We set up an online “Meet the candidates” on the Cascade forums. Please read and post questions of candidates at http://www.cascade.org/Community/forum/categories.cfm?catid=25

Electronic voting for nonprofit organizations is legal so long as the organization’s bylaws specifically state that it is allowed. CBC bylaws do not currently specify electronic voting as an option.

Thank you to Kathy McCabe for catching this and sending me this correction!

Jon

1. I think electronic communication is important, but it should not be the exclusive means of communication. The Cascade Courier still has it place as do newspapers and agazines. The CBC needs to serve its members. There could be an option for e-communications only for those who desire only electronic comunications.

2. In my mind, a Bosrd of direcotrs provides direction for an organization based on the understood needs of the membership. That means making the big decisions as to goals and direction. It also means stepping back and allowing the staff, who I see as taksed with the everyday operations, to carry out those plans and directions of the Board. Both need to work together in settiing and implenmenting policy.

3. I would like to contiue to see the CBC grow and prosper in the same areas direction it is aready moving in; greater access and safety on the roads for cyclist; increasing acceptance and tolerance for all people whether on bikes, in cars, walking or on transit. I also want cycling to be fun. Almost everyone has at one point in their life riden a bicycle and had fun. Let’s not lose sight of the great social and recreational aspects of cycling. That’s what brings new members and retains many of them. STP, RSVP, ChillyHilly, are all fun and that’s what introduces many to cycling. Let’s get more people on bikes. The more there are the greater will be our collective influence on policy and general attitude toward cycling.

4. If not elected I would like to work on more advocasy. I atteneded the Bike PAC meeting and came away inspired to do more to speak out for political change to foster governmental policies that make sense to encourage cycling and safer streets.

Everett E. Fruehling

1. How electronic and online do you think Cascade should be?

We should be increasingly active and communicative online, but not to the exclusion of other interactions. Online is essential and should be seen as one channel of interaction with members and non members of the Club.

FYI: I asked Chuck about whether members could vote for the board online and he said it was prohibited by state nonprofit law.

Also, I will be at the candidate forum and annual meeting.

2. What does a board of directors do?

The only three legal duties of a nonprofit board are these:

1. Duty of Care – meaning be prudent when making decisions as a steward of the organization.

2. Duty of Loyalty – meaning undivided allegiance when making decisions affecting the organization.

3. Duty of Obedience – meaning be faithful to the organization’s mission.

That said, each board establishes it own board model, based on the needs and culture of the organization.

And, a membership organization is not just any nonprofit…it has a special responsibility to the membership. I wouldn’t be interested in joining the board if CBC wasn’t a membership based organization. I work for a membership-based organization (Children’s Alliance) and have spent much of my career in this arena.

Here’s also what I said in my candidate statement about the role of the board:
The board can best contribute to the success of the organization by representing the Club’s membership, providing strategic direction, and strong oversight and support to the Executive Director.

3. What do you hope to accomplish by serving on the board?

I don’t want to be so verbose here, but first and foremost, I would be a team rider and do what is best for the board and organization. In a nutshell, I’d like to help grow the organization by reaching new constituencies, provide support to the ED, and help move the strategic plan goals to reality.

4. If you aren’t elected, would you try to serve on a committee or task force?

Yes! I’d choose based on my interests and the Club’s needs.

-Jon Gould

Hey, I just noticed we’re having dialog right here. Maybe something like THIS could be done! Links to the discussion would be posted everywhere.

If you’re running for the Board I assume you’re savvy and will show up. This is part of showing up. Enough with the lame excuses by surrogates and silence from board members and candidates (M. Snyder excluded). I’m not buying into it at all.

They don’t want to do it and won’t do it. Now lets find out why.

As a bicycle commuter with a full-time job, I don’t really have an extra hour each way to get up to Sand Point Way by bike and bus.

Does the Club have enough parking for even 100 outlying members to drive to a forum?

Tele-debate, like tele-commuting and vote-by-mail, is part of society’s evolution away from the notion that everyone should be expected to drive everywhere every day.

Restricting official debate to a single physical location is willful disenfranchisement of the majority of members.

I checked a few other non-profits of which I am a member, and no one else seems to be doing this. Can you point me in the direction of one that does?

REI: http://www.rei.com/aboutrei/boardcontact.html
I don’t know how KUOW’s board is appointed: http://www.kuow.org/about/board.php
KEXP’s minutes are pretty out of date: http://kexp.org/about/adboard.asp

All of these organizations have invested heavily in having an online presence, yet none of them are hosting online board forums. I wonder why?

If you have any hope of getting answers to your burning questions, why not just start asking here? What do you really want to know that’s not included in their statement? Get something started!