NAME and OFFICE

The name of this corporation is Local Independent Online News Publishers, Inc. (LION) (the “Corporation”). These bylaws have been adopted pursuant to the Articles of Incorporation of this Corporation and in accordance with the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. The principal office of LION, Inc. shall be 4023 Kennett Pike Suite 50019, Wilmington, DE 19807.

ARTICLE II

PURPOSES and MISSION

The purposes of this Corporation are those stated in the Articles of Incorporation – exclusively charitable, educational or scientific in nature as defined and limited by Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or the corresponding provisions of any future United States Internal Revenue law). The mission of LION is to strengthen the local news industry by helping independent news publishers build more sustainable businesses.

ARTICLE III

MEMBERS

Section 1

Any interested person who meets the requirements for membership as such requirements may, from time to time, be established by the staff shall be eligible for membership in the Corporation. Application for membership shall be made in writing to the Corporation and shall be acted upon in accordance with procedures established by the staff and approved by the Board. 

Classes and Qualifications.

The staff, with approval from the Board of Directors, shall determine and set forth in separate documents the qualifications, initiation fees, dues, terms, and other conditions of each class of member. 

Section 2

Removal.

Any member may be removed from membership for failure to meet membership criteria as established by the staff and approved by the Board, or for allegations of engagement in illegal, unprofessional or immoral acts substantiated pursuant to the member code of conduct and conflict policy. Membership shall automatically be suspended for nonpayment of dues.

ARTICLE IV

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1

Powers.

There shall be a Board of Directors of the Corporation, which shall oversee and control the business, property, and affairs of the Corporation, except as otherwise expressly provided by law, the Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation, or these Bylaws.

Section 2

Number and Qualifications.

The Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) shall be composed of up to 15 individuals. The number of directors may be decreased, but no decrease shall have the effect of shortening the term of any incumbent director. A simple majority of the Directors shall be members of the organization.

Section 3.

Election and Term of Office.

The members of the Board of Directors shall be elected by the Board of Directors. Directors on the Board shall serve for a term of three years.

– Any Board member can serve only a maximum of six years consecutively. A Board member is eligible to re-join the Board after 18 months of being away from the Board, except when by unanimous Board consent a member of the Board is requested to serve until a stipulated date and such member accepts the request; the stipulated date should be no more than the year from the date on which the term extension takes effect. Consecutive service refers to time served on the Board without a gap of at least 18 months in between each period of service. 

Section 4.

Resignation.

Any director may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Chair of the Board of Directors. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified, or, if no time is specified, at the time of acceptance as determined by the Chair.

Section 5

Removal.

Any director may be removed from office, with or without cause, by a three-fourths vote of the voting Directors at any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors called expressly for that purpose.

Section 6

Vacancies.

Vacancies shall be filled by majority vote of the remaining members of the Board of Directors for the unexpired term.

Section 7

Regular Meetings.

A regular annual meeting of the Board of Directors of the Corporation shall be held each year, at such time, day, and place as shall be designated by the Board of Directors. In addition to the annual meeting, at least two other regular meetings shall be held each year.

Section 8

Special Meetings.

Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called at the direction of the Chair or by a majority of the voting directors then in office, to be held at such time, day, and place as shall be designated in the notice of the meeting.

Section 9

Notice.

Notice of the time, day, and place of any meeting of the Board of Directors shall be given at least seven (7) days previous to the meeting. Such notice shall be made in writing, via email or other means. The purpose for which a special meeting is called shall be stated in the notice. Any director may waive notice of any meeting by a written statement executed either before or after the meeting. Attendance and participation at a meeting without objection to notice shall also constitute a waiver of notice.

Section 10

Quorum.

A majority of the directors then in office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Directors.

Section 11

Manner of Acting.

Except as otherwise expressly required by law, the Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation, or these Bylaws, the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors. Each director shall have one vote. Voting by proxy shall not be permitted.

Section 12

Written Consent In Lieu of a Meeting.

The Board may take action without a meeting if written consent to the action is signed by three-quarters of the total number of directors. Such action may be made electronically, including via email, and recorded at the next regular meeting.

Section 13

Telephone/Electronic Meeting.

Any one or more directors may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors by means of a conference telephone or similar telecommunications device, which allows all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other. Participation by telephone or other electronic means shall be equivalent to presence in person at the meeting for purposes of determining if a quorum is present.

Section 14

Duality or Conflicts of Interest.

(a) In the event that any director has a conflict of interest that might properly limit such director’s fair and impartial participation in Board deliberations or decisions, such director shall inform the Board as to the circumstances of such conflict. If those circumstances require the nonparticipation of the affected director, the Board may nonetheless request from the director any appropriate non-confidential information which might inform its decisions. “Conflict of interest,” as referred to herein, shall include but shall not be limited to, any transaction by or with the Corporation in which a director has a direct or indirect interest, or any transaction in which a director is unable to exercise impartial judgment or otherwise act in the best interests of the Corporation.

(b) No director shall cast a vote, nor take part in the final deliberation in any matter in which the member, members of the member’s immediate family or any organization to which such director has allegiance, has an interest that may be seen as competing with the interest of the Corporation. Any director who believes that they themselves may have such a conflict of interest shall notify the Board prior to deliberation on the matter in question, and the Board shall make the final determination as to whether any director has a conflict of interest in any matter. Any allegations of an unresolved conflict of interest specific to the Board or any committees shall be referred to the Governance Committee for review; members of the committee shall make recommendations to the full board for resolution. It is the responsibility of the Committee Chair to ensure conflict of interest recommendations reach the Board. The minutes of the Board meeting shall reflect disclosure of any conflict of interest and the recusal of the interested director.

