[Chapter-delegates] Recent Correspondence from the Cambodian Chapter

[Christian de Larrinaga]

I would think chapters could lead on this regionally themselves to work
out what services and what delivery methods to use. Outsourcing should
be one potential delivery to keep in the mix.

I would keep this as a basic and fallback service not one to replace a
full time secretariat in a chapter when that is achievable.

I would limit it to real and basic administrative tasks not expense
recovery or related to actual content development by a chapter. Those
costs should be met as part of the overall funding plan for a chapter.



Christian


Winthrop Yu wrote:
> Joly,
> 
>   When i first read Christian's idea on expanded secretariat-like
> support, i strongly felt that it was an idea in the right direction, but
> was not clear on what tasks this entailed.  Your comment on "financial
> management" being an exception helped to clarify this for me.
> 
>   Perhaps then a cluster of tasks which one may call "admin backroom"
> and may include:  a) bookkeeping, bank reconciliation and other
> accounting,  b) internal revenue, local government, labor department and
> other required government reports (compliance), plus miscellanous
> administrivia.
> 
>   Many Chapters will already be handling these tasks via:  a) paid
> chapter staff,  b) retaining local accounting firm,  c) administrative
> resources shared by a chapter member, or  d) a really OC-type member
> who's both able and willing to devote considerable time and focus to
> this.  For those chapters for whom these options are currently
> unavailable, the red-tape can be quite a burden.
> 
>   At the same time i also realize that, centralized (HQ or Regional)
> provision of these expanded "admin backroom" support services may not be
> optimal due to distance.  Would it then be worthwhile to look into the
> possibility of ISOC's outsourcing any such expanded functions?  That is
> ...  BPOs aren't just call centers.  Accounting firms of varying sizes
> offer remote support for backroom operations, and i expect that these
> firms would be familiar with various local accounting, regulatory and
> compliance environments.
> 
>   Advantages of this approach (as against expanding secretariat
> functions within HQ) is that it provides support and assitance whilst
> avoiding internal staff bloat and admin costs.  It also provides
> "arms-length" distance between HQ and the Chapters' internal
> operations.  Cost would be a downside, but this could perhaps be
> mitigated by bulk pricing from the service provider and/or partial
> cost-sharing in those instances where a local chapter also functions as
> the local point of presence for other I* orgs.
> 
> Perhaps this or some variation along these lines would be workable?
> 
> WYn
> 
> 
> 
> On 9/30/2013 5:03 PM, Joly MacFie wrote:
>> A lot of these admin functions are already supported in greater or
>> lesser manner, if one reaches out for help, except perhaps for
>> financial management. A lot of effort went into the Chapter handbook.
>>
>> One thing I have thought about recently, after shooting the video
>> linked below, is the role of a facilitator.
>>
>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueNLqMxh_1c
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Sep 30, 2013 at 4:40 AM, Christian de Larrinaga
>> <cdel at firsthand.net> wrote:
>>> It's a good question.
>>>
>>> I would emphasise back office support rather than more advisors. In
>>> other words more indians rather than chiefs.
>>>
>>> One example could be to provide office support for event planning,
>>> membership relations, public relations, basic book keeping / bank
>>> reconciliations, database updates and so on. Perhaps organise some basic
>>> skills training for chapter volunteers.
>>>
>>> Perhaps also to support chapters access to using services like
>>> webcasting, recording? The NY chapter has an advanced view on this
>>> largely down to your own efforts.
>>>
>>> Your support over the UK IGF was notable. It was a real bonus for the UK
>>> chapter. We could have used a local provider of course but having this
>>> managed in the family brought some added reputation. What you do is
>>> impressive.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Christian
>>>
>>> Joly MacFie wrote:
>>>> I am not clear what a Chapters Secretariat might do. We do already
>>>> have some chapter-dedicated staff
>>>>
>>>> http://www.internetsociety.org/who-we-are/staff-and-advisors
>>>>
>>>> Ms. Joyce Dogniez - Director of Chapters
>>>> Mr. Jacek Gajewski - Manager, Chapter Development -Europe
>>>> Ms. Raquel Gatto - Chapter Development Manager, The Americas
>>>> Mr. Naveed Haq - Chapter Development Manager, Asia-Pacific
>>>>
>>>> j
> 
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