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Run for the 107IST Board! 2017 Edition

11/01/2016 11:10 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)

The 107ist board elections are coming soon, and all interested 107ist members are encouraged to run for office. As a board member, you can help shape everything from how we interact with the Timbers and Thorns front office, to organizing charitable drives, to inspiring new ways to get our merchandise into the hands of soccer fans.

Board members are asked to attend and participate in all scheduled board meetings (currently the second Tuesday of each month). Additionally, board members serve on subcommittees including tifo, travel, merch, finance, membership, game day operations, communications, and more. Board members also may be asked to assist with special events and other tasks as they arise. If elected, you can expect to spend a minimum of 15-20 hours per week on board-related tasks.

  • There are four open positions in this election.
  • Elected terms will run from January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2019.
  • You must submit your intention to be a candidate by 11:59pm on Saturday, November 12, 2016 to get onto the ballot.
  • It is highly recommended that you attend the in-person candidate forum on Sunday, November 13, from 6-8pm at Artists Repertory Theatre, 1515 SW Morrison.
  • After the live forum, you will also be expected to answer questions from members in the candidate forums on timbersarmy.org through the end of the election period.
  • Election dates will be November 28 to December 5.

The application form and 107ist bylaws are provided below. Please read both documents very carefully before deciding to run for office so you understand what is required.

Remember, completed applications must be submitted by 11:59pm on Saturday, November 12, 2016 to qualify as a candidate.

Please send any questions or feedback to elections@timbersarmy.org.


Comments

  • 11/05/2016 8:17 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Josh Barrett says:
    Thursday, November 3, 2016 at 3:37 pm

    What skill sets or experiences make for a good board member? Ultras? Just a long list of TA volunteer work? What about people solid business or nonprofit experience? Or maybe somethings directly relevant to 107ist needs (say, organizing group travel, project management, board development). What if someone has relevant skills but they haven’t spent a lot of time in the Timbers Army?

    Could a person with extensive volunteer experience within the TA still not be a good board candidate? If so, why?

    (Also, please please please put all the candidate Q&A into one forum thread. Much easier to see @reply answers to one question in one forum post than jumping between 7 threads.)
    Link  •  Reply
  • 11/05/2016 8:17 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Lexi Stern says:
    Thursday, November 3, 2016 at 4:31 pm

    In my opinion it’s a combination of organizational skills, sound judgment, willingness to work hard, ability to lead, ability to work with others, and a deep understanding of the culture including extensive volunteer experience. Someone lacking in one of those could still be a poor board candidate, yes.

    The problem with a single forum thread is that one loses sight of whether a given candidate is actually replying, and if they are, how quickly they are. A lot of clues about a candidate’s likely success can be gleaned from that information.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 11/05/2016 8:18 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Josh Barrett says:
    Thursday, November 3, 2016 at 6:53 pm

    Well those are characteristics of a good worker, sure. I guess I’m asking if 107ist has identified any of its weaknesses or needs (from vacancies or goals) and is recruiting for those traits. For example, if the goal was to significantly grow membership, there might be a call for someone with that type of experience in a nonprofit context.

    Sorry if I didn’t catch your answer, but does 107ist consider that extensive TA volunteer service is a perquisite to serving on the Board (other relevant skills notwithstanding)?

    The problem with a multi forum thread is that it is harder on people who want to participate. For myself, I’ll trade having to read a little more closely for making much easier to read.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 11/05/2016 8:19 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Lexi Stern says:
    Thursday, November 3, 2016 at 8:09 pm

    Correct: if you haven’t volunteered extensively for the org, you’re not going to be in a great position either to make your case for being on the board or to do a good job on it. Those who vote are mostly going to be looking for trusted people who get it and who have successfully pulled off smaller-scale projects of one kind or another for the organization.

    If a ton of people weigh in here demanding an election forum format change, we can consider it, but my inclination is to stick with what we’ve done.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 11/05/2016 8:20 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Josh Barrett says:
    Thursday, November 3, 2016 at 9:23 pm

    I see. That’s too bad, IMO.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 11/05/2016 8:22 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Sherrilynn "Sheba" Rawson says:
    Friday, November 4, 2016 at 4:06 pm

    Hi, Josh, thanks for asking. Here’s my two cents, which as usual will be more like a buck fifty.

