CR Governance, Voting, Membership

[arwin77]

TWIMC:

 

As a supporting member of this charity/organization, I'm interested in finding out more information about:

 

1. The governance process in terms of how board directors/members are established, voted upon, or appointed.

 

2. Current by-laws of the organization (which may include a response to #1).

 

3. Last year's audited financials.

 

 

Thanks in advance.

[James Cain]

TWIMC:

 

As a supporting member of this charity/organization, I'm interested in finding out more information about:

 

1. The governance process in terms of how board directors/members are established, voted upon, or appointed.

 

2. Current by-laws of the organization (which may include a response to #1).

 

3. Last year's audited financials.

 

 

Thanks in advance.

 

I am interested in at least #1 and #2 as well.

[James Cain]

To add to this, I've been considering purchasing a Lifetime or Founding membership and would like to know where my membership fees go. I'd appreciate any info about this.

 

I find it discouraging that someone from this organization hasn't responded to the above posts.

[Robert Cavanaugh]

This is the first time there has been an inquiry about our organization in the 10 years since we organized as a 501©3. These are important questions and I am so glad you asked. I seldom check the forum, which explains my lack of response, because I believe the CR Society email lists are better and much more widely read as well as informative. I cannot speak for the other Board members in this regard though. It seems no one is checking in on the forums other than to advertise another web site.

 

OK, first question: 1. The governance process in terms of how board directors/members are established, voted upon, or appointed.

 

We were incorporated as a 501©3 non-profit in 2003 and we are organized under a Nevada charter....because it was the cheapest and quickest.

There are 7 Board members currently with two Emeritus members who have no voting privileges. All Board members are listed here:

http://www.crsociety.org/about/organization

I consented to join the Board in 2007 and in 2008 Brian Delaney and I were granted voting privileges. The other members have served continuously since incorporation AFAIK. Article III of our BYLAWS authorizes a maximum number of 12 Board members. We have been unsuccessful in finding 12 volunteers to fill out the Board.

 

Art III Section 5 reads: Each director shall hold office for a period of one year and until his or her successor is elected and qualifies.

 

Section 6 reads: Directors shall serve without compensation except that a reasonable fee may be paid to directors for attending regular and special meetings of the board. In addition, they shall be allowed reasonable advancement or reimbursement of expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

 

SECTION 7. Addresses the place of regular meetings. We meet via teleconference about every two weeks on Sunday afternoon. We also meet in person at our CR Conference which is held about every 18 months. (Regarding Sect. 6 above, during this last Conference, the Society paid travel and expense compensation for Board members in attendance.)

 

Section 8. Details Board member election: "If this corporation makes no provision for members, then, at the

regular meeting of directors held on ___________, directors shall be elected by the Board of Directors. Voting for the election of directors shall be by written ballot. Each director shall cast one vote per candidate, and may vote for as many candidates as the number of candidates to be elected to the board. The candidates receiving the highest number of votes up to the number of directors to be elected shall be elected to serve on the board." On this note, there has never been an election of Board members presented to our membership. Personally, I believe members should vote on who their Board representatives are going to be. Unfortunately, our Conferences are so poorly attended, a very small handful of mostly the same people would be voting every time for probably the same people anyway. The dilemma is how to boost attendance to our Conferences so we can have a really representative vote.

 

Currently, the Board considers possible Board membership when a motion is presented at a Board meeting. The candidate is then vetted over an undetermined period of time and a vote is then taken.

 

Question 2: 2. Current by-laws of the organization (which may include a response to #1).

 

As stated, we are organized under a Nevada charter. I will send a copy of our Bylaws to any paid up member of the CR Society.

 

Question 3: Last year's audited financials.

 

I will contact David Stern, our Treasurer, to address this more specifically. The CR Society currently has about $120,000 in the bank of which I believe $20,000 is held in gold. Our funding comes from annual membership dues and endowment by a private trust fund. Endowment from the trust fund is based on return on assets in the current economy, thus, the amount of endowment varies widely. We also fund raise to sponsor CR research in which a number of our members volunteered to participate as subjects. We are currently striving to work out the details of the DNA-HACR project with the CR Way organization and then plan to launch a major fund raising effort to defray the costs to participants.

 

I hope I have answered satisfactorily without having to write a novel. Please ask questions and send me an email to nudge me that there is traffic in the forum which need my attention. Here is my email contact: ManagingDirector@crsociety.org

 

Stay slim,

Bob Cavanaugh

Managing Director

[James Cain]

This is the first time there has been an inquiry about our organization in the 10 years since we organized as a 501©3. These are important questions and I am so glad you asked. I seldom check the forum, which explains my lack of response, because I believe the CR Society email lists are better and much more widely read as well as informative. I cannot speak for the other Board members in this regard though. It seems no one is checking in on the forums other than to advertise another web site.

Thanks for the explanation, and I know these forums are very low traffic. I appreciate the very prompt and detailed response here after I directly emailed you.

[BrianMDelaney]

Hi James, and "prophet",

 

First, my apologies for the delayed response. Bob is right: we are not monitoring these forums as we should be!

 

The CR Society is run by volunteers (though small amounts are occasionally paid to people who do tech stuff, or who help with preparation of the conf. DVDs and so on.). At our size, and given that we're poised to grow further, this is clearly beginning to be a problem. Until we adjust (this is something we're working on!), I ask for indulgence for delayed replies to enquiries.

 

I will write more later. (Day job calls... late for a meeting with a translation customer.)

 

Best,

Brian

--

Brian M. Delaney

President, CR Society International

http://www.crsociety.org

+1-617-500-4709