The Xylem Group Explores Board Transparency

Reply

On Tuesday, March 14, 2017 members of the Xylem Group discussed some issues for a nonprofit board that attempts to govern with board transparency

The Xylem-Group is still exploring a format for using FireTalk to hold their deliberations in a public forum. Our channel for the live events is at https://firetalk.com/xylem

This is a short introductory discussion. If you have any comments about the subject or the format we are exploring, you are welcome to post in the comments below. We’d prefer it if you’d comment using your real name. Note, the comments here are moderated.

 

 

Xylem on Firetalk. October 17, 2016

Reply

Xylem is continuing its exploration of a broadcasting platform. Here, we are using Firetalk.

In this episode, we are using the closed caption feature of Youtube to extract the text. We are wondering if it would make it easier for viewers to find the interesting parts of our discussion if they could review the text.

The text and timecodes of the parts of this episode, where we discussed how we might use Firetalk follows, below.

Continue reading →

Xylem Partners explore Firetalk

Reply

On Monday, October 10th, four of the Xylem Partners assembled to explore and discover the features and opportunities of using Firetalk. Here are the results of our deliberations.

One of our challenges has been to make it possible for a viewer to find the nuggets that occur during these events. The above video is exported from Firetalk to Robert’s desktop. In a video editor he adjusted the lip-sync and then exported the file to Youtube. By allowing closed captions and including the tag yt:cc=on Google added captions automatically. It is possible (but not at all obvious) to export the captions. The captions can be observed in the above video. Below is the text of the captions for the beginning of the event. The edited transcript of the first eight minutes is below (this was an experiment, so the whole event was not transcribed).

Continue reading →

Investigating FireTalk as a replacement for Blab

Reply

The Xylem Group has enjoyed our public video conversations using Blab — but that platform has vanished. Here is Robert Ballantyne showing the way to set up and use FireTalk. FireTalk is similar to Blab, and we may decide to use it. Comments are welcome.

Salient Points — before you go to Firetalk:

  1. Sign into your Twitter account
  2. Use only FireFox or Chrome, and in the settings select your mic and camera
  3. With your computer settings select your audio out

Here is the link to the Firetalk broadcast that I created during the tutorial:
https://firetalk.com/howe-sound/episodes/ry7hLqoq

And that’s at my personal Firetalk channel: https://firetalk.com/howe-sound (If you go there, you will see my chat field! Interesting.)

This is a first look at Firetalk… it is not a well-researched tutorial. I (and we) have lots to learn about FireTalk.

 

Xylem and the End of Blab

Reply

Using the Blab platform, Xylem has created 17 episodes, and have several more planned. This week the Co-founder and CEO of Blab, Shaan Puri, announced that Blab was off the air. Since we could not meet on Blab, our Xylem Group met using our teleconferencing software, Fuze, to discuss the demise of Blab. Host Robert Ballantyne is joined by Sherry Jennings in the USA, and John Bruce in the UK. Later, Linda Stier participated by telephone link. We’d like to share with you our reflections on the sudden end of Blab.

Requirements to Govern — Xylem Group Blab ep #18 Aug 17

Reply

Notice: This episode did not happen due to the demise of Blab.im. The Xylem-Group would still like to explore this topic, and several more we have planned. For now, we are still wondering how to proceed. We apologize for any inconvenience. See the next blog article for our reflections on this development http://xylem-group.com/blog/2016/08/18/xylem-and-the-end-of-blab/
Join us on Wednesday Aug 17, Noon EDT, when we discuss what are the Requirements to Govern?

Blab "Requirements to Govern" with the Xylem Group on 2016 Aug 17

Click to go to “Requirements to Govern” on Blab

  • What board members must learn to govern effectively?
  • Should the job of governing be intuitive?
  • Are those who govern expected to be statespersons?
  • What are the reasonable costs of good governance?
  • What common practices of governance result in poor governance?

We will meet using Blab.im https://blab.im/xylem-reasonable-interpretation <==click to subscribe or join the event.

All are welcome to join us and participate in our Blab events.
We try to limit the discussion to under one hour. Anyone may join the chat field and may be invited to jump into the video portion. To participate please log onto your Twitter Account first, then go to the blab event. Use Chrome or Firefox. We post the link to the live event here at http://xylem-group.com/.

Using Reasonable Interpretation — Xylem Group Blab ep #17 Aug 10

Reply

Reasonable Interpretation is a necessary concept for boards governing with Policy Governance, but it is also useful for anyone who is in a position to delegate by articulating policies. On August 10,2016, members of the Xylem Group explored how to use reasonable interpretation when governing or delegating with policy.

Xylem-Group and Using policy and reasonable interpretation

Click to go to the video recording of the Blab event

  • Is the concept of Reasonable Interpretation just for users of Policy Governance?
  • What is the scope allowed by reasonable interpretation?
  • What if the board does not like the interpretation?
  • How does a board learn how a policy is interpreted?
  • How does a board respond to an inappropriate interpretation?
  • How does this relate to nonprofit governance?

Since policy can arise at any level in an organization, this discussion is about how to delegate effectively by articulating policy.

https://blab.im/xylem-reasonable-interpretation <==click to view the video recording of the discussion on Blab.

You may hear, or download, an audio-only podcast of the Blab event here:

Referendum & Democracy — Xylem Group Blab ep #16 Aug 3

Reply

 

on Aug 3. 2016, we explored the the issue of governing by using referenda.

Referendum & Democracy on Blab.im

  • Is a referendum democratic?
  • Is a referendum an abdication of governance?
  • When do referenda work well?
  • When or why do referenda fail to serve?
  • How does this relate to nonprofit governance?

Our focus is nonprofit governing boards, but we often copy the example of our leaders in government. Several referenda were used as examples including Quebec separation, Brexit, as well as municipal, provincial, and state plebiscites.

The online recording is available at http://j.mp/ref-dem 

You may hear, or download, an audio-only podcast of the Blab event here:

“Nonprofit Board Accountability.” — Xylem Group Blab ep #15, July 13

Reply
Picture and link to the Blab discussion about the accountability of nonprofit boards

Click to go to the Blab discussion on the accountability of nonprofit boards

On July 13th 2016 members of Xylem asked the question: are nonprofit boards accountable to anyone? Should they be, and to whom — to themselves, to the community, to the members, or to something else? The video replay of the event is online here:

Click link to Blab event page ==> https://blab.im/xylem-nonprofit-board-accountability

 

 

You may hear, or download, an audio-only podcast of the Blab event here:

On Wednesday August 3, Xylem will consider “Referendum and Democracy.” You are welcome to participate in the live event. We will post the link at this site.

The live event starts at noon EDT on Wednesdays and you are welcome to join us and participate.
We try to limit the discussion to under one hour. Anyone may join the chat field and may be invited to jump into the video portion. To participate please log onto your Twitter Account first, then go to the blab event. Use Chrome or Firefox. We post the link to the live event here at http://xylem-group.com/.

“Do Managers Govern?” — Xylem Group Blab ep #14, July 6

Reply
Blab event — Do Managers Govern?

Click this image to go to the Blab event
“Do Managers Govern?”

On Wednesday July 6th Xylem explored the difference between the role of governing and managing. We see board members who want to meddle in the affairs of management (and may have some authority to do that), and we see CEO and Executive Directors trying to organize the board — and sometimes the board lets them do it.

Click link to Blab event page ==> https://blab.im/xylem-do-managers-govern

You may hear, or download, an audio-only podcast of the Blab event here: