Strategy and Governance Advisory Group

[michael h schneider]

The following report is from NAWCC President Doug Cowan. He can be reached by email at:
dcclock@juno.com
***************
Dear Members. I'd like to tell you more about this ad hoc committee,
appointed during the July Council meeting. The background to this was a
desire to step outside the Council and get some thoughtful members to
answer two questions.
1. What are NAWCC's proper purposes in the reality of today's world?
2. How could Council do a better job of governing the Association?

I chose eight people from around the country plus Australia to answer
these questions.
Council was asked to keep "hands off"so that none of " the establishment
" would lead the Committee to a Council-based position. At the request of
the first chairperson, Bill Lazarus (NM) two more volunteers were added,
including David Wood, to answer "what if" financial questions. Then, due
to competing pressures on Bill, Ward Francillon (GA).assumed the chair.
I'm pleased to say that the Committee kept its deliberations independant
and has now issued its first report and recommendations, covering the
governance topic.

One of the committee members, Clarke Eldridge(IL) will present the report
at the January 6 th Council meeting in Columbia . Many specific
recommendations for quite dramatic changes are to be made. I am
summarizing here the main themes, though the full report, with Council
decisions concerning Governance will be posted in early January.

The SGAG proposed:
1. A smaller Council with fewer officers who would be elected from the
Council rather than elected separately. Total Council would be 9, serving
staggered six year terms., instead of the current 16 serving 2 to 8 year
terms.
2. The Council would refocus on goals and policies, delegating more day
to day responsibility to the Executive Director-- but with specific
limits on Ex. Dir. decisions.
3. The Bylaws would be simplified to enable faster reaction to changing
times by dealing with more goals and policy issues, and less on specific
"rules".
4. More frequent Council Meetings-- three per year face to face plus
monthly internet meetings in the other 9 months.
5. Changes in the makeup and objectives of the Nominating Committee to
broaden its membership to include two sitting Directors, two active past Directors and two of the most recent three past presidents.
Members would be faced with voting for Council members only-- no
officers-- and the barriers to nomination by petition would be lowered to
500 or less names.

It is inappropriate to speculate on the arguments in favor of these
changes. Suffice it to say that most of the significant changes will
require Bylaws or even Constitutional changes. We will hear the arguments
and reach some decisions in early January, then start getting member
reactions very quickly.
Sincerely, Doug Cowan, President NAWCC.

[michael h schneider]

The following report is from NAWCC President Doug Cowan. He can be reached by email at:
dcclock@juno.com
***************
Dear Members. I'd like to tell you more about this ad hoc committee,
appointed during the July Council meeting. The background to this was a
desire to step outside the Council and get some thoughtful members to
answer two questions.
1. What are NAWCC's proper purposes in the reality of today's world?
2. How could Council do a better job of governing the Association?

I chose eight people from around the country plus Australia to answer
these questions.
Council was asked to keep "hands off"so that none of " the establishment
" would lead the Committee to a Council-based position. At the request of
the first chairperson, Bill Lazarus (NM) two more volunteers were added,
including David Wood, to answer "what if" financial questions. Then, due
to competing pressures on Bill, Ward Francillon (GA).assumed the chair.
I'm pleased to say that the Committee kept its deliberations independant
and has now issued its first report and recommendations, covering the
governance topic.

One of the committee members, Clarke Eldridge(IL) will present the report
at the January 6 th Council meeting in Columbia . Many specific
recommendations for quite dramatic changes are to be made. I am
summarizing here the main themes, though the full report, with Council
decisions concerning Governance will be posted in early January.

The SGAG proposed:
1. A smaller Council with fewer officers who would be elected from the
Council rather than elected separately. Total Council would be 9, serving
staggered six year terms., instead of the current 16 serving 2 to 8 year
terms.
2. The Council would refocus on goals and policies, delegating more day
to day responsibility to the Executive Director-- but with specific
limits on Ex. Dir. decisions.
3. The Bylaws would be simplified to enable faster reaction to changing
times by dealing with more goals and policy issues, and less on specific
"rules".
4. More frequent Council Meetings-- three per year face to face plus
monthly internet meetings in the other 9 months.
5. Changes in the makeup and objectives of the Nominating Committee to
broaden its membership to include two sitting Directors, two active past Directors and two of the most recent three past presidents.
Members would be faced with voting for Council members only-- no
officers-- and the barriers to nomination by petition would be lowered to
500 or less names.

It is inappropriate to speculate on the arguments in favor of these
changes. Suffice it to say that most of the significant changes will
require Bylaws or even Constitutional changes. We will hear the arguments
and reach some decisions in early January, then start getting member
reactions very quickly.
Sincerely, Doug Cowan, President NAWCC.