Difference between revisions of "New Director Agreement"

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''DRAFT'' (based on a board member agreement that is in place at TryOn Life Community Farm)
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==Purpose of this document==
  
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Members of the [[Board]] of Directors of Free Geek have certain responsibilities under federal and state law, as well as under the Free Geek [[bylaws]].  This document is ''not'' intended to--and should not be construed to--create additional legal obligations or duties for Directors.  It intended to emphasize and illustrate some of the social and legal obligations and commitments carried by Directors: a "job description" for the position so that people will know what to expect. This is the baseline agreement for all directors. Specific seats and positions will have further responsibilities, as described in their [[Groups to be represented on the board|job descriptions]].
  
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# I, and the other board members, are responsible for the organizational well-being of Free Geek. I am fiscally and legally responsible for this organization along with other board members.  It is my duty to keep abreast of the programs, policies and financial situation at Free Geek.  <br>I'd like to make it clearer which part of free geek's well-being the board is specifically tasked with - the structural part that interfaces with gov't, etc. Joe will further legalify.--[[User:Ideath|Ideath]]''
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Candidates for Board membership should be familiar and comfortable with the activities outlined in this document prior to declaring their intention to stand for a Board position or accepting a nomination by another member of the community.  To this end, this document should be referred to when making announcements of Board position vacancies or discussing nominations for those positions.
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# My focus as a board member is to promote Free Geek's [[Mission statement|mission]].
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# My commitment to this board is for a 2-year term and will probably involve 10 hours ''of volunteer work'' per month.
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==Agreement==
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# I will make my best effort to attend all board meetings. I will come prepared to meetings by following through on my commitments and reading any pertinent materials.
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# I understand that I and the other board members are responsible for the legal, financial and organizational health of Free Geek, Inc. (Free Geek).  It is my responsibility to remain '''informed of and involved in the programs, policies and finances''' of Free Geek.
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# I will make my best efforts to attend all council meetings in order to stay abreast of current issues before the council.
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# As a director, I understand that I will be responsible for creating '''strategic plans''' for the organization.  Visioning work will be conducted on a regular basis, with results presented in a timely manner.
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# I will attend Board orientation meetings and trainings, general meetings, key conferences and other special meetings.
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# I understand that Free Geek is an organization that emphasizes consensus-based decision making.  Accordingly, '''I promise not to act in a way that is detrimental to the consensus process''', or otherwise create unreasonable obstructions to the decision making process. I will work to be a '''consensus builder''', exercising diplomatic skills, creating relationships, and building consensus among diverse individuals.
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# I will participate in an area of Free Geek's work, such as belonging to or advising a working committee, coordinating an event, leading a program area or overseeing an internal function.
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# As a director, it is my responsibility to '''ensure that Free Geek adheres to all local, state, and federal laws'''.  I will exercise care and diligence when it comes to dealing with legal issues.  Should I become aware of any legal problem, I will do my best to see that it is addressed promptly.
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# I will actively outreach for Free Geek, and participate in fund-raising efforts to the best of my ability.
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# My focus as a board member is to '''promote Free Geek's [[Mission Statement|mission]]'''.
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# I will make what is for me a significant financial donation to the organization annually.
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#  While promoting the mission of the organization, I will do my best to uphold '''values which reflect positively on Free Geek''', and demonstrate these values whenever representing the organization.
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# I will inform this board of any conflicts of interest either actual (financial) or perceived.  The focus of my involvement on this board is to further our mutual mission rather than any personal agenda.
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# My commitment to this board is for a 2-year term. I will '''manage my time''' so as to guarantee attendance and participation in scheduled Board activities, including board meetings, committee meetings, town hall meetings, Board orientation meetings and trainings, key conferences and other special meetings.
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# I recognize that each board member brings with them valuable skills and talents, unique information, experiences and community affiliations.  I will respect the contributions of others as I extend contributions of my own to carry out the mission. <br>''does this minor rewrite help? --[[User:Ideath|Ideath]]''
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# I will '''come prepared to meetings''' by following through on my commitments and reading any pertinent materials.
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# ''I may also need to seek out further information or learn new skills, as necessary, to protect the legal and financial health of Free Geek. --[[User:Ideath|Ideath]]''
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# I will '''actively outreach for Free Geek''', and participate in fund-raising efforts to the best of my ability.
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#  I will take time to enjoy the Free Geek community, and will strive to make board participation a fun and fulfilling project for myself and others.
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# I will make what is for me a '''significant financial donation''' to the organization annually.
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# I will inform this board of any '''conflicts of interest''' either actual or perceived.  The focus of my involvement on this board is to further our mutual mission rather than any personal agenda.
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# I recognize that each board member brings with them valuable skills and talents, unique information, experiences and community affiliations.  I will '''respect the contributions of others''' as I extend contributions of my own to carry out the mission.  
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# I may also need to '''seek out further information or learn new skills''', as necessary, to protect the legal and financial health of Free Geek.  
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#  I will take time to '''enjoy the Free Geek community''', and will strive to make board participation a fun and fulfilling project for myself and others.
  
