Internal structure of the OSCEdays association

Global Coordination Board Of Stewardship
#1

This is part of the development of an organisation for the OSCEdays.

What is the (power and responsibility) structure of the future OSCEdays organisation. In the meeting from Sep. 24-27 we were discussing it a lot and had a breakthrough on Sunday. Here is a little description of what we ended at for further commenting and development:

##Three executive bodies

Basically we are thinking about building a structure that is similar to the one the Wikimedia Germany (also an association in germany). It consists of 3 executive bodies.

###The Members Meeting
The most powerful body. At least annually. For discussions and decisions. German law demands that you have this anyway to found an association.

###The Board (german: “Vorstand”)
1 or more people.

The person or people legally responsible for the actions of the association. This person or people does the business of the association. German law demands for an association to have this.

###The Presidium NOW CALLED: Board of Stewardship
1 to x people

This is an extra to add. The board of stewardship would be a group of people elected by the Members. Their job would be to guide the association and its actions following the decisions made in the Members Meeting and also to control the board.

##Structure

MEMBERS -> vote -> PRESIDIUM -> appoint -> BOARD

Creative decisions are made by the Members and the Presidium. The Board just makes sure that the creative decisions are put in action business wise.

##Hiring and paying people?
If there one day would be some money to spend, the board should be a real job, an employee of the association. As everything grows more and more people can get hired for example to develop the platform further etc. This could include people that are voted into the presidium. (This is different from the Wikimedia structure – the presidium there works only voluntary.)

Comments, Ideas, Requests?

[TASK] Building an OSCEdays Organisation
Ask Us Anything! (Press & Partners)
#2

So we need 7-8 members on the board, is that right?

I think people should put themselves forward to be elected to the board? Might seem obvious, but I guess the board should be made up of people who have the capabilities to fulfil the needs of the association.

#3

I think the board (Vorstand) would need just one. That is how Wikimedia is doing it from what I can find.

The Presidium can have every number we want.

Wikimedia has
1 chairman
2 deputive chairman
1 treasurer
and up to 6 accessors

So they are flexible. Their presidium can have up to 10 people.

I think in the beginning we should go with less.

How about “up to 6” people (we don’t need to start then with 6)

And do not define any roles.

#4

German associations need to have a minimum of 7 members. They need to have a ‘Vorstand’ consisting of at least 1 chairman, 1 vice chairman, 1 treasurer, but more can be added. These three (or more) can either be entitled to take decisions (like signing contracts and spending money) on their own, as a pair or all three together. This needs to be defined in the statutes (Satzung). My experience is, that it’s best to have always 2 sign together for all major things, but to allow one to sign alone for smaller items (this also needs to be specified precisely). Most associations have the 3 board members + others responsible to lead the working groups for the main tasks, e.g. 1 for the OSCEdays, 1 for member communication, 1 for public relations and fundraising, 1 for theory development… These need to be mentioned in the statutes but should not be specified because the main tasks may change later on.

The board has to do as the general members meeting has decided. Usually the member meeting writes up a plan for the coming year and general guidelines how it shoudl be implemented, and then leaves the details to working groups that have one member on the board which will make sure that the Vorstand carries out their commonly made decisions. That way the board doesn’t have too much power and responsibility.

It should also be considered that the board members are liable with their private money for mistakes they make in the financial administration of the association and contracts they sign for it. This liability is relieved once a year by the general member meeting (one is mandatory every year). This is often a reason why it is hard to find people who want to do such a risky and unrequieted job.

Paying the Vorstand needs to be talked over with a lawyer as it’s easy to loose the ‘gemeinützig’ (non-profit)status. Hiring people, e.g. for administration, is much easier. I think we’ll see about that when we get there.

#5

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.
#6

Ok, that interesting. I’ll check my information on that. Anyways, we need to make sure that we discuss this information here and not only online, so that people from other countries can understand what we’re on about. We should also make sure that we document, WHY we want to do things this way and not in any other way.

1 Like
#7

There was an update coming from another discussion. “Presidium sounds to hierarchical” so

Board of Stewardship

is the better name for body number 3

#8

###Update

Here is a video explaining the structure that was put into the statutes. The video was created as part of the 2nd attempt to build an organization:

#Structure

In the video you can see the basics of its inner workings.

shot.png445×522 269 KB

I forgot to say in the video that the „Chief“ can not be part of BoST. The members gathering and voting happens online.