ARTICLE V

OFFICERS

Section 1

Voting Officers.

The voting officers of the Corporation shall consist of a Chair, a Vice Chair, an Immediate Past Chair, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. 

Section 2

Election of Officers.

The officers of the Corporation shall be elected by the majority of those current board members every two years at a regular annual meeting .

Section 3

Term of Office.

The officers of the Corporation shall be installed at the meeting at which they are elected and shall hold office for two years or until their respective successors shall have been duly elected.

– The positions of Chair and Vice Chair shall be elected every two years.

– The Chair, Vice Chair, Immediate Past Chair, Secretary and Treasurer shall serve in the same position a maximum of four years consecutively.

Section 4

Resignation.

Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Chair of the Board. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified in the notice, or if no time is specified, then immediately.

The Chair may resign by providing written notice to the Vice Chair. In the event the Chair resigns, the Vice Chair will become the Chair. The resigning Chair will not become the Immediate Past Chair; the existing Immediate Past Chair shall remain in that role. 

Section 5

Removal.

Any officer may be removed, without cause, as determined by a two-thirds vote of the Board present at any meeting at which there is a quorum. In addition, any member of the Board of Directors may be removed for a substantial cause by the majority vote of the Board present at any meeting at which there is a quorum. Substantial cause shall include failure to participate in the activities of the Board of Directors as evidenced by the failure to attend at least three (3) consecutive meetings of the Board of Directors.

Section 6

Vacancies.

A vacancy in any office shall be filled by the Board of Directors for the unexpired term.

Section 7

Chair.

The Chair shall provide oversight to the organization and its executive director. The Chair may sign Board resolutions and other instruments necessary to conduct corporation business, and shall perform all duties incident to the office of Chair as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors.

Section 8

Vice Chair.

The Vice Chair assumes the Chair’s leadership roles when the Chair is unavailable. The Vice Chair will serve as a chair-in-waiting, becoming Chair, upon Board approval, when the term of preceding Chair ends.

Section 9

Immediate Past Chair.

The Immediate Past Chair assumes leadership roles when the Chair and Vice Chair are unavailable. The Immediate Past Chair provides advice and guidance to the Chair and Vice Chair. If the Immediate Past Chair is term limited past the period of their term as Chair, they shall serve on the Board of Directors for one additional year.

Section 10

Secretary.

The Secretary shall keep the minutes of the meetings of the Board of Directors in a manner easily accessible and searchable by Board members and the Executive Director; see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws; ensure staff members keep corporate records; and in general perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as may be assigned by the Board of Directors.

Section 11

Treasurer.

The Treasurer shall oversee the financial administration of the Corporation, including but not limited to oversight of financial transactions and recordkeeping, the performance of associated audits, and in general perform all the duties incident to the office of Treasurer and other duties as from time to time may be assigned to the Treasurer by the Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall serve as the Chair of the Finance Committee.

Section 12

Executive Director.

The Board shall have one employee, to be called the Executive Director. This person shall be an officer of the Corporation but will not be a voting member of the Board of Directors.

(A) The Executive Director shall be chosen by a three-fourths majority of directors present at a special meeting called for such purpose.

(B) Within 30 days of such vote, and with direction from the Board, the Chair shall negotiate and execute a contract with the Executive Director to enumerate and describe that person’s duties and responsibilities; method of professional evaluation; pay and benefits; and any other parameters determined by the Board.

(C) The Executive Director shall control the day-to-day operations and finances of the Corporation, and shall sign contracts and enter agreements that bind the Corporation.

(D) The Executive Director shall be responsible for all hiring, evaluation, accountability and other general subordinate personnel operations of the organization.

(E) In the absence of an Executive Director, the Deputy Director will serve as the Interim Executive Director. In the case that there is no Deputy Director (or equivalent senior position) to serve in this capacity, the Board Chair shall serve as the Interim Executive Director until such time as the Board of Directors shall hold an emergency meeting to select an interim Executive Director.

ARTICLE VI

COMMITTEES

Section 1

The Board Chair and Vice Chair shall attend every LION Committee meeting. Should there be a vacancy in the chairpersonship of a committee, the Board Vice Chair shall fill that role until the vacancy is filled.

All LION Board members are expected to serve on at least one committee. Every committee must have at least one Board member in addition to the chair of that committee.

Executive Committee

The five officers of the Board enumerated in Article V Section 1 and the chairs of chartered committees shall constitute the Executive Committee, which is chaired by the active Board Chair. This committee shall be able to act on behalf of the entire Board in situations where time is of the essence and the entire Board cannot meet; such decisions are to be fully explained, including any vote counts, at the next Board meeting. This committee shall not have the authority to amend or repeal these Bylaws, elect or remove any officer or director, adopt a plan of merger, or authorize the voluntary dissolution of the Corporation. The committee shall meet at intervals determined by the Chair to be sufficient to complete its work.

In the event of a vote that ends in a tie, the Board Chair shall break the tie.

Regular Executive Committee meetings are open to observation from current Board members. Visiting / observing Board members not on the Executive Committee shall not vote on matters that come before the committee.

The Committee shall conduct the annual review of the Executive Director. 