 
No quotas have been set; no rigid standards of measurement and achievement have been formed.  We trust each other to carry out the above agreements to the best of our ability, each in our own way, with knowledge, approval and support of all.
 
No quotas have been set; no rigid standards of measurement and achievement have been formed.  We trust each other to carry out the above agreements to the best of our ability, each in our own way, with knowledge, approval and support of all.
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Signed:
 
Signed:
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Date:
 
Date:
  
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== From Jeff's email ==
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==About this document==
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* Board nominees should be able to act in the best interests of Free Geek, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization and it's mission of being "a 501(c)(3) not for profit community organization that recycles used technology to provide computers, education, internet access and job skills training to those in need in exchange for community service."
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This document was originally adopted by Free Geek Board of Directors on April 19, 2006. The policy is to have new directors sign this agreement when they joined the board.  
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* Board nominees should possess the general qualities and qualifications of nonprofit board of directors and be able to perform the necessary governance, legal, fiduciary and other necessary functions.
 
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* Board members should possess a working knowledge of Free Geek, its mission and operations.
 
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*  It is desirable for some members of the Board to possess expertise in specific areas that will be of assistance in Board functions such as nonprofit governance, financial controls public fiduciary responsibility, and record keeping.
 
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*  Additionaly, the Board when elected will need to select from within its membership three officers; Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer with duties described in the Bylaws.  The Board meets at least twice yearly with more meetings possible and at least one meeting in October.
 
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== Further Comments from Jeff ==
 
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I agree completely with the intent of this new Director Contract.  However, in it's present form, I would have a problem if I were a new Board member and asked to sign it.  My main difficulty would be the legal and or contractual nature that it is currently worded in.  I would suggest that some wording changes, while still keeping the importance of the director responsibilities in the forefront would make it more of a flexable document rather than a legal one. 
 
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For instance, in section 4 I would suggest wording similar to:  As a Board member I will commit to regularly attending Board meetings (with the board meeting a minimum of twice a year and usually more often).  I will commit to preparing for these Board meetings.
 
  
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I would also suggest changing all places where it says "I will" to "I commit" as I think that is a little less legal in form but also keeping to the standard. The important thing to keep in mind here is that most board members should already have a high sense of responsibility and some will already have nonprofit experience. 
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It was then refined and developed by the [[Board recruitment committee]] pursuant to [http://lists.freegeek.org/pipermail/minutes/2011-April/001105.html board instructions], April 2011 and the approved [[2011 governance proposal]]. It was approved by the board on May 18.
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--[[User:Jkane|Jkane]] 12:14, 13 Sep 2005 (PDT)
 
