I didn't read Jessica's meeting minutes, so I don't know what level of detail they contain. But in case it isn't otherwise documented for posterity, I'd like to record the fact that the first board of directors meeting of Charitocracy Corporation on January 13, 2016 was held in bed.
I've worked in my home office since we moved to North Carolina in 2010. There's a bed in there because it serves as an overflow guest room several times a year. I'll also use it myself from time to time when working past 4am, not as much to avoid disturbing Jessica so late as to avoid being disturbed myself when the house starts waking up at 6am!
But that's not where we held our meeting.
Jessica recently set up her own home office in our bedroom. Our good friend Scott built her a custom desk to fit into a strangely shaped nook by the windows. In addition to her Staples "executive" office chair, there's also a massively oversized couch-like chair facing her desk. The kids sometimes do their homework there so Jessica can help as needed while doing other work.
But we did not hold our first board of directors meeting at that stately, crimson red desk, either.
It has been cold here in the Outer Banks of North Carolina this week. Sometimes you're just more productive with laptops in bed. Jessica was very professional, setting up a Charitocracy Meeting Minutes template for future reuse before calling the meeting to order. (Wait, has she done this before?!) We appointed ourselves to various officer positions each: Jessica as President, CEO, and Secretary, and me as Vice President, CTO, and Treasurer. We adopted the bylaws on which Jessica had been iterating daily. We resolved to open bank accounts, seek liability insurance, and hand off our Form 1023 to our CPA for inspection before mailing it off to the IRS. We set a date for our next meeting. All from the comfort of our bed.
I do hope to attract additional board members as we pick up steam this year. We'll benefit greatly from broader perspectives and deeper experience, and maybe fend off some raised eyebrows as we start up a nonprofit as a wife and husband team. But in the meantime, I will enjoy meetings of the executive committee, wherever they may be.
If I join your board, may I hop on your bed?
As far as I’m concerned, bed hopping privileges are not limited to active board members. Jessica may, however, find it prudent to include an explicit policy on this matter in the bylaws.
This is the most awesome thing ever! I knew I liked you people. Will there be a need for a remover of ROUS board members?
Again, not sure how detailed Jessica’s minutes were, but we did have in attendance one rogue shower frog, board member pro tempore. Jessica said, and I quote, “If he stays behind the shampoo bottle, we good.”
Visions of John and Yoko.
The professionalism is impressive!