Section 2

Finance Committee

The Finance committee shall be chaired by the Treasurer. The committee’s principal responsibility is oversight of the budget and to ensure effective and appropriate fiscal policies are in place to govern the board and employees. The committee shall not make policy or approve budgets, but rather evaluate financial matters concerning LION and make recommendations to the full Board for approval. The committee may have as members persons the Committee Chair deems qualified. The Finance Committee Chair shall determine the sufficient number of persons to serve on the committee. The Finance committee shall meet at least quarterly.

Section 3

Board Development and Recruitment Committee

The chair of the committee shall be appointed by the Board Chair. The Committee Chair must be a member of the LION Board of Directors. The committee’s principal responsibility is the professional development of the active board and recruitment of board members to serve the organization. The committee shall not make policy or approve new board members, but rather evaluate board development and recruitment matters concerning LION and make recommendations to the Board Chair for approval by the full board. The committee may have as members persons the Committee Chair deems qualified. The Committee Chair shall determine the sufficient number of persons to serve on the committee. The committee shall meet at least quarterly.

Section 4

Governance Committee

The chair of the committee shall be appointed by the Board Chair. The Committee Chair must be a member of the LION board of directors. The committee’s principal responsibility is to facilitate good governance of the Board’s and organization’s adherence to by-laws and policies duly established by the organization. The committee shall not make policy, but rather evaluate governance matters concerning LION’s Board and make recommendations to the full board for approval. The committee may recommend amendments to the bylaws for approval by the full board. Any allegations of an unresolved conflict of interest specific to the Board or any committees shall be referred to the Governance Committee for review; members of the committee shall make recommendations to the full board for resolution. It is the responsibility of the Committee Chair to ensure conflict of interest recommendations reach the Board. The committee may have as members persons the Committee Chair deems qualified. The Committee Chair shall determine the sufficient number of persons to serve on the committee. The committee shall meet at least quarterly.

Section 5

Other Committees and Task Forces

The Board of Directors may create and appoint members to such other committees and task forces as they shall deem appropriate. Such committees and task forces shall have the power and duties designated by the Board of Directors, and shall give advice and make non-binding recommendations to the Board.

ARTICLE VII

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 1

Fiscal Year.

The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be the calendar year.

ARTICLE VIII

INDEMNIFICATION

Unless otherwise prohibited by law, the Corporation may indemnify any director or officer or any former director or officer, and may by resolution of the Board of Directors indemnify any employee, against any and all expenses and liabilities incurred by the director, officer, or employee in connection with any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which  the director, officer, or employee is made a party by reason of being a director, officer, or employee. However, there shall be no indemnification in relation to matters as to which  the director, officer, or employee shall be adjudged to be guilty of a criminal offense or liable to the Corporation for damages arising out of his or her own gross negligence in the performance of a duty to the Corporation. The Board of Directors shall also authorize the purchase of insurance on behalf of any director, officer, employee, or other agent against any liability incurred by him which arises out of such person’s status as a director, officer, employee, or agent, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify the person against that liability under law. Amounts paid in indemnification of expenses and liabilities may include, but shall not be limited to, counsel fees and other fees; costs and disbursements; and judgments, fines, and penalties against, and amounts paid in settlement by, such director, officer, or employee. The Corporation may advance expenses or, where appropriate, may itself undertake the defense of any director, officer, or employee. However, such director, officer, or employee shall repay such expenses if it should be ultimately determined that the director, officer, or employee is not entitled to indemnification under this article.

ARTICLE IX

AMENDMENTS TO BYLAWS

These Bylaws may be amended or new Bylaws adopted upon the affirmative vote of three-fourths of the current members of the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting of the Board. The notice of the meeting shall set forth a summary of the proposed amendments.

Approved by the Board of Directors, Sept. 15, 2012.

Updated Jan. 3, 2013, with the approval of the Board of Directors to correct a typographical error in Article V, Section 1.

Amended June 12, 2017, upon a vote of the Board of Directors to expand the maximum number of directors to 15

Amended November 11, 2018, throughout upon a vote of the Board of Directors. Primarily, added Vice Chair, Immediate Past Chair and Executive Director. Also set term limits for board members.

Amended November 19, 2021 with additional criteria for possible removal of Board members.

Amended April 18, 2022 throughout upon a vote of the Board of Directors, including to update the following: LION’s principal address following re-incorporation; new mission statement; current classes of members; current division of labor between board and staff; member removal protocol; addition of membership committee charter.

Amended Mar 21, 2024 throughout upon a vote of the Board of Directors, including to update the following: LION’s mission statement; the extension of the term of the board chair; to clarify the “voting officers” of the board; to update the criteria for removing a board member; and to remove the list of various specified classes of members.

The post Bylaws of Local Independent Online News Publishers appeared first on LION Publishers.

We ask you to be mindful of how you interact with others. All attendees, speakers, sponsors and volunteers at LION Publishers events, as well as participants in other public or private member activities, are required to abide by our Code of Conduct.

Our experience has shown that this commitment to courtesy and consideration is proudly shared by the entire community of Local Independent Online News Publishers. We’re laying out this Code of Conduct not because we expect bad behavior within our group but because we believe expressing a clear policy is an important recognition of our existing respectful community space. Just as journalism codes of ethics confirm our profession’s common acknowledgment of important values, so too does this shared code of behavior.

Need help? Contact any member of the LION Publishers staff or Board of Directors in person at our event, or by email at membership@lionpublishers.com. At in-person events, we will make available phone contacts, as well.

