Governance Committee Meeting 12/19/07
Present: Angel, Ron, Andrea, Ann
1. Update: where the Bylaws Committee left off last year
- first draft of bylaws created last February, based on Walnut Street Co-op bylaws
- wanted to do a second draft after that
- wanted to have a teach-in to inform the community and create the third draft
2. Next steps discussion
- can get a lawyer from LAF-LA or Public Council, would need to fill out an application; or ask Ritu? Ask Beth from Livable Places?
- may be able to get help from the BV-CLT lawyer to start out
- need to find sample Articles of Cooperation from state
- can use the wiki as a forum to communicate
- for articles we need: 1) the name: Urban Soil/Tierra Urbana? 2) mission: committee is working on that (from the retreat) 3) objectives: follow from mission
- can get standard articles of incorporation from state
- need to get notes from previous name discussion from Somerset
- try to address 1 and 2 at January 7th meeting
- try to make process of bylaw development like a series of workshops, so everyone can participate, feels ownership
- important issues to consider for bylaws:
- will our housing co-op be membership based? How do we define membership?
- who has decision-making power, how will decisions be made?
- designate specifically who has certain responsibilities
- Board might be more administrative
- treasurer role: will probably not rotate frequently
- role of intentional neighbors?
3. Further defining our timeline
- December: get an attorney, work on mission statement
- January: 2nd draft of bylaws, talk to membership committee
- January 7: approved mission statement - January 15: articles of incorporation ready for lawyer - January 21: bylaws workshop at POG meeting - January 31: incorporate as co-op
- February
- February 1: bylaws draft to POG - February 11: 2nd bylaws workshop - February 25: final follow-up with community
- March
- March 1: draft of bylaws for lawyer to review - March 31: final draft for lawyer to approve
- April
- April 1: develop Board election process
- April 20: adopt bylaws
- April 28: elect Board
- create summary sheet of bylaws- May
- May 31: submit bylaws and full housing co-op application to state and federal government
4. Tasks to accomplish before next GC meeting:
- find sample articles of incorporation from state: Ann
- to find a lawyer by mid-January: Ron
- to get notes from name discussion: Angel
- check in with committee working on the mission: Ann
- get name and mission discussion on POG meeting agenda for January 7th: Andrea
- update committee wiki page: Ann
- use meeting wizard to schedule next meeting (week of Jan. 7th): Andrea