - December 2012
Nina Amin, Volunteer representative, October 2012 - January 2013
Jason Owen, Volunteer representative, Board Secretary, October 2011 - October 2013

Earlier board members

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:; 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:; Staff representative:

Board recruitment and development: Chair:; Additional members:; Staff representative:

Relationship Development: developing free geek's social skills; Chair: Dina; Additional members:; 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)
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 executive session email list
Minutes list for keeping track of other stuff in the operation

Board Election Checklist

Meeting tips: Facilitator (making an agenda and meeting packet for the board), Scribe

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-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 and seats representing different [[Groups to be represented on the board|skills, stakeholder populations, and mission-related interests]].
+{{migrated}}
+[https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ee36R4_neO2kII0gr2JcRb8i_c0DOlF2YDVZlbMx7Nc/edit?usp=sharing link]
-At the council meeting in April, an ad hoc transition committee was formed to plan the changeover to this model.
+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.  Pursuant to the adoption of the [[2011 governance proposal]], the board has been enhanced with dedicated volunteer-representative seats (selected by core volunteers), seats representing different [[Groups to be represented on the board|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 are also attended by liaisons from both the [[Collective-board liaison|collective]] and non-collective staff.
 ==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
+** Developing a high-level strategic plan
+* Clarifying policies, past and present, and making them findable (see [[Policy register]])
 * Pursuing transparency throughout the organization
-* Creating [[Board Orientation]] materials, including a [[New Director Agreement]] to detail the responsibilities of board members
+* 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 quarterly; meetings are on the second Wednesday of the month in January, April, July, and October. The board meeting customarily starts at 6:30. The October meeting is the annual meeting as required in the [[Bylaws#Section_5._Annual_Meeting.|bylaws]].
+The board meets monthly; meetings are on the second Wednesday of the month. The meeting starts at 6:15. The October meeting is the annual meeting as required in the [[Bylaws#Section_5._Annual_Meeting.|bylaws]]. Board meetings are open, though occasionally a segment of the meeting will be closed as an "[[executive sessions of the board|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 [http://lists.freegeek.org/listinfo/directors directors] email list and to the [http://lists.freegeek.org/listinfo/minutes minutes list].
+''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 [http://lists.freegeek.org/listinfo/directors directors] email list and to the [http://lists.freegeek.org/listinfo/minutes minutes list]. Agenda items may not be added within a week of the board meeting, so that the board may be properly prepared (see [[making an agenda and meeting packet for the board]]). As of late 2011, there are three email lists related to board business: see [[knowing which board list to use]].
-Occasionally the board will have to make decisions via email: our policy on that is outlined [[On List Decisions Policy#board|here]].
+Occasionally the board will have to make decisions via email: our policy on that is outlined [[On List Decisions Policy#board|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.)
+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, [[Board Chair|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, [[Board Secretary|Secretary]]
+; Dina Dickerson, [[Director for Development]], [[Board Chair|Chair]]
-: Current volunteer. Programmer, code-mercenary.
+: ''first term, started August 2011, ends October 2013''
-: 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.
+: ''second term, started October 2013, ends October 2015''
-: ''third term, ends October 2012''
-; Anne Glazer, Director
+; Larry Lloyd, [[Volunteer representative]], [[Board Treasurer|Treasurer]]
-: Intellectual Property Attorney
+: ''first term, started October 2011, ends Oct 2013''
-: A geek about Free Geek.  Crypto-hippie.  In her spare time, Anne likes to collect, sort, cut and fold used paper.
+: ''second term, started October 2013, ends October 2015''
-: ''second term, ends October 2012''
-; Curt Pederson, Director
+; Mark Ralston, [[Director for the Environment]]
-: ''(bio needed)''
+: ''first term, started January 2012, ends Oct 2014''
-: Curt Pederson comes to us from the OSU Open Source Labs and is the CIO for the Oregon University system.
-: ''second term, ends October 2011''
-; Sayer Jones, [[Board Treasurer|Treasurer]]
+; JA Magnuson, [[Director for Education]], [[Board Secretary|Secretary]]
-: ''(bio needed)''
+: ''first term, started May 2013, ends October 2014''
-: ''second term, ends October 2011''
-: Selected to fill vacated term at Council Meeting on April 15, 2009.
-; Open seat
+; Bethany Lister
+: ''first term, started November 2013, ends October 2015''
+; Michael Colin
+: ''first term, started November 2013, ends October 2014''
+; Steve Holden
+: ''first term, started March 2014, ends October 2014''
 == Past Board Members ==
@@ Line 62: / Line 59: @@
 * Seamus Campbell, October 2005 - October 2009
 * Marie Deatherage, September 2005 - December 2009
+* Shannon Beutel, October 2009 - October 2010
+* Curt Pederson, [[Director for F/OSS]], October 2007 - October 2011
+* Jon van Oast, October 2006 - December 2011
+* Laurel Hoyt, September 2005 - February 2012
+* Anne Glazer, Director, Intellectual Property Attorney - first term, started 2008, second term, ended October 2012
+* Kathey Sutter, Director for Process, August 2011 - December 2012
+* Nina Amin, Volunteer representative, October 2012 - January 2013
+* Jason Owen, Volunteer representative, Board Secretary, October 2011 - October 2013
+Earlier board members
 * Brent Campbell
 * Laura Berg
@@ Line 78: / Line 85: @@
 ; Audit committee: aims to make Free Geek prepared for an audit
-: Chair: Sayer
+: Chair:
 : Additional members:
 : Staff representative:
@@ Line 84: / Line 91: @@
 ; Propagation (Intergalactic, Trademark Licensing, etc.): merged with staff propagation committee, deals with issues surrounding other free geeks.
 : Chair: Anne
-: Additional members: Jon
+: Additional members:
 : Staff representative:
 ; [[Board recruitment committee|Board recruitment and development]]
-: Chair: Laurel
+: Chair:
-: Additional members: Steve Forbush, Liliana Gaitan
+: Additional members:
 : Staff representative:
 ; Relationship Development: developing free geek's social skills
-: Chair:
+: Chair: Dina
-: Additional members: Curt
+: Additional members:
 : 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==
@@ Line 102: / Line 120: @@
 * [[2011 governance proposal]] -- accepted by board and council in April 2011. In the process of being implemented.
-* [http://lists.freegeek.org/listinfo/directors Board email list]
+* [http://lists.freegeek.org/listinfo/directors Board executive session email list]
 * [http://lists.freegeek.org/listinfo/minutes Minutes list] for keeping track of other stuff in the operation
 * [[Board Election Checklist]]
-* Board officers:
-** [[What to do when officers change]]
+* [[Meeting tips]]: [[Facilitator]] ([[making an agenda and meeting packet for the board]]), [[Scribe]]
-** [[Board Secretary]]
-** [[Board Chair]]
-** [[Board Treasurer]]
-* [[Meeting tips]]: [[Facilitator]], [[Scribe]]
 [[Category: Board]]