The details

LION Publishers is committed to providing a safe, respectful, productive, inclusive, welcoming and harassment-free environment for all participants in our conferences, virtual or in-person meetings and other activities, regardless of gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, physical appearance, body size, socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, immigration status, age, or religion (or lack thereof).

Diversity in our membership and in the organizations run by our members is one of LION’s major strengths, but it can also lead to communication issues. These guidelines are not an exhaustive list of things that you can’t do. Rather, take this code in the spirit in which it’s intended – an outline of ways to make it easier to enrich us all and the LION Publishers community which we have built together.

Disagreements happen all the time, and LION Publishers is no exception. In fact, a healthy exchange of competing ideas is an important part of our community. It is important that we resolve disagreements and discuss differing views constructively. Remember that we’re different; striving to learn from our varied perspectives is important. Should a negative interaction take place, focus on helping to resolve the issues and try to learn from any mistakes.

This Code of Conduct outlines our expectations for all those who participate in LION Publishers events and activities, as well as the consequences of unacceptable behavior.

We invite all those who participate in LION-hosted activities to help us create productive and positive experiences for everyone.

Expected behavior

Do:

Be welcoming, friendly, patient, kind, courteous and respectful. Not all of us will agree all the time, but disagreement is no excuse for poor behavior and manners. It’s important to remember that a community where people feel uncomfortable is not a productive one.

Participate in an authentic and active way. In doing so, you contribute to the health and longevity of our community.

Be considerate in your speech and actions, and seek to acknowledge the contributions and knowingly respect the boundaries of fellow LION members and our guests. Be careful in the words that you choose. We are a community of professionals, and we conduct ourselves accordingly.

Refrain from demeaning, discriminatory or harassing behavior and speech. Be kind to others. Do not insult or put down other participants, but rather treat each other with dignity.

Be mindful of your surroundings and your fellow participants. Care for one another. Alert LION Publishers staff or a member of the Board of Directors if you are aware of a dangerous situation, someone in distress, or violations of this Code of Conduct, even if they seem minor.

Remember that community event venues may be shared with members of the public; please be respectful to all patrons of these locations.

Maintain the off-the-record nature of any LION Publishers forum that is so designated, so we can continue to share information and experiences in an environment of unquestioned mutual trust.

Treat each other with good faith, rather than seeking offense. Many LION activities resemble a newsroom environment, virtual or otherwise, and are rooted in the frank language often expressed by reporters and editors. In discussing editorial decisions and reporting techniques, topics of conversation may be disturbing (crimes, violence, harassment, injuries and deaths, disease, etc.). Conduct such conversations with due regard for both your colleagues and those we report on.

Unacceptable behavior

Do not participate in or carry out, online or in person:

Violence, threats of violence or violent language directed against another person or group.

Demeaning, discriminatory or harassing behavior and speech, including inappropriate humor. Harassment includes, but is not limited to: offensive comments related to gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, religion, or technology choices; public display of sexual or discriminatory images; deliberate intimidation; stalking; Taking an unwanted photograph or recording; inappropriate physical contact; and unwelcome sexual attention.

Personal insults, particularly those related to appearance, gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, religion or disability

Sustained disruption of community activities, including online discussions, webinars, conference sessions, workshops and other events.

Disclosing information from a designated off-the-record forum hosted by LION Publishers, whether identified with a specific person or not.

Repeated unwelcome behavior toward others. In general, if someone asks you to stop, then stop.

Consequences of unacceptable behavior

Unacceptable behavior from any member of the LION Publishers community, including guests, sponsors and those with decision-making authority, will not be tolerated.

If any participant in a LION-hosted activity or forum engages in unacceptable behavior, the organization’s leadership may take any lawful action we deem appropriate, at our discretion, including but not limited to warning the offender or asking the offender to leave the event or activity without a refund, or removing them from membership in the organization.

Anyone asked to halt unacceptable behavior is expected to comply immediately.

If you feel that someone has harassed you or otherwise treated you inappropriately, please alert any member of the LION Publishers team in person, or via email at membership@lionpublishers.com.

If you feel you have been unfairly accused of violating this Code of Conduct, you should contact the LION Publishers team with a concise description of your concerns; any grievances filed will be reviewed by the leadership team.

At conferences and other in-person events, LION staff and members of the Board of Directors will be happy to help participants contact security staff or local law enforcement, provide an escort between safe places, or otherwise assist those experiencing harassment or unwelcome behavior in feeling safe for the duration of the event. We value your participation.

We welcome your feedback on this and every other aspect of LION Publishers, and we thank you for working with us to make participation in our events and community a respectful, safe, enjoyable and friendly experience for everyone.

Credits

This code owes much to the open-source codes of conduct created by other membership organizations and conferences, including:

• Conference Code of Conduct: http://confcodeofconduct.com
• Ada Initiative Code of Conduct: https://adainitiative.org/2014/02/18/howto-design-a-code-of-conduct-for-your-community
• SRC Con Code of Conduct: http://srccon.org/conduct
• JSConf Code of Conduct: http://jsconf.com/codeofconduct.html
• Django Code of Conduct: https://www.djangoproject.com/conduct
• Theorizing the Web Code of Conduct: http://theorizingtheweb.tumblr.com/post/79357700249/anti-harassment-statement
• Open Source and Feelings Code of Conduct: http://www.osfeels.com/conduct

The post Code of Conduct of Local Independent Online News Publishers appeared first on LION Publishers.

The post Thanks for applying for Project Galileo appeared first on LION Publishers.

