[Chapter-delegates] Recent Correspondence from the Cambodian Chapter

[Winthrop Yu]

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