  
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:So in short, we should try to lighten up the language a bit -- make it less formal, so as to not scare away potential board members (Chapter 13 can do that for us). [[User:Rfs|RfS]] 12:14, 14 Sep 2005 (PDT)
 
  
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[http://wiki.freegeek.org/images/0/00/New_director_agreement.odt (OpenOffice version of this document)]
  
 
[[Category: Board]]
 
[[Category: Board]]

Latest revision as of 11:31, 26 October 2011

Purpose of this document

Members of the Board of Directors of Free Geek have certain responsibilities under federal and state law, as well as under the Free Geek bylaws. This document is not intended to--and should not be construed to--create additional legal obligations or duties for Directors. It intended to emphasize and illustrate some of the social and legal obligations and commitments carried by Directors: a "job description" for the position so that people will know what to expect. This is the baseline agreement for all directors. Specific seats and positions will have further responsibilities, as described in their job descriptions.

Candidates for Board membership should be familiar and comfortable with the activities outlined in this document prior to declaring their intention to stand for a Board position or accepting a nomination by another member of the community. To this end, this document should be referred to when making announcements of Board position vacancies or discussing nominations for those positions.

Agreement

  1. I understand that I and the other board members are responsible for the legal, financial and organizational health of Free Geek, Inc. (Free Geek). It is my responsibility to remain informed of and involved in the programs, policies and finances of Free Geek.
  2. As a director, I understand that I will be responsible for creating strategic plans for the organization. Visioning work will be conducted on a regular basis, with results presented in a timely manner.
  3. I understand that Free Geek is an organization that emphasizes consensus-based decision making. Accordingly, I promise not to act in a way that is detrimental to the consensus process, or otherwise create unreasonable obstructions to the decision making process. I will work to be a consensus builder, exercising diplomatic skills, creating relationships, and building consensus among diverse individuals.
  4. As a director, it is my responsibility to ensure that Free Geek adheres to all local, state, and federal laws. I will exercise care and diligence when it comes to dealing with legal issues. Should I become aware of any legal problem, I will do my best to see that it is addressed promptly.
  5. My focus as a board member is to promote Free Geek's mission.
  6. While promoting the mission of the organization, I will do my best to uphold values which reflect positively on Free Geek, and demonstrate these values whenever representing the organization.
  7. My commitment to this board is for a 2-year term. I will manage my time so as to guarantee attendance and participation in scheduled Board activities, including board meetings, committee meetings, town hall meetings, Board orientation meetings and trainings, key conferences and other special meetings.
  8. I will come prepared to meetings by following through on my commitments and reading any pertinent materials.
  9. I will actively outreach for Free Geek, and participate in fund-raising efforts to the best of my ability.
  10. I will make what is for me a significant financial donation to the organization annually.
  11. I will inform this board of any conflicts of interest either actual or perceived. The focus of my involvement on this board is to further our mutual mission rather than any personal agenda.
  12. I recognize that each board member brings with them valuable skills and talents, unique information, experiences and community affiliations. I will respect the contributions of others as I extend contributions of my own to carry out the mission.
  13. I may also need to seek out further information or learn new skills, as necessary, to protect the legal and financial health of Free Geek.
  14. I will take time to enjoy the Free Geek community, and will strive to make board participation a fun and fulfilling project for myself and others.

No quotas have been set; no rigid standards of measurement and achievement have been formed. We trust each other to carry out the above agreements to the best of our ability, each in our own way, with knowledge, approval and support of all.

As a member of the Free Geek Board, I agree to the above:

Signed:

Date:

About this document

This document was originally adopted by Free Geek Board of Directors on April 19, 2006. The policy is to have new directors sign this agreement when they joined the board.

It was then refined and developed by the Board recruitment committee pursuant to board instructions, April 2011 and the approved 2011 governance proposal. It was approved by the board on May 18.


(OpenOffice version of this document)

Retrieved from "http://wiki.freegeek.org/index.php?title=New_Director_Agreement&oldid=59173"