All:
First, it is only by chance that I came across this posting re the MAC Board developments while looking for the feedback on the MAC session. I am not in the habit of perusing reefs.org chat lines everyday. If there is a question for MAC on one of the threads, it would be very helpful if people let us know. We monitor reefs.org more than most chat sites, but, unfortunately we cannot monitor all the internet discussion sites relevant to MAC's mission. Please contact us directly with your questions and concerns, in order to be sure your concerns or questions are reaching us.
To respond to the following allegation that was posted:
"MAC intends to implement this new policy of not reinstating organizational board positions in order to keep Steve Robinson's opinions out of the MAC process."
I. Allegation: MAC has a new policy re Board vacancies.
This is not true.
There is no new policy regarding vacancies in the MAC Board. As described below, in late 2001 and the first half of 2002, the MAC Board sorted out the issue of Board membership, terms, nominations and vacancy filling, as part of gradually improving MAC governance procedures. The results of this were on the Board meeting agenda for December 2002 to simply ensure all members were clear on the results of these developments.
II. Allegation: MAC is trying to keep Steve Robinson's opinion out of the MAC process.
This is not true either.
The door is open for Mr Robinson to participate in the MAC process as much as he would like to, and we have facilitated his involvement. For example, at the LA meeting of US industry that had signed the MAC Statement of Commitment (SOC), Mr Robinson was there, even though he had not signed the SOC. Following a breakfast meeting with the previous MAC Board Chair, Marshall Meyers, Mr Robinson and myself, I went out the way to make a copy of the SOC available for Mr Robinson to sign so that he could participate in the meeting. (For which I was severely criticized by some other meeting participants).
I respect Mr Robinson's commitment to working for the sustainability of the aquarium trade and his widely recognized skills as a trainer in net collecting and looked forward to his constructive input to the development of MAC Certification. Since March 8th, Mr Robinson has not been in touch with me until December 10th, although other MAC staff have had discussions with him, e.g. at MACNA. I am pleased to note that we are now in direct communication on areas of mutual interest, e.g. increasing the number of collectors with quality net training.
MAC Governance Developments re Board membership, terms, nominations and vacancy filling
1. Background
Until 2001, there has never been a definitive, formal clarification of whether MAC Board members participate as individuals or as formal representatives of the organizations that they are affiliated with. This was left a bit open to interpretation in the early development of MAC to allow for flexibility in building the Board.
The issue becomes more in need of clarification when a Board member resigns. Over the past several years, the MAC Executive Director has simply contacted the organization with which the outgoing Board member was associated and asked whether they would like to propose a new person to participate in the MAC Board. This informal mechanism was useful and needed as there was no MAC Board Nominating Committee in place and a very small MAC staff to deal with a Board that is spread out over 7 countries and 9 time zones. Unfortunately, this may have created the incorrect perception among some that organizations have a seat on the MAC Board and that when an individual resigns from the Board, their organization has the right and opportunity to indicate a replacement.
2. What the MAC By-laws state
Vacancies. Any vacancy in the Board of Directors existing between annual meetings of the Board, including a vacancy created by an increase in the number of Directors, shall be filled by majority vote of the Directors then in office. A Director so elected shall serve until the close of the next regular annual meeting of the Board of Directors or until his or her successor is elected and qualified.
3. How the MAC Board of Directors Addressed this Situation
a. November 27, 2001 Board of Directors Meeting
The Board agreed that:
- there be staggered Board election for three year terms so that not all members would need to be elected each year.
- by-laws for nominating process needed to be changed so that vacancies can be filled by due process.
- there be a Nominating Committee to provide a slate of candidates for the Board to consider.
b. July 1, 2002 Board of Directors Meeting
The Board agreed that:
- the Executive Committee serve as the Nominating Committee.
The Board elected the following members for the indicated terms:
(until the end of 2002):
- Bruce Bunting, World Wildlife Fund
- Marshall Meyers, Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council
- Keith Davenport, Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association
- John Dawes, Ornamental Fish International
(until the end of 2003):
- John Brandt, Marine Aquarium Societies of North America
- Charles (Chip) Barber, International Marine Alliance
- Randy Goodlett, American Marinelife Dealers Association
- Doug Warmolts, American Zoos and Aquarium Society
- Dradjad Wibowo, Lembaga Ekolabel Indonesia
(until the end of 2004):
- Frank Vorhies, The World Conservation Union (IUCN)
- Rex Hori, Foundation of the Peoples of the S. Pacific Int'l
- Lolita Ty, Philippines Tropical Fish Export Association
- Johannes Subijanto, The Nature Conservancy – Indonesia
- Joko Purwanto, AKKI (Indonesia Coral, Shell, Ornamental Fish Ass'n)
c. December 12, 2002 Board of Directors Meeting
The Board re-elected the following outgoing members for a new three year term:
(until the end of 2005):
- Bruce Bunting, World Wildlife Fund
- Keith Davenport, Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association
- John Dawes, Ornamental Fish International
- Marshall Meyers, Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council
The Board was requested to clarify the process for addressing vacancies on the Board and provide guidance to the MAC Secretariat and reaffirmed that:
- the Nominating committee has been set up and staggered terms established earlier in 2002, as requested in late 2001, and that these are the processes for filling Board vacancies.
- the By-laws are correct in that Board members serve as individuals.
- there is, at the same time, a desire to have the kind of diversity of individuals and organizations that are on the Board as well as a useful level of continuity.
4. How this relates to AMDA
In July 2002, Randy Goodlet was elected to the MAC Board of Directors until the end of 2003, or until he resigns.
I hope this clarifies the situation.
Paul
