Cnsc Report To The Ec

CNSC Report to the EC - April 2008 The work of WFM's Credentials, Nominations and Statutes Committee falls into five general areas – membership, credentials, legal interpretation, the progressive development of the Movement’s legal and organizational structures, and oversight of leadership selection.

Membership

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WFM currently has 14 Member Organizations (50% with less then 100 members each) and 13 Associate Organizations.

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The CNSC worked in conjunction with the IS this year to roll out a new online Membership Annual Report system. Based on responses to this year's reports and in the context of a larger review, the CNSC will work with the IS to further define the required content of such reports, as mandated in the Bylaws, how to effectively measure quantitatively and qualitatively the higher standards set for membership in the Statutes and Bylaws, and how to support members not meeting the minimal requirements.

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Interest in membership has been expressed by individuals/organizations in Gambia, Madagascar, Seychelles, and Spain. These will be reviewed by the Committee over the summer/early autumn in consultation with the IS and keeping in mind any anticipated relevant proposals for Bylaws changes.The CNSC would like to change the practice in recent years of little to no pro-active search for potential members, relying instead on organizations to approach the Movement, by working with the IS and WFM Leadership to identify potential members that will bring additional credibility, expertise and greater regional presence to WFM on its core issues.

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The CNSC Chair is collaborating with the International Secretariat on a general description of services and support which members can expect to receive from the Movement. The CNSC would welcome the input from the EC during its April meeting on the draft document.

Credentials

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The CNSC will work closely with the IS to secure dues from currently delinquent members in advance of the 2008 Council meeting.

Legal Interpretation

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The CNSC and the IS are concerned about the implementation of an agreement that provides for the Union of European Federalists to act as an umbrella organization for several MOs/AOs in Europe as there is considerable confusion over how votes and dues are apportioned. The CNSC would like to work with the UEF and the affected MOs/AOs to review the agreement and provide for a fair arrangement that ensure proper representation and dues obligations for WFM participation.

Progressive Structural Development

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As mandated by the Council, the CNSC has convened a Bylaws Working Group to review and make recommendations for changes to the Bylaws. Members of this group include Tony Fleming (Chair), Kjartan Almenning, Gautam Dey, Martin Hagvall, Karen Hamilton, Don Kraus, Peter Luff, Bente Nielsen, Francisco Plancarte, and Vijayam Raghunathan

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In convening the working group, CNSC adopted three parameters for the discussions: 1. Consensus will be sought, but will not preclude a majority of the Bylaws working group offering a formal set of recommendations to the Council; if necessary, a minority report will be appended; 2. The primary goal is to bring the Bylaws into compliance with the amended Statutes; only where the Statutes open up specific opportunities in setting numbers and processes will more substantive proposals be considered; 3. The Movement's governing bodies should be described so as to encourage their members' service to the interests of the Movement firstly, rather than to their respective organizations. For a summary of discussions, see the attached Bylaws working group's report to the EC. Of particular interest to the CNSC will be encouraging membership standards and leadership that increase the visibility and credibility of WFM as the leader of the NGO sector with critical stakeholders in the global governance reform community.

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Oversight of Leadership Selection •

WFM President Selection o In Geneva, the Congress delegated responsibility for selecting the WFM President to the Council, which needs to undertake this task as soon as possible. The EC established a preliminary search committee, composed of the Movement's officers, including the Chair of the CNSC, charged with coming up with a list of some names to present to the EC during their April meetings. A report from the preliminary search committee is expected at the EC meeting. The EC is also expected to come up with a process for rolling out the official nominations process to the Council and Member and Associate Organizations for submitting nominees for consideration.

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The CNSC welcomes the re-opening of nominations and encourages the adoption of clear expectations, processes for engaging potential nominees and deadlines for submitting nominations to the IS.

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Co-option of Additional Members to the Council and the EC o The amended Statutes provide that at least two-thirds of Councilors must be chosen by Congress-election or MO-appointment; at least two-thirds of the EC members must be those Officers and at-large members elected by the Council. The remaining one-third of each body's respective members may be chosen by co-option or other methods.The CNSC welcomes input in formalizing criteria and standards for filling this ratio of members. o The CNSC opposes the EC making any co-options until the appropriate discussions on criteria and standards takes place.

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Leadership Cultivation o This fall, the Executive Director, Council Chair, Executive Committee Chair and CNSC Chair prepared and distributed a memorandum of understanding for Council members on their responsibilities and role as leaders of the Movement. o The CNSC also welcomes suggestions for identifying and cultivating future leaders of the Movement who can reflect professionalism, credibility and diversity in WFM’s public and political image, including potential new target audiences (former policy leaders, law school deans, etc.) as sources of future WFM leaders.