I *think* I'm accomplishing things. Turns out "governance" is the code word meaning "The UUA Trustees will be present and interested," and so far I've exchanged contact data with 3, in venues I otherwise wouldn't have thought to participate in. In trying to implement "policy governance," they need to learn a lot about requirements documentation, democratic process (policy governance is autocratic by design), and transparency in communications. Lewis Finney accepted some of my library list on these subjects.
In selecting a site for a convention, checking for cellphone reception and free email access should be more important, and with water going for a buck a glass at the "cafe," it'd be nice if the free water fountains in the hallways delivered more than a dribble. If I can *find* a water bottle here, I'll start carrying it.
Didn't run into any of our other bloggers at the District In-Gathering, but I did have to dive out of the room in a hurry at the end of the meeting. I'll be spending what spare time I can generate at the UU's for Poly Awareness booth in the Exhibition Hall if anyone wants to grab me.
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Hi Joel - I think if you look into Policy Governance more deeply, you will find that it's really not designed to be autocratic. It's designed to let the Board govern through setting clear policy, making sure it's well followed, holding staff accountable to moving the organization (or church community!) towards the mission/vision ("Ends") and refraining from micro-managing. It's also designed to encourage staff to work creatively, and to be scrupulously accountable to the Board -- which must also be scrupulously accountable to the people who elect them to lead (e.g., congregation) -- and to also be acountable to a larger "moral authority." For a church, that would be the larger community and world, those in need of equity and compassion, and our most profound moral compass / deep spirit of life (called "God" by some).
ReplyDeleteLook into it a little more and see what good aspects it may offer. I don't consider myself a proponent of the Carver Policy Governance (TM) model in many ways, but I do recognize many positive concepts within its holdings. Any governance model can be misused by tyrants, but this particular model doesn't have that as it's goal.