Present: Brandy Tuzon Boyd Charlotte-Anne Lucas Dylan Smith Howard Owens Jerry DeMarco Krystal Knapp Ned Burke Scott Brodbeck Ikaika Hussey was able to join the call midway.

The minutes for our March 20 meeting were approved 7-0-1 with one abstention by Jerry Demarco, who was absent for that meeting.

Facebook Group

Dylan asked if the Facebook LIOP group should be part of LION. Krystal pointed out that we already voted on whether the group should just be open to LION members the previous meeting. Board members reaffirmed their support for making the group a formal LION Facebook page, but allowing nonmember publishers to remain part of the group. Brandy pointed out that most people assume the two are on and the same anyway and we should go ahead and formalize it. Howard said the Facebook group gives publishers cohesion and that is valuable. The board decided to change the name of the Facebook group to LION's Den.

Membership in the Facebook group – The board decided that while the group is open to Indies regardless of LION membership, it should only be open to publishers and partner publishers, not freelancers and other staff. Scott pointed out that the group is a platform for business practices and that it is oriented to people who own and run websites, i.e. the people making the business decisions. Howard said he likes the idea of the group being for owner operators, not employees. Vendors and academics can discuss things in the LION forums or post on the general LION Facebook page.

We agreed that new members should be introduced by the person who adds them. Anyone who is in a gray area can be reviewed first. The membership chair will keep track of new members and make the pitch to join LION formally about a month after the person joins the Facebook group. We will use Highrise to keep track of Facebook members.

The Membership Committee report was skipped. The creation of the fundraising and awards committees will be announced on the Facebook group.

Conference Committee Report

Krystal discussed the proposal to have Randy Bennett recruit sponsors and vendors for the conference and be paid a commission. He will send us a proposal. The conference committee will hold a conference call next week. Our dream budget for the conference will be $100,000. The mid-level budget will be $75,000. The austerity budget would be $50,000. Krystal said she would post a full update in writing. We are working on a survey about what people want from the conference.

The board decided not to try to stay with the name Block by Block. It will be better for us to promote our brand by having a name people associate with our organization. It is not clear that we would be allowed to use that name anyway. Ned pointed out that as the biggest thing we do, the conference should have our name on it.

Membership Benefits Committee

Scott said we need to get moving on the membership benefits committee, which has been on the back burner. Scott is willing to donate a week of a staff member's time to work on this. He will be in touch with members of the committee and set up a meeting. People will brainstorm on other ideas the group has not talked about yet.

The conference is a big part of providing value to members. We need to offer other training opportunities and benefits that engage our members. Charlotte recommended using Google hangouts to live stream workshops. Ned suggested Charlotte teach a webinar on how news websites can use Google hangouts. Members of the Facebook group had a few informal telephone conference chats on topics like advertising and some people would like to see us revive those. We should archive everything on our website.

The committee will research platforms and programming. Ned volunteered to join the programming committee. Charlotte, Ikaika and Dylan are also on that committee.

There has been no consensus about how we should intact with vendors. There was opposition to LION endorsing particular vendors. Jerry proposed the idea of raising money from vendors in exchange for endorsing vendors. The board decided we want to be neutral and give people good advice. We want to share offers as a membership benefit and get deals for our members, but no endorse anyone. The membership benefits committee will screen all offers.

Board Committees

Every board member should be active on at least one committee. Dylan posted recommendations for LION members to add to committees based on their involvement with the Facebook group. The board agreed to ask LION members if they would join the various committees.

Board Member Recruitment

The board has three vacancies with the departure of Ben Ifeld. Krystal, Howard and others agreed that we should fill a seat. The board unanimously agreed we would like Denise Civiletti to join the board.

Open Government

We decided it is important for us to take a position that government should be open without getting involved in the particular facts of a case. We need to lend a voice to online news organizations in a general way. This issue came up in relation to a statement about Lake County News. The lawyer for Lake County News approached us. Lake County News won their case but are seeking attorney fees. We have been asked to weigh in with an amicus brief. Their lawyer would write it. There are instances like this where we should take a position and use our collective power to back up other news organizations and promote transparency and open government, the board strongly agreed.

Board Documents, Basecamp, and Communication

We will take over Basecamp from Ben and paid the $50 month fee ourselves. We need a system for filing all bank statements, treasurer reports, correspondence, emails, etc. Krystal said we need to filed the original documents instead of embedding excerpts summaries in comments in emails. If we met in person we would all receive board packets that include copies of all the original documents. Krystal said we need to do this online, either through base camp of through emailing people all the supporting documents. Krystal asked if we can set Basecamp up in a more organized fashion to organize documents better instead of just general document posts and threads. Krystal asked that we look in to that because documents are not very organized and as the number of documents grow, things will get messy. Dylan said it looks like there is a way to put documents in certain categories.

Board Member Conduct

Charlotte brought up the issue of the Facebook group and how we conduct ourselves as board members. We need to make sure that in our posts we recognize we are seen as board members first regardless of whether someone says "I'm speaking for myself first." We can't assume our comments don't reflect on the board somehow. People need to keep that in mind when commenting on the Facebook page. When we post about LION issues we need to invite members to comment and get their feedback, and not stifle conversation. We should not be dismissive and shoot down ideas too abruptly. Dylan said he hopes that is implied in how we act, but we need to say it more. Charlotte pointed out we need to be careful about the tone of posts because sometimes things can be perceived the wrong way online. Charlotte stressed asking members for their point of view. Brandy suggested we reiterate that to people when we announce the name change, and post our comment policy on the Facebook page. Dylan said he would post a draft policy on Basecamp and for feedback before posting to the Facebook group.

