SPAR Council Communty Q & A handout from SPAR

[sheclown]

30.) Why were there no elections?

There are elections each year because the Board does elect officers, however, there may or may not need to be an election for other Board members depending on the number currently serving.  The bylaws do state that current executive Board members will serve until such time as they are replaced.  There are no Board members who are not official currently.

[sheclown]

31.)  If the changes in the leadership structure were suggested by LISC, what prevented informing the membership of LISC's recommendations, the needed changes, and then calling a special election or having a membership meeting to reorganize the board?

The membership does not act in an official capacity except to elect its directors, who represent the entire community.  Otherwise, the Board conducts business which is in the best interest of all.  However, information is available in a variety of places.  The meetings are open meetings and minutes are made public.  It is a very transparent organization, with Board members who live and work all over the community, and are happy to answer any questions they can.  Even Board members may need to research answers at times; this is a volunteer organization, and Board members have other obligaitions.

[sheclown]

32.) What are SPAR’s plans to address the By-laws issues.  Will SPAR fix the transgressions or change the by-laws? If the by-laws are changed, will a neighborhood vote for ratification be held  to gain by-in?

There are no transgressions. Bylaw changes may be suggested. They will be reviewed, and the Board will vote on whether the changes actually happen. The past changes were reviewed several times by all of the Board members, changes were suggested and implemented.  The Board voted unanimously to accept the bylaws that are current.

[sheclown]

33.) Why has a group of elected and appointed board members, mostly the executive and Governance Committee, held a hostile take over of SPAR Council?

There is a group of dedicated volunteers, working very hard to do the best they can for the organization, and for the neighborhood which it serves.  One has only to look at the accomplishments over the years to understand that SPAR is not only beneficial to the Springfield neighborhood, but is essential to the continued success and revitalization.  Other organizations look at us as a model, and ask for help on particular issues.

The present Bylaws were adopted after months of meetings and consultations with a profession board consultant LISC provided free of charge in order to modernize the organization and make its governance more consistent with that of other non-profit community-based organizations.  The SPAR Board adopted the bylaws unanimously after much discussion and several amendments suggested by Board members.  They were adopted in compliance with State law and the SPAR Articles of Incorporation.

There has not been a takeover, hostile or otherwise; you cannot takeover yourselves.  All actions of the Executive and Governance Committees have been consistent with their duties under the Bylaws.

[sheclown]

34.) Why did a non-profit that is supposed to represent this entire community force a particular board member, the only one that seems to 1.) Want to follow the by-laws, 2) listen to the entire community and 3) bring accurate and public information to that community, off of the board?  What gives them, in particular, Jack Meeks, the right to do that?

There was no Board action taken related to any Board member.  The person chose to resign.

[City Slicker]

5.) Will the neighborhood have input as to what and where that money will be utilized?

The neighborhood does have input as to where the money is used through the elected Board members.  Before LISC gave the money the past year, a strategic plan had to be approved by LISC and by the Board which stated specifically where the money would be spent.  LISC set the guidelines and the Board voted on them.

Did LISC actually approve the strategic plan, or did they help to generate what the Board actually approved?  Can an outside organization actually approve the direction of another organization, even if they are a major funder? 

[City Slicker]

33.) Why has a group of elected and appointed board members, mostly the executive and Governance Committee, held a hostile take over of SPAR Council?

There is a group of dedicated volunteers, working very hard to do the best they can for the organization, and for the neighborhood which it serves.  One has only to look at the accomplishments over the years to understand that SPAR is not only beneficial to the Springfield neighborhood, but is essential to the continued success and revitalization.  Other organizations look at us as a model, and ask for help on particular issues.

The present Bylaws were adopted after months of meetings and consultations with a profession board consultant LISC provided free of charge in order to modernize the organization and make its governance more consistent with that of other non-profit community-based organizations.  The SPAR Board adopted the bylaws unanimously after much discussion and several amendments suggested by Board members.  They were adopted in compliance with State law and the SPAR Articles of Incorporation.

There has not been a takeover, hostile or otherwise; you cannot takeover yourselves.  All actions of the Executive and Governance Committees have been consistent with their duties under the Bylaws.

The answer poses a good question - can the board, officially or otherwise, approve the by-laws?  Voting on by-laws should be a membership function, not a board function.  The Board should be the body that reviews them periodically and propose changes as needed.  However, they should not be able to approve them.  Only the membership should have that power.  Consider the US Constitution.  Congress may suggest and approve changes (amendments) to the constitution, but it takes a 2/3 vote of the states to ratify any changes.  They cannot simply decide on and change the governing document.

[jbm32206]

City Slicker, you've nailed it. These are points of which many of us have wondered about and questioned ourselves. The way the board is running, they've made themselves all inclusive, cutting out the need for membership...aside from their dues. I have said all along that the bylaws should be ratified by the membership.

[strider]

5.) Will the neighborhood have input as to what and where that money will be utilized?

The neighborhood does have input as to where the money is used through the elected Board members.  Before LISC gave the money the past year, a strategic plan had to be approved by LISC and by the Board which stated specifically where the money would be spent.  LISC set the guidelines and the Board voted on them.

Did LISC actually approve the strategic plan, or did they help to generate what the Board actually approved?  Can an outside organization actually approve the direction of another organization, even if they are a major funder? 

And doesn't this answer say elected board members?  If the members are appointed or stay past their regular terms, doesn't the community begin to lose that input? And, in a normal situation,  while the board handles the normal and regular business of the organization, would it not be assumed that new types of business requires new input from the membership?  Isn't this the question that Louise said No, the membership did not have any input?  Only the board?  Sorry, if she said it that way, she believes it to be that way.  What actually disturbed me was that others seemed to indicate the only input would be to go to meetings involving LISC in the future like something else was already approved....