Difference between revisions of "User:TerryE/Draft Constitution2"

Revision as of 08:19, 4 September 2007

'''Charter of the Site Management Group''' '''Scope of this charter and interpretation''' This charter relates to the affairs of the group ( "the group" ) having charge of the website users.services.openoffice.org (or any successor to that site) ("the site") and its sub-domains

The paramount purpose of the site is to provide information and support relevant to the use of the software produced by the owner of www.openoffice.org (or any successor to that website)

The group may adopt any other purpose which in its judgement supports the paramount purpose of the site or the performance of the group's functions

Members of the group are referred to in this charter as volunteers

All times and periods shall be measured according to Greenwich Mean Time

The charter shall be deemed to be enabling and not to impose liability

Particular provisions are for the sake of clarification or extension and not intended to reduce the fullness of the group's power and authority

Any notice relating to the site may be given to a person by email Date This charter was submitted to a vote of founding members of the site / group in September 2007 [editing note: who votes this in?] Membership of the group Anyone registered with the site may join the group Functions of the group The group may govern the site

The group may

• govern, regulate and supervise membership, content, management and administration of the site
• administer its own affairs as fully as those of the site
• appoint officers ( "officers" ) to perform any functions
• enlist any assistance it sees fit
• delegate any power or function
• conduct polls
• amend or replace this charter

Volunteers may hold discussions using any vehicle or vehicles they choose

Initial structure The founding volunteers intend to appoint the following officers and adhere to the provisions outlined in this and subsequent clauses until deciding otherwise:

The group intends to appoint

• Three executives who shall together comprise the board empowered to exercise the group's powers ("the board")
• An overseer

Other officers may be appointed by the board

Only volunteers may be appointed as officers of the site but temporary authority may be given to any person to perform a function deemed to be for the benefit of the site

Volunteers may hold more than one office except that no person may hold at the same time the office of an executive and the office of an overseer

A vacancy in any office will not invalidate other appointments or any action

Officers may hold office until resigning, removed or replaced

The tenure of any officer or officers and of all officers may be reviewed at any time The board The board may exercise all and any powers of the group

The board may conduct its affairs as it sees fit

The board may elect one of its members as Governor and confer special authority on the Governor

Any decision or action of the board or any executive (including the Governor) may be overridden by a decision of the group

No appointment by the Board or an executive shall be valid until lodged in a record which is on the site and accessible by all persons appointed as an overseer

Decisions on access to records of board decisions by persons other than overseers shall be made by the board Executives An executive may exercise any power of the board but no exercise will be effective until notice has been given to an overseer and the other executives and then only for 4 days unless ratified by the board during that time

The board may overrule any such exercise Overseer An overseer may investigate any matter pertaining to the governance of the site and make a report about any matter or matters to the group, to an executive and/or to the board Polls Polls of volunteers may be called by

• the board
• an executive
• an overseer
• anyone else given authority by the board or the group
• any two volunteers acting jointly

A vote may be cast by email from a volunteer to an address provided for that purpose

The results of polls shall be determined by simple majority of the votes actually cast without any requirement for a quorum and shall be binding on the group until amended or revoked by a subsequent poll

An overseer may suspend the effect of a poll ( "the first poll" ) once only for 14 days so that a further poll may be held If the result of the first poll is confirmed by another poll, its effect may not be suspended Annual Review Notwithstanding other polls which may be conducted, the group will hold a review each calendar year

The site officers will use their best endeavours to conduct and complete the review after August and before November in each calendar year [editing note: this period has been chosen so as not to conflict with major holiday periods]

Any volunteer may place any matter on the agenda for the review at any time by email to a returning officer but consideration of any matter may be deferred until after the review if notice from the volunteer is received after August in that year

An overseer or returning officer may produce an agenda and send it to volunteers

If no agenda has been sent by midnight on August 15th any officer may produce and send the agenda and may be provided with email addresses for that purpose

Polls relating to matters on the agenda may be conducted at any time six weeks after the agenda has been sent to volunteers