Fiscal Sponsor

We do not have a fiscal sponsor. The one Dylan had approached in Arizona fell through. Krystal will ask the Poynter Institute if they are willing to serve as a fiscal sponsor. We need one by June so that we can accept our Patterson funding.

Board members agreed we should have another phone meeting in three weeks.

The post April 10, 2013 LION Board meeting minutes appeared first on LION Publishers.

Attending: Dylan Smith, Krystal Knapp, Brandy Tuzon Boyd, Howard Owens, Charlotte-Anne Lucas, Ned Berke, Scott Brodbeck, Jesus Sanchez, Ikaika Hussey Absent: Jerry DeMarco

1. Ben Ilfeld's resignation – The board acknowledged the great work Ben Ilfeld has done as a board member and as chair of the membership committee. Without Ben's efforts, the committee would not have met its initial recruitment goals. Ben resigned because he is not running the day to day operations at the Sacramento Press, and is now focusing on his latest start up, AdGlue. The board will miss his input and we hope he stays involved in LION and attends the annual conference.

2. Nomination of new membership committee chair – Ben's departure leaves the membership committee without a chair. Krystal suggested Charlotte-Anne Lucas via Basecamp and Charlotte said she would be happy to serve. She was very active in recruiting our first wave of members. Ikaika moved to nominate her as chair of the committee and Brandy seconded the motion. The board voted 7-0 to approve the motion. (Two board members joined the call late).

3. Fundraising committee – Board members discussed the need to have a separate committee to focus on fundraising efforts. We will look for funding for our annual conference and other activities by seeking out foundation support, grants, sponsorships, and support from vendors. A smaller group will work initially and then after funding for our annual conference is set, the committee will be expanded to include non-board members (both for and nonprofit) and to focus on general fundraising. Right now the focus is raising money for our annual conference. Charlotte pointed out that we need to set metrics for our organization, keep track of outcomes, what we as board members have contributed financially, etc. All of that information is important to foundations. Ikaika volunteered to head up the fundraising committee if he is part of a team. The board voted 8-0 to approve the plan after Brandy introduced the motion and Ned seconded it.

4. Awards committee – The board discussed creating an awards committee. Howard said if we give out awards, a lot of details need to be taken care of in the process, such as recruiting and coordinating judges. Several board members feel giving out awards is important because people are honored for their work in front of their peers, an awards ceremony would add to the conference, and could result in more media coverage for the organization. People agreed the best time to announce winners is at the conference. The group agreed that Jerry DeMarco would be a great board member to lead the committee and voted 9-0 to have Jerry lead the committee if he agrees. Howard introduced the motion and Jesus seconded it. Howard will reach out to Jerry to ask him to lead the committee.

5. Recruiting non board-members for committees – Board members agreed that the chair of each committee should be a board member. When recruiting at-large committee members who are not on the board, the board agreed that Basecamp is a suitable means for chairs of committees to inform the board when the chair wants to add a new member to a committee. A chair will post on Basecamp the name of the LION member to be added to a committee, and board members will have 48 hours to object to the addition. Ned moved the suggestion, Brandy seconded it, and the board approved the new policy by a vote of 9-0.

6. Committee reports – The board members agreed that committee chairs will file reports of their progress via Basecamp every few weeks. This should cut down on the number of posts on Basecamp and keep everyone up to speed in an organized fashion.

7. Should the LIOP Facebook group be closed to non-LION members? – Ned argued that the Facebook group is a promotional tool for LION and is a good way to promote workshops, tutorials, and the conference. He expressed concern that we will lose our bullhorn to promote LION to non-members if we close off the group. Brandy asked how board members would feel about a combo approach, closing the group off in June but allowing people a trial period to belong. Charlotte said as membership chair she would monitor when the trial had expired for a potential member. Ned said as an opponent of paywalls for news sites, philosophically he opposes closing off the group to non-LION publishers. Howard argued that the Facebook group has nothing to do with LION and is a social gathering place and a convenience we all enjoy, but is not a membership benefit. He expressed concerns that keeping the group open to non- LIION publishers would stifle the free flow of discussion among publishers. Jesus said the Facebook group is a very important promotional tool and it builds a sense of community. Krystal said she sees the Facebook grow as a very important part of LION and her sense of belonging and feels as long as someone is an independent publisher, they should be allowed to join. Ned said he does not want to see people who are ousted because they did not join LION splinter off and form another discussion group.

Charlotte moved to close the group and make it for LION members after June 1, but to give publishers a 30-day trial in the group before they decide whether to join LION. Ned seconded the motion. The motion to make the Facebook group for LION publishers only failed by a vote of 5-3. Brandy, Ned, Scott, Jesus and Krystal voted to keep the Facebook group open to publishers who do not join LION. Dylan, Charlotte-Anne and Howard voted to close the group and make it for LION members after June 1, but to give publishers a 30-day trial in the group before they decide whether to join LION.

As a result of the vote, local indie publishers who do not join LION can remain as part of the closed Facebook group for publishers that is currently called LIOP. Howard has removed non-publishers from the group. The status of a handful of people in the group is still unclear. Board members will review the names and see if they know what web publications the people are associated with. At a future meeting, we will discuss which employees of a local indie online publication can be part of the Facebook group (ad sales members, writers, publishers only, etc.?)

