Creation of a Board Planning Committee
              --------------------------------------

It is standard for many non-profit Boards to have several standing
committees. The most typical of these are Planning, Nominating/Board
Review, Development and Finance.

Given NCF's continued growth, both in size and in organizational
development, and the challenge of completing realistic goals and
objectives for 1995, now is a wise time to strike a formal planning committee.
The results of a concentrated planning effort are more effective growth,
funding and user services, in addition to better use of human and
financial resources.

The following information includes a description of a planning committee,
suggestions on voting in the appropriate members to such a group and a
recommended method of sharing findings with the rest of the Board, as well
as staff and members.

The Planning Committee - Standard Definition
--------------------------------------------
-Develops and updates the current priorities and multi-year long range
 plans of the organization and shares recommendations with the Board, staff
 and members.

Ideally, this group meets often throughout the last quarter of a year and
into the first quater of a new year.  For NCF, we will require frequent
meetings in January and February.  Updates to the Board via the moderated
and unmoderated Board discussion area should be made after each meeting. 

Major issues should be brought forward to the Board meetings. If
necessary, the planning committee should call a meeting of the Board to
assist in consensus building on any grand strategies that may develop.  

Note:  According to our Bylaws, it is not necessary that all members of a
Board standing committee be Board members.  Typically, this type of
committee membership contains an outside individual with appropriate
skills sets and knowledge. It is also normal to have one or more members
of the staff participate as needed.

Suggestion for creation of a Board Planning committee
-----------------------------------------------------
1. Ideal Candidates will be those with two or more of the listed skills:  
	Hardware and software expertise 
  	Knowledge of the national movement of information/communication
          technologies
	Business and strategy expertise
	Financial and/or fundraising expertise
**Enough time to meet regularly and communicate with the Board and
  membership on the results of the committee interaction.

2. Via Board vote on 20 December, elect 3 Board members for the committee.

3. Have all interested in participating raise their hand and a list will
   be compiled.  Each Board member will vote on three Board candidates.
   Someone will count votes and those nominated by majority will comprise the
   planning committee. The first meeting date is to be announced by Thursday
   the 22 December via on-line postings. 

4. The planning committee should chose an outside participant based on the
   skills and knowledge required to round out the elected group. 

-------
Submitted by:
Lisa K. Donnelly, am412@freenet.carleton.ca
Executive Director