The N-Gen Structure has been iteratively composed by the N-Gen Executive Committee and Board of Directors from 2013 to present.
N-Gen Board and Executive Committee Structure
- The N-Gen board consists of 12–16 individuals. In case of contingencies the board should have no less than 10 and no more than 16 individuals. It is an active working board focused on N-Gen projects, as described below.
- Board approval requires at least a 2/3 majority.
- Board members are appointed based on their initiative and efforts as related to the N-Gen vision statement, as well as their research and conservation activities conducted in the Sonoran Desert.
Anyone who is interested to serve on the N-Gen board is encouraged to contact us at nextgensd2012@gmail.com
- Aspiring board members will need to submit a brief application to be reviewed by the current board. New board members will be voted on by all current board members. Approval of new board members needs at least a 2/3 majority. If multiple candidates present themselves, a decision will be determined by ranking and cumulative scores. In cases of uncertainty the Executive Committee has the final decision.
- Term length is variable, though a commitment is asked for three years. Maximum term limit has not yet been determined.
- Board composition is aimed to reflect the different regions of the Sonoran Desert, a broad range of disciplines, and the multinational nature of the region.
- The role of the Executive Director is to implement and guide N-Gen in accordance with the N-Gen vision statement and the collective will of the board. The Executive Director has the same voting power of other board members and follows a model of “leading from behind” rather than “leading from in front”. The Executive Director shall be the primary contact point.
- The Executive Committee or Board co-chairs consists of three people, an Executive Director and two Associate Directors, who serve in a rotating model from the Board of Directors.
Co-chair terms are for 6 months with the option to extend.
- Each board member is asked to serve on at least one committee and dedicate time and energy to realizing the N-Gen vision statement outside of our digital and physical meetings. If a person cannot meet this task, we ask they be honest, realistic, and forthcoming in their abilities to serve on the board.
- All board members are serving as individuals and do not speak nor serve for their institution, guild (or profession), or community.
N-Gen Projects
- N-Gen projects are efforts approved by the Board of Directors that help N-Gen accomplish its vision and are led a committee. Committee members are not restricted to N-Gen Board Members.
- N-Gen projects can be administered by our fiscal sponsor (International Community Foundation, 2014-present) or an external organization.
- Any N-Gen member can propose a new N-Gen project.
Financial matters
- Financial matters will be headed by the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee will provide brief financial reports at or before board meetings.
- N-Gen will not incorporate into an NGO at this time in either the U.S. nor in Mexico. Instead, funding will be brought in and administered by various fiscal sponsors, external organizations, and/or contributors that decide to work with N-Gen in this capacity.
Board Meetings
- The board will meet four times a year, roughly once every three months. One of the meetings will be an in-person ca. 3-day retreat to be held in the late summer/fall. The other three meetings will be through a virtual forum, with the goal that these meetings be no more than 90 minutes long.
Website and Email
- The N-Gen gmail account will be maintained by the Executive Committee.
- The N-Gen website will be maintained by the Executive Committee, who will serve as administrators. Additional board members can be made administrators.
General Points
- Because N-Gen is not a legal entity we will not have “bylaws” per se. However, the board will follow the format as described here, which is to be posted on the N-Gen website.
- Questions or comments shall be directed to the current Executive Committee by sending an email to nextgensd2012@gmail.com.