[Chapter-delegates] Recent Correspondence from the Cambodian Chapter

Winthrop Yu w.yu at gmx.net
Tue Oct 1 13:29:30 PDT 2013


   Understood and agree.  Not a replacement for a local chapter secretariat, but 
supplemental to / in support of, and proposed as an alternative to direct funding.

WYn



On 10/1/2013 7:11 PM, Christian de Larrinaga wrote:
> 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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