Board members expressed interest in having more regular meetings via phone instead of the flurry of messages back and forth on Basecamp. Given the tasks we need to complete as a new board and the fact that we did not complete our discussion of agenda items during our 1 hour call today, the board will hold another meeting in the next two weeks. Dylan will send out a doodle ASAP to schedule the next meeting. Krystal asked the board if it is okay to go public with a "save the date" for the annual conference now that Columbia College in Chicago has confirmed we can have free space there Oct. 3-6. Board members agreed we should start promoting it so people can put it in their calendars.

The following discussion items listed on our agenda were tabled until the next meeting because we ran out of time:

Member recruitment plan Conference Programming Endorsements/working with vendors (Broadstreet offer) Amicus brief in Crews public record case Records The meeting was adjourned just after 4 p.m.

The post Minutes: LION Board meeting appeared first on LION Publishers.

Determine LION’s mission, vision, values and purpose. It is the Board’s responsibility to create the mission statement and review it periodically for accuracy and validity. Each individual Board member should fully understand and support it.

Ensure effective organizational planning. As stewards of the organization, a Board sets the overall direction and establishes general priorities. It must actively participate with the staff (if any) in a strategic planning process and assist in implementing the plan’s goals.

Select the executive director. (If applicable) Boards must reach consensus on the executive’s job description and undertake a careful search to find the most qualified individual for the position.

Support the executive director and review her/his performance. (If applicable) The Board should ensure that the executive has the moral and professional support she needs to further the goals of the organization. The executive, in partnership with the entire Board, should decide upon an annual review of the executive’s performance.

Ensure adequate resources/raise money. One of the Board’s foremost responsibilities is to provide adequate resources for the organization to fulfill its mission. The Board should work in partnership with the executive and development staff, if any, to raise funds from the ‘community’.

Ensure effective fiduciary oversight. The Board, in order to remain accountable to its donors, the public, and to safeguard its tax-exempt status, must assist in developing the annual budget and ensuring that proper financial and risk controls are in place.

Determine, monitor, and strengthen the organization’s programs and services. The Board (in conjunction with the staff) determines which programs are the most consistent with the organization’s mission and monitors their effectiveness.

Enhance the organization’s public standing. The organization’s primary link to the community, the public, and the media, is the Board. Clearly articulating the organization’s mission, accomplishments, and goals to the public, as well as garnering support from important members of the community, are important elements of a comprehensive communications strategy.

Ensure legal and ethical integrity and maintain accountability. The Board is ultimately responsible for ensuring adherence to legal standards and ethical norms. Solid policies will help ensure proper decorum in this area. The Board must establish pertinent policies, and adhere to provisions of the organization’s articles and bylaws.

Recruit and orient new Board members and assess Board performance. All Boards have a responsibility to articulate and make known their needs in terms of member experience, skills, and many other considerations that define a “balanced” Board composition. The Board must also orient new members to their responsibilities and the organization’s history, needs, and challenges. By evaluating its performance in fulfilling its responsibilities, the Board can recognize its achievements and reach consensus on which areas need to be improved.

The post Role of the Board of Directors appeared first on LION Publishers.

• Know and support LION’s mission, values, goals, policies, programs, and services.
• Stay abreast of the organization’s developing trends.
• Serve in leadership positions or undertake special assignments willingly when asked.
• Avoid prejudiced judgments on the basis of information received from individuals.
• Urge those with grievances to follow established policies and procedures.
• Suggest nominees for the Board.
• Speak on behalf of the organization only when asked to do so by the Board Chair
• Bring a sense of humor to the Board’s deliberations.

Meetings

• Prepare for and participate in Board and committee meetings, and other organization activities.
• Support the majority decision of the Board.
• Maintain confidentiality of the Board’s regular meetings and executive sessions.
• Suggest agenda items periodically for Board and committee meetings to ensure that significant policy related matters are addressed.

Avoiding conflict

• Disclose any possible conflicts to the Board Chair in a timely fashion.
• Be independent and objective. Form decisions based on a sense of fairness and personal integrity.
• Never accept or offer favors or gifts from or to anyone who does business with the organization.

Fiduciary responsibility

• Ensure fiduciary responsibilities of the Board are responsibly met.
• Faithfully read and understand the organization’s financial statements and otherwise help the Board fulfill its fiduciary responsibility.

Fundraising

• Give an annual, personal, cash gift according to personal means.
• Assist resource development by supporting fund raising and sponsorships through personal influence with others.

The post Individual Board member duties and responsibilities appeared first on LION Publishers.

It is the intent of LION to adhere to all laws and regulations that apply to the organization, and the underlying purpose of this Policy is to support the organization’s goal of legal compliance. The support of all employees and directors is necessary to achieving compliance with various laws and regulations. An employee is protected from retaliation only if the employee or Board member brings the alleged unlawful activity, policy, or practice to the attention of the Board chair and provides him/her with a reasonable opportunity to investigate and correct the alleged unlawful activity. The protection described below is only available to persons that comply with this requirement.

LION will not retaliate against an employee or Board member who, in good faith, has made a protest or raised a complaint against some practice of LION, or of another individual or entity with whom LION had a business relationship, on the basis of a reasonable belief that the practice is in violation of law or a clear mandate of public policy.

LION will not retaliate against any person who discloses or threatens to disclose to a supervisor or a public body any activity, policy, or practice of LION that the person reasonably believes is in violation of a law, or a rule, or regulation mandated by the law or is in clear violation of a clear mandate or public policy concerning health, safety, welfare, or protection of the organizational environment.

