I agrree with Art Trudeau; the concept of a co-operative is members helping members and having a collaborative approach for mutual benefit. The board should be volunteers and get reimbursed for out of pocket expenses to attend board meetings; travel and meals. A token per diem could be considered as well but this rate should be set annually at the AGM and the consititution should make it clear that the principle for setting this amount is to recognize and support volunteerism of a knowledgeable and diverse board but not to line individual board members pockets as a form of employment.
On the other hand the executive staff of the organization should be top-notch and paid at competive rates. The paid executive staff need to have all the skills and abilities to run a modern and effective organization the reflects the principles of a cooperative organization. The board is not running the organization but providing the oversight and overall direction that staff carry out. Maybe our organization has developed some confusion between these roles and as a result has the board acting as the managers?
The board provides the oversight and strategic direction. Staff are accountable to the board and consequently the membership of the organization. The paid staff makes recommendations to the board and operates the organization based on the strategic direction set by the board.
Hope these comments are useful.....the organization will benefit from a thorough discussion of the principles of organizational governance and its separation from management.
Art Trudeau - 10 years ago
When the coop concept was started in Sask everything was run by volunteers. I know its not the same but the principle of pulling together for the common good of the members s the same. They never should have been allowed to set their own pay. It should be a motion at a general meeting that can be debated, amended and then passed or defeated
Nick Loenen - 10 years ago
The best strategy is to replace existing Directors.
Will you field a slate of nominees that are known to understand coop principles and be responsive to the membership?
I agrree with Art Trudeau; the concept of a co-operative is members helping members and having a collaborative approach for mutual benefit. The board should be volunteers and get reimbursed for out of pocket expenses to attend board meetings; travel and meals. A token per diem could be considered as well but this rate should be set annually at the AGM and the consititution should make it clear that the principle for setting this amount is to recognize and support volunteerism of a knowledgeable and diverse board but not to line individual board members pockets as a form of employment.
On the other hand the executive staff of the organization should be top-notch and paid at competive rates. The paid executive staff need to have all the skills and abilities to run a modern and effective organization the reflects the principles of a cooperative organization. The board is not running the organization but providing the oversight and overall direction that staff carry out. Maybe our organization has developed some confusion between these roles and as a result has the board acting as the managers?
The board provides the oversight and strategic direction. Staff are accountable to the board and consequently the membership of the organization. The paid staff makes recommendations to the board and operates the organization based on the strategic direction set by the board.
Hope these comments are useful.....the organization will benefit from a thorough discussion of the principles of organizational governance and its separation from management.
When the coop concept was started in Sask everything was run by volunteers. I know its not the same but the principle of pulling together for the common good of the members s the same. They never should have been allowed to set their own pay. It should be a motion at a general meeting that can be debated, amended and then passed or defeated
The best strategy is to replace existing Directors.
Will you field a slate of nominees that are known to understand coop principles and be responsive to the membership?
Thanks,
Nick