10-18-2014, 04:22 PM
“HPP can't realistically be managed by volunteers when it has grown this big. There is too much to get done for volunteers.”
I think this could be an excellent idea, but there is need for some clarification.
First, on the use of the word, “manage”. The Board doesn’t “manage” the Association. It sets policy and the management actions are carried out by the professional staff, under the Board’s oversight. Is this a reference to the fact that the Board fired the General Manager, the Road Supervisor and the Bookkeeper and those posts are being filled by volunteers?
Or is the reference to the members of the Board, as volunteers, being unable to do the necessary information gathering – including, but not limited to, contacts/meetings with constituents, County and State officials, the Association attorney and accountant, vendors, and on and on – so that they would be in a position to make informed decisions? And to meet with that great number of interlocutors to represent the Associations interests?
If the latter is the case, is it proposed that the Association should hire full-time, paid professional Board members? For all nine positions or only some of them? If only part of the Board is filled by professionals, what weight should be given to their votes as opposed to those of the volunteers?
There is no deterrent to this last proposal under the law (Hawaii Revised Statutes, 414D-132 states “A director need not be a resident of this State or a member of the corporation unless required by the articles of incorporation or the bylaws.”
This is where the complications arise. Article VIII, Section 1 of the Bylaws states that “The affairs of the Association shall be governed by a board composed of nine persons, who must be members in good standing.” What chance is there to find any number of professionals to sit on the Board among the Association membership? The same Section also states "They shall serve without compensation or reimbursement of cost as a result of attendance at meetings." If this proposal were to be followed, the Bylaws would have to be changed. This is not impossible, but is a daunting task.
And what would be the qualifications for a professional Board member?
I think this could be an excellent idea, but there is need for some clarification.
First, on the use of the word, “manage”. The Board doesn’t “manage” the Association. It sets policy and the management actions are carried out by the professional staff, under the Board’s oversight. Is this a reference to the fact that the Board fired the General Manager, the Road Supervisor and the Bookkeeper and those posts are being filled by volunteers?
Or is the reference to the members of the Board, as volunteers, being unable to do the necessary information gathering – including, but not limited to, contacts/meetings with constituents, County and State officials, the Association attorney and accountant, vendors, and on and on – so that they would be in a position to make informed decisions? And to meet with that great number of interlocutors to represent the Associations interests?
If the latter is the case, is it proposed that the Association should hire full-time, paid professional Board members? For all nine positions or only some of them? If only part of the Board is filled by professionals, what weight should be given to their votes as opposed to those of the volunteers?
There is no deterrent to this last proposal under the law (Hawaii Revised Statutes, 414D-132 states “A director need not be a resident of this State or a member of the corporation unless required by the articles of incorporation or the bylaws.”
This is where the complications arise. Article VIII, Section 1 of the Bylaws states that “The affairs of the Association shall be governed by a board composed of nine persons, who must be members in good standing.” What chance is there to find any number of professionals to sit on the Board among the Association membership? The same Section also states "They shall serve without compensation or reimbursement of cost as a result of attendance at meetings." If this proposal were to be followed, the Bylaws would have to be changed. This is not impossible, but is a daunting task.
And what would be the qualifications for a professional Board member?