Structure Group Report 2012-01-31

STRUCTURE GROUP REPORT

January 2012

http://freegle.it/Structure

This is a summary of discussions since our last report of 30th December 2011, covering messages 9689 to 9831. Our membership stands at 70 (one more than last month).

The topics we have discussed this month are below.

Task 48 - Panel pool members

Revise methods of attracting panel pool members for arbitration/appeals/mediation:

A discussion has begun and some suggestions have been made in order to improve and simplify the process for Panel Pool members, making taking up the post less daunting in the first place and helping to address some of the problems the previous panel pool experienced.

Task 66 - Co-opting Powers

Continues from previous report.

This is about the powers of Reps and Returning Officer/Ombudsman teams to co-opt in the event of an elected member leaving before their term is up.

We had a 7 day consultation on Central and a poll (on Central) was called to clarify the results. Post no. 25785 on Central on Jan 21st. The poll was run for 7 days.

Poll on Co-opting Powers. If an elected post becomes vacant in the period between the end of the autopromotion period and the next scheduled election for that post (not the end of term for the postholder that is being replaced), should the relevant team of elected role holders be able to co-opt someone into that position until the next election if they wish to? Points both for and against this idea are given in Central message no. 25784 [1]. The result will be by simple majority.

Results.

Yes 29 votes 67%

No 11 votes 25%

Abstain 3 votes 6%

Task 52 - Asset Security

We are considering how best to secure our domain names for Freegle.

We have started by listing the assets people consider to need securing (such as freegle.org.uk , ilovefreegle.org, freespout.org.uk etc) which are currently all owned by individual people who aren't all still active members of Freegle. We are looking into centralising ownership, or at least access to these domains. Research is underway and discussion continues...

Task 24 - Group Constitutions

Jacky uploaded Sheffield and Norfolk's constitutions onto the wiki to help groups who wish to compose their own constitution. Group Constitution

It is emphasised that it is not a requirement for groups to have a constitution but that some groups would prefer to have one as it can be useful when applying for local funding. Task complete.

Task 59 - Defining `Not For Profit'

Not For Profit is a term which was used by TFN as it has a specific meaning in USA Tax law so we are discussing using terms from either the Charity Commission in the UK or terms the Inland Revenue would use.

Task List

Our Task List can be viewed at [2]

If any of the above topics interest you, or if you have proposals about the structure of Freegle to suggest, please do join our group. [3]

The Coordinator for this group is Jacky (Great Yarmouth) Deputy Coordinator is Peter Johnson (Hunts) and Secretary is Wendy (Woodley) Owners are Jacky, Peter and Wendy.

Back to Freegle Structure or Structure Group Report 2011-12-30, or forwards to Structure Group Report 2012-02-29