[Board] ConChair Contract

[Matt Arnold]

The form of a contract would reduce its usefulness. The problem with
listing detailed tasks as Rights is twofold. First, it's like pulling
teeth to get anybody to take the job; each "Right" is hard work that
some of them very likely will wish to procrastinate. Second, it
implies limits on the chair's control over whatever is neglected to be
specified, which is demotivating.

What's needed is a set of instructions. Try swapping the word "Rights"
and the word "Responsibilities" to opposite lists and look at it from
that point of view. For instance, the chair has the right to spend the
money within the budget; the chair has the right to be the one to put
on the convention for the year without interference except with
multi-year decisions. They need to remember to invite GoHs, select a
hotel, set admission rates, advertise, and recruit a staffer for X Y
and Z positions. As instructions rather than a contract, it should be
meant to educate, and should be written by past chairs. We need
mentoring. Our problem is the very real potential for a future
conchair who sincerely has no idea what a chair needs to get done.

If a chair can't say no to anybody who asks them to overspend the
budget, and they have a contract, they still won't say no. If they had
a budget to ignore, now they have a contract to ignore. So the only
solution is to pick the right chair. You might wish to make a list of
selection qualifications instead. My two cents.

-Matt


On Thu, Jun 19, 2008 at 11:16 PM, Garrett Kajmowicz
<gkajmowi at tbaytel.net> wrote:
> At the last board meeting, there were discussions about writing up a contract
> for a ConChair to indicate the rights and responsibilities.  Before I can
> start drawing up specific language, I wanted to bounce basic ideas off of
> everyone.  Please chime in with thoughts or other ideas which I may have
> missed.
>
>
> Rights:
>
> -  Control over content on PenguiCOn web site (with the exception of a board
> section)
> -  Control over advertising
> -  Control over hotel selection and contract negotiations (subject to
> multi-year rule)
> -  Control over GoH and nifty selection effective as of signing date
> -  Control over ConSuite offerings
> -  Control over programming
> -  Right to delegate any authority (subject to bylaws) to staff members
> -  Control over price of admission
> -  To be protected by PenguiCon Inc. for cash shortfalls below approved budget
>
> Responsibilities
>
> -  To follow all bylaws, and laws of the state of Michigan, as they apply to
> PenguiCon
> -  To prepare a budget, and to keep within that budget.  ConChair will be
> presumed to be personally responsible for any spending above the approved
> budget.
> -  To put on the PenguiCon convention for their year.
>
>
> Thoughts?
>
> -     Garrett
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