Vote: Amend TalkBoard Guidelines - Term Limits

Moved by nsx and seconded by SkiAdcock:

The TalkBoard recommends modifying the TalkBoard guidelines as follows:

Add a new paragraph 3.B.i.e.
e. TalkBoard members who are subject to the term limit defined in Section 3.D.i shall be ineligible to be candidates in the current year.

Revise paragraph 3.D.i
i. TalkBoard Member: The term of a TalkBoard member shall be two (2) years. There is no limit to the consecutive or cumulative number of terms to which a member may be re-elected. Five TalkBoard members shall be elected during odd numbered years and four TalkBoard members shall be elected during even numbered years. Term Limit: A FlyerTalk member is ineligible to be a candidate in the current TalkBoard election if by the end of the election period the member will have served on the TalkBoard more than three years out of the preceding four-year period.

This vote will close on December 27, 2011 at 6:30pm pm or after all TalkBoard members have registered their vote, whichever comes first.

Per the TalkBoard Guidelines:

A motion shall pass if at least two-thirds of the yes or no votes cast by TalkBoard members are �yes� and a majority of the total TalkBoard membership votes 'yes.'

The purpose of posting voting topics in the public TalkBoard Topics forum is to solicit member feedback on any motions that are up for a vote and to allow for comments after a vote is made. It is at the sole discretion of the individual TalkBoard members whether they choose to post in the public discussion thread, there being no requirement to do so.

So while there is already a thread and discussion on this general topic and it is safe to assume that TalkBoard members have reviewed that thread, this thread is about this specific motion.

Please feel free to post questions, comments or any other sort of feedback in either this thread or the other discussion thread. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/talkb...our-input.html

Cheers.

I support this proposal ^^

My reasons for support of term limits:

I belong to some professional associations that have a term limit of X amount of terms followed by Y time off before being able to run again at Z time. It's designed to have talented people who are familiar w/ the org serve & use their wisdom to better the organization, but not end up w/ 'career' board members or 'cartels' (cartel isn't the right word, but I think you know what I mean) & also provide a break to those who serve so that they don't burn out. And it's worked quite well.

And as posted by koko in the other thread & which I agree with:

By: BoardSource
Many boards find that setting term limits can be beneficial.

Advantages of a term limit policy:

�The board has the possibility of working with active community members who can devote only a few years to board service.
�Bringing diversity onto the board is easier.
�The board has a built-in balance of continuity and turnover.
�Passive, ineffective, or troublesome board members can be more easily rotated off.
�Board members experience a better rotation of committee assignments.
�A regular infusion of fresh ideas and new perspectives is brought onto the board.
�The board gains a regular awareness and pays attention to the changing group dynamics.
�Limits present an opportunity for the board and the retiring board member to reassess a mutual willingness to continue working together with the possibility of enlarging the circle of committed supporters by keeping retired board members involved.

Disadvantages of term limits:
The downside to having terms limits can mean:
�the loss of expertise and organizational memory;
�the board spends more time dedicated to recruitment and orientation; and
�additional efforts are needed to keep the group cohesive.

Disadvantages of not having term limits
Boards without a term limit policy can experience:
�stagnation if no change occurs among the board members;
�perpetual concentration of power within a small group;
�intimidation of the occasional new member;
�tiredness, boredom, and loss of commitment by the board; and
�loss of connection to the constituency due to a change in demographics or environmental factors"

In addition I haven't seen one person post in either of the two threads that exist on this topic why taking a single year off every 2 terms is a bad thing & will harm FT.

Cheers.

^ ^ Yes, yes...a thousand times yes to term limits.

I voted against this already...I think our members are competent enough to vote for those they think do a good job and those folks should be allowed to serve as the members choose them.

That said, as of now, this year is likely my last year running for TalkBoard when my term expires, so this doesn't really impact me personally.

This ammendment also has my support and I hope it passes.

I agree completely! ^

Term limits yes!

Term limits for everyone, everywhere.

Quote:
Originally Posted by bhatnasx
I think our members are competent enough to vote for those they think do a good job and those folks should be allowed to serve as the members choose them.
I agree completely! ^

Here's why that doesn't work: it prevents new people who might do a better job from getting a shot at the position. I've seen this happen first hand in another organization. A lack of term limits also eventually leads to stagnation and lack of new ideas. Having term limits forces the incumbents to help discover new people to learn the ropes so they can be good at the job if they're elected.

Term limits and the turnover they force are good things. Now, if we could just get D.C. to realize this...

A useful piece of information would be the annual board member turnover for the last 5? years. stagnation and old-boy network is bad but too much turnover has it own issues. What the right level is, is debatable. But in the absence of data, it is hard to have a constructive debate.

If this was a 1-person or a 3-person board of advisors, then I'd be more apt to push for term limits. But this is a 9-person board with 4 or 5 members being replaced every year. In my several years on FlyerTalk, I don't believe that there's been a single year where there wasn't some TalkBoard member turnover.

Sorry, I just don't believe that it prevents new people from joining the board. And as members elect the TalkBoard, the best way to represent them is by them choosing the people that best represent their interests.

Do incumbents ever actually get beaten?

I know there is turnover when TB members quit, retire or get banned for life. I can't think of one example where an incumbent running for re-election has ever been defeated.

In any case, in my capacity of a TalkBoard member, I voted FOR this proposal in the private TB forum today for all of the well-made and meritorious arguments in favor of it. So with my decision taken I will leave it to others to research the actual incumbency metrics if they think it might sway an opinion of a TB member.

No idea - but that doesn't matter to me as the people that serve are the people that the members selected.