[TheForge] Re: The ABANA Trust

[Andrew Vida]

Grant Marcoux wrote:
> I can't disagree....the bottom line is that elected board members of 501c3
> corporations have a duty that is first and foremost, fiduciary.  There is a
> positive duty of each and every elected board member to practice sound
> financial governance based on business principles.

	This is perhaps so, but if the board members are not practiced, or at 
least educated business people, how is this going to happen as a matter 
of purpose, vis-a-vis accident.
> 
> Providing "world class events" in the form of conferences is a collateral
> duty, provided a business case can be made for it.

	Well put.
> 
> The financial difficulties associated with the Seattle conference are not a
> problem....they are a SYMPTOM of a problem.  In this case the real problem
> was perhaps one of failure of the oversight of the ENTIRE ABANA board to
> govern the conference organization process according to sound business
> practice.

	Damn Grant, you're smart. :)
> 
> I have the utmost respect for anyone who is willing to be a volunteer on a
> 501c3 board; it is a HELL of a lot of work and very demanding when correctly
> performed.  Correct performance of the duties of a board member once again
> centers on due diligence regarding finances.
> 
>   Ultimately, ABANA will survive only if there are enough folks on the board
> who employ sound management AND leadership principles.  Let's get back to
> the basics...solid money management, transparency and accountability to the
> membership.

	A sound suggestion.

	The problem seems to be one of having at least a few board members with 
the requisite business skills to get things off to a start.  in terms of 
setting the general policies and procedures pursuant to sound practice. 
  I also thin that an organization such as this really does need to have 
experienced business people on the board on a regular basis.