    In my mind, because it involves oversight of finances as a 501c7, the most important 107IST office is that of treasurer. Though the bylaws don’t require it, this office has historically been held by a board member. We absolutely MUST have a person who can carry out the requirements of treasurer. A close second in importance is the office of the president, because he/she provides the leadership and guidance to ensure that we remain true to our vision and mission.

    In general, every year, we need board members who have the ability to:

    * lead
    * delegate
    * have difficult conversations when people fail to follow through
    * hash it out when difficult issues come up and yet still speak with one voice as a board after the fact
    * maintain focus on the vision and mission
    * read and pay attention to financials.

    The board oversees all kinds of different functions, mostly through committee members. This year in particular, we have specific areas of need, either because a current board member overseeing these areas is leaving, or there is currently no board member charged with overseeing them, or the area in question has a demonstrated need for even more attention for a variety of reasons. These would include:

    * events
    * travel
    * oversight of both of our warehouse and fanladen facilities
    * TAFC
    * communications

    We have lots of irons in the fire, but these are areas we have identified as needing more support and oversight in particular.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 11/05/2016 8:23 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Sherrilynn "Sheba" Rawson says:
    Friday, November 4, 2016 at 4:14 pm
    Oh, look, more two cents from me. :)

    While extensive TA volunteer service is not an absolute requirement for service on the board, there is no teacher like experience. For example, after Mike Coleman’s unsuccessful first run, he remained stuck in, learned the ropes, and now has a deep understanding of the inner workings of lots of what we do, in particular with respect to game day operations. That understanding has served him well in his role on the board. And frankly he ROCKS at game day operations oversight. He watches the tifo budget like a hawk and knows the necessary details for yearlong planning in that regard. I am SO grateful to have him in that role, because I know I can trust him to make informed decisions that are both true to the vision/mission and are responsible to the members who are entrusting us with their member dollars and who tell us how important the game day experience is to them.

    Do you absolutely HAVE to have a long history of TA/RCR volunteer experience to run for the board? No; but if you don’t, I would put it to you that the learning curve is incredibly steep for understanding all of the moving parts you’re charged with directing.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 11/05/2016 8:23 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Mike Coleman says:
    Friday, November 4, 2016 at 10:50 pm

    At the end of the day, the people serving or who have served on the board can talk about what they do, and how much work it is. We can give our opinion on whether a person needs extensive TA experience or not (I think they need some, but I was only really around for a 1.5 years when I was elected and had only 1 year of really being involved).

    But, it’s not us who will decide what the criteria is for a good board member. It will be the voting public. So, if the voting public sees someone with a lot of great experience from another non-profit, they might vote for them.

    I trust our membership to read our opinions, and weigh them against what they see as the strengths and weaknesses of how the board is functioning, and then voting for the candidates they believe will move us forward.

    Also, I agree with Lexi – I single forum thread would be unwieldy. I prefer a thread per candidate – but maybe we could have a “general election discussion” thread where there can be more interaction between candidates – this would be a place where folks could post “this question is for all candidates” vs. having to post that in multiple places.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 11/08/2016 10:11 AM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Josh Barrett says:
    Tuesday, November 8, 2016 at 9:57 am

    Sheba.
    This list of needs is super helpful. Lots of important jobs here. I had no idea 107ist was facing vacancies in some of these areas.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 11/08/2016 10:12 AM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Josh Barrett says:
    Tuesday, November 8, 2016 at 10:03 am

    Mike

    Great example. Answers lots of questions. Does 107ist a formal or semi-formal Board development program for people that 107ist identifies as future potential board members or for people that raise their hand and say “I want to be involved at a higher level”? Or is it more self-help like you exemplified?

    Your idea about the general election thread is great. I’d love that.
    Link  •  Reply
    • 11/12/2016 8:54 AM | Lexi Stern
      NOTE: The candidate deadline has been extended from 12 noon to 11:59pm tonight.
      Link  •  Reply


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