Ah, Maike, just saw that comment. Replied to it earlier in german here: Developing: Full Statutes for the OSCEdays e.V
Again here in short:
- Law demands a “Vorstand”, but is ok if you have just one person.
- Indeed it is hard sometimes to find a “Vorstand” - therefor it would be good, to pay the Vorstand in the long run. It is just a job. Wikimedia does it and it seems to work for them also with “Gemeinnützigkeit” - tax free operation. And I heard of other examples, where this also works.
- The presidium/board of stewardship would be a voted group that makes creative decisions and hires the “Vorstand” - therefor the Vorstand is not elected by the members but employed by the Verein. The presidium would give orders to the Vorstand following the plan that was created by the members in the members meeting. The Vorstand can always say “No” to certain actions because he is liable with his private money. Then the presidium can fire him and try to find a person who is willing to do that or – if they made a smart choice with the person for the “Vorstand” in the first place – better listen to the objectives of that person. -> This way there is a good power and reliability balance.