Talk:Govcom Agenda 23Jan14

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On point 3, can I encourage GovCom to look at and consider my proposal for an Advisory Board? It is a different issue from WMUK's relationship with volunteers, though. Thanks. Mike Peel (talk) 21:35, 3 January 2014 (UTC)

Yes, thanks Mike. --MichaelMaggs (talk) 13:06, 4 January 2014 (UTC)
"not volunteer-related" wouldn't be the way I would describe it, as the intention was for it to be made up entirely of volunteers! Not focused on volunteers, perhaps? Thanks. Mike Peel (talk) 12:27, 20 January 2014 (UTC)
Yes check.svg Done --MichaelMaggs (talk) 12:47, 20 January 2014 (UTC)

Transparency

Could Govcom please review how transparency and accountability can remain at the center of our shared Values? Over the past year there have been various actions that appear to do the opposite, the most recent being the apparent decision of the board of trustees to make open votes secret in addition to the in-camera votes. This means that it is much harder for members to hold trustees to account in to be fulfilling their personal commitments made when they were voted in (of course this is only relevant to the class of trustees that get voted in, rather than appointed without the members having a say). Thanks -- (talk) 13:38, 4 January 2014 (UTC)

I have replied to Mike here. --MichaelMaggs (talk) 14:27, 4 January 2014 (UTC)
Yes, that's great, I see it, and your conclusion that the board is drifting into non-transparent working practices without making a concious decision to do so. You mentioned a discussion amongst the board, which may well turn out to be an in-camera one that members don't get to know about; in line with my request above, could you in addition action Govcom to do a positive review with openly published results? Periodically assessing or checking board behaviours against the mission and values is something that I originally considered fundamental to why we set up Govcom. I recall many, many discussions where Mike and myself pushed for appropriate transparency, indeed a level of openness and transparency well above that seen in other charities, it is a pity to see this drift away when I know from bitter experience how hard it then is to win back. Thanks -- (talk) 16:55, 4 January 2014 (UTC)
Yes, I have added to Govcom agenda.--MichaelMaggs (talk) 10:06, 20 January 2014 (UTC)
At its meeting yesterday, Govcom agreed to take on responsibility for reviewing the charity's compliance with its commitment to transparency. --MichaelMaggs (talk) 03:00, 24 January 2014 (UTC)
Presumably members will be able to read about it in the minutes. Potentially this could be part of a KPI for the performance of the charity. I expect the idea is that this will be in a public report on governance commissioned or produced by Govcom, is that the intention? -- (talk) 09:29, 24 January 2014 (UTC)