Standard 3: Frequency and Attendance of Board Meetings - An organization shall have a minimum of three evenly spaced meetings per year of the full governing body with a majority in attendance, with face-to-face participation. A conference call of the full board can substitute for one of the three meetings of the governing body. For all meetings, alternative modes of participation are acceptable for those with physical disabilities.
LUA does not meet this Standard because:
- Although the board of directors held four meetings during the past year, none of them were in-person.
In response to this finding, the charity states that:
"Lift Up Africa has met as a board every other month by conference call and once in person during the 2010 calendar year. We do not meet the required face to face board meetings because we feel it would be a misuse of financial resources to be spending money on administrative costs rather than programmatic expenses. LUA has been working on using video conference to assist in dynamic board meetings."
Standard 4: Compensated Board Members - Not more than one or 10% (whichever is greater) directly or indirectly compensated person(s) serving as voting member(s) of the board. Compensated members shall not serve as the board's chair or treasurer.
LUA does not meet this Standard because:
- Two (2) members out of the six (6) member board of directors (33%) are compensated indirectly.
In response to this finding, the charity states that:
"Rick Levy, LUA's Secretary and Treasurer, is the spouse of [staff member] Lolo Levy. Ms. Levy provides consulting bookkeeping services to LUA. Amanda Grant-Rose [a staff member] is the daughter of Ken Grant who sits on the board. Neither Ms. Levy, nor Ms. Grant-Rose ever directly report to their family contact. Similarly, Mr. Levy and Mr. Grant excuse themselves from all board votes or decisions that directly relate to their family contact."