Planning Committee of the NCF Board Here are some proposed adjustments to the specifics of this committee's terms of reference to clearly remove implications of operational responsibilities. This is the same material distributed last spring. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Proposed Terms of Reference Revised April 1996 The role of the Board as a whole is to manage the property and business of FreeNet (Bylaw 7). Planning is a big part of management and should not be delegated. The function of a planning committee is to facilitate the Board's planning process by making recommendations and by clearly defining and presenting alternatives. Specifically, to: a. Identify and research broad issues: - define the issues (high level), - collect and present points of view, alternatives, consequences, - gather data, - present strategic alternatives for Board decision b. Produce long-term strategies and plans to fulfill the Mission Statement and established values by recommending scope and priorities in whom we serve and in products/services, c. Provide interpretations of strategy and priorities as requested by the Board, other Board committees and the Executive Director. d. Propose criteria to evaluate achievement of our mission. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Original Terms of Reference approved 18 April 1995 The role of the Board as a whole is to manage the property and business of FreeNet (Bylaw 7). Planning is a big part of management and should not be delegated. The function of a planning committee is to facilitate the Board's planning process by making recommendations and by clearly defining and presenting alternatives. Specifically, to: a. Produce long-term strategies and plans to fulfill the Mission Statement: - recommend scope and priorities in whom we serve and in products/services, - define values, and - communicate mission and values to the membership. b. Provide guidance to other committees in the form of recommendations to the Board on: - overall directions and priorities, - reviewing committee plans for appropriateness, consistency, and fit. c. Propose means to monitor and report progress against plans and values. d. Identify and research issues that go beyond the scope of single committees: - define the issues (high level), - collect and present points of view, alternatives, consequences, - gather data, - present strategic alternatives for Board decision. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Criteria for members Essential: - Willing to put in an average of 5 hours per week researching and writing, as well as discussing issues at meetings. - Able to express a vision for ncf - Willing to arrange schedule and priorities to meet during evenings or weekend once or twice a month. At least two of the following areas of knowledge: - business/management - telecommunications or client/server technology - community needs - funding/marketing (from Julie Chahal)