SPAR Board

[uptowngirl]

This has been kicking around the neighborhood for a couple of months and I , at least am interested in hearing.

[Jumpinjack]

Don't the bylaws handle this situation or are things too far gone?

[uptowngirl]

Changes to the by-laws before Ms. DeSpain left made elections pretty much optional. In fact, appointments to the board has been the norm ever since. Which is fine, if you are OK with that.

[KuroiKetsunoHana]

i'm a little surprised to see two 'what is SPAR?' votes.  i thought they were kind ov infamous around here.

[Captain Zissou]

You know of is spelled with an 'f', right?

[Springfield Chicken]

Can I add one more choice?  How about half of each group step down now with new elections and the other half in a year?  That way there is some continuity (there is value to not reinventing EVERYTHING from scratch).  AND prior to any elections, drop dues to lower amounts so that a larger number of residents can afford to join and THEN cast their votes.

[CS Foltz]

Board members need to be staggered to allow continuety........SPAR Council's are not! Normal members have no say in the board's actions and the board controls what and how things are done! Same group of 8 (I think that is the number right now) There are steps that could be taken, and I agree that things should not wither away and then have to start over! Memership numbers need to come up big time.................having an organization with around 100 members does not represent an area of around 5,000 people! Something is not right with that!

[iloveionia]

There were approximately 2,200ish contributing structures at the time of the Nationally Recognized Historic Neighborhood application way back when.  This information coming from the Historic Preservation Office. 

At this time, I do not know the number of structures that remain standing from that original number.  I am actually concerned to know that number to be honest. 

So if we talk about "households" we are more at 2,000ish, but that is generous considering the number of vacancies.  If we talk about individuals, that would be a census count.  If we include homeowners and renters, well then I would imagine the number goes up even more. 

Regardless, as they do in education in times of dire straits, wipe them out. . .run elections again. . .those folks can run too. . .if the public feels as though they speak for them, then they should get re-elected.   

Question: only members get to vote?

As I am not able to attend meetings all the time, there should be an opportunity for an "absentee ballot."  Fact of the matter is, I am a paid SPAR member. 

[uptowngirl]

I beleive absentee was added- but not sure.

[Springfielder]

yes, only members can vote

[AlexS]

Currently the SPAR board has 9 directors. It should have 10-15. So one will probably be appointed fairly soon. This means 0-5 positions will be open at election time. If the governance committee matches the number of "approved" candidates with the number of open positions there will not be much of an election. E.g. 4 open positions and 4 candidates. If hundred (100) members vote for a candidate, that candidate will fill the open slot. If only one (1) member votes for a candidate, that candidate will also fill the open slot.

ARTICLE 8 - NOMINATION PROCESS
Section 1. BOARD ASSESSMENT. To ensure the Board has a diversity of skills and
representation, the Governance Committee is responsible for recruiting, screening and interviewing
candidates before nominating a slate of candidates at the annual membership meeting.

Prior to recommending candidates, the Governance Committee is responsible for assessing
the Corporation’s expertise and talents to determine gaps in skills and other important representation
such as gender, residency, ethnicity, etc. In addition, the Committee will review the attendance of
current Board members to consider renewing their terms once they have expired.

Based on the interview and supplemental information requested of the candidate, the
committee will decide whether the candidate will be nominated. Candidates can only be nominated at
the annual membership meeting once they have been interviewed and voted by the Governance
Committee and the Board. There will be no nominations accepted from the floor.

Depending on the number of nominees recommended, members have the right to vote for as many
nominees as there are vacancies on the Board. The person receiving the largest number of votes cast
for any individual candidate shall fill the first vacancy; the candidate receiving the second largest
number of votes shall fill the second vacancy, and so on until candidates fill the total number of vacant
Directorships.

[Springfielder]

that's why they all need to step down and go up for election

[Jumpinjack]

If this is a working board instead of a group of talking heads, please reconsider that larger number.

Boards that get even as much as 50% members replaced need to spend time creating a good working framework, not just by-laws. They should set their standards for discussion and conduct of meetings as well as learn to work with each other. This group in particular might need someone to guide them through this effort.  If this sounds tedious, consider how the lack of it has dragged out discussion on MJ.

[cindi]

Seriously? Someone thinks that SPAR actually cares about what "the people" want?  Now that is giggle out loud funny.  Elections?  Real elections?  Crack up laughing.  The only thing they really do have a knack for is running off incredibly talented people that really do make a POSITIVE difference in the neighborhood - despite SPARs efforts to keep them down. 

[iloveionia]

+1 Cindi