The post Whistleblower policy appeared first on LION Publishers.

2. Gifts will only be accepted where there is charitable intent on the part of the donor. LION is unable to accept gifts that are overly restrictive in purpose. The most desirable gifts are those with the least restrictions, as unrestricted funds allow the organization to address its most pressing needs. Unless the board grants a specific exception, LION will not accept any gifts that:

• Contain a condition that requires any action on the part of the organization that is unacceptable to the board.
• Contain a condition that the proceeds will be spent by the organization for the personal benefit of a named individual or individuals.
• Require the organization to employ a specified person now or at a future date.
• Inhibit the organization from seeking gifts from other donors.
• Expose the organization to adverse publicity, litigation, or other liabilities.
• Require undue expenditures, or involve the organization in unexpected responsibilities because of their source, conditions, or purpose.
• Involve unlawful discrimination based upon race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, color, disability, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, and local laws.

3. Noncash gifts will be accepted only when it is reasonably expected they can be converted into cash within a reasonable period of time or when LION can utilize the property in its operations. Generally, six months to one year shall be considered reasonable for conversion to cash. All noncash gifts to LION will be sold at the discretion of the organization, whose policy will be to convert the property to cash at the earliest opportunity, keeping in mind current market conditions and the potential use of the property in the accomplishment of LION’s mission.

4. Property encumbered by a mortgage or other indebtedness cannot normally be accepted as a gift unless the donor agrees to assume all carrying costs until the property is liquidated. Exceptions to this guideline can be made when the value of the property exceeds the anticipated exposure, or will produce income, or will be used by LION in its programs.

5. Associated expenses of a gift made to LION are to be borne by the donor.

6. Donors of property gifts of over $5,000, except for gifts of publicly traded stock, must obtain an appraisal by an independent third-party appraiser in accordance with current tax law requirements.

7. To avoid conflicts of interest, the unauthorized practice of law, the rendering of investment advice, or the dissemination of income or estate tax advice, all donors of noncash gifts must acknowledge that LION is not acting as a professional advisor, rendering opinions on the gift. All information concerning gift planning from LION is to be for illustrative purposes only and is not to be relied upon in individual circumstances. The organization may require a letter of understanding from a donor of a property gift, along with proof of outside advice being rendered, before such a gift will be accepted.

8. All gifts of life insurance must comply with applicable state insurance regulations, including insurable interest clauses.

9. LION does not accept any gifts requiring annuity payments that will be guaranteed by the organization.

10. All gifts and gift consideration must meet all applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations.

Refusal of Gifts

The Board of Directors shall have the right to refuse contributions that do not enhance, promote, and further the purpose of LION and the long-range financial viability of the organization.

Gifts of Stock

Gifts of securities will be acknowledged to the donor at the value received into the account, as of the day received. All securities will be sold immediately upon receipt into the account.

The post Gift acceptance policy appeared first on LION Publishers.

I. Purpose

A. LION recognizes the importance of maintaining records for many reasons, including, but not limited to the following:

1. Maintain a record of the legal structure of LION.
2. Document Board and board committee membership, decisions and activities.
3. Maintain LION’s policies – both board and administrative.
4. Allow LION to demonstrate effective pursuit of its mission, to evaluate the success of its programs, and to determine whether the organization is achieving desired results
5. Maintain a record of federal and state filings and important supporting information
6. Maintain a record of financial statements and budgets and important supporting information, to monitor budgetary and financial results and activities, and to identify sources of receipts
7. Identify all donations, grants and sponsorships to maintain required documents.
8. Maintain personnel and employment records as appropriate
9. Maintain records of all contracts or other documents creating legal obligations or potential legal liabilities, including insurance contracts, vendor contracts, personal service contracts, leases and other property related contracts, as well as notices of any legal processes involving LION or of any government investigations.
10. LION’s goal is to maintain such documents for a time period defined at a minimum by law, but otherwise for as long as such documents create an important historical record of LION’s activities or may be relevant to LION’s business needs, legal obligations, or any litigation or investigation.

II. Method of Retention

A. LION may maintain records in electronic form or paper or in any other safe and reliable manner.

B. Records, whether paper or digital, shall be stored in a secure location, which may be in the LION offices or in a storage facility or other location.

C. LION shall maintain a record of where records, both original and back-up are stored or located so that they may be accessed within a reasonable period of time.

III. Document Destruction, Including Prohibition on Document Destruction

A. Documents not covered by this policy shall be destroyed when no longer useful to LION and the files of LION should be periodically culled of such documents.

B. Documents covered by this policy must be maintained for the period established in this policy, at a minimum, but may be maintained for a longer period of time.

C. Documents may not be destroyed and must be preserved and not altered in any manner in LION knows or has been informed that they may be relevant to an investigation by any government entity or to litigation or potential litigation.

IV. Board Chair’s or Executive Director’s Authority

A. The Board Chair (or the Executive Director, if applicable) is authorized and directed to take steps to reasonably implement this policy and shall report to the Board on any issues, resource constraints, or concerns related to adequate implementation of this policy.

B. The Board Chair (or Executive Director, if applicable) shall notify the Board of any additional document retention requirements mandated by law that should be added to this policy, and is directed to implement such requirements, even if not included in this policy.

C. The Board Chair (or Executive Director, if applicable) may, by administrative policy and without Board authorization, create additional document retention requirements, as long as such requirements are not more restrictive than this policy.

V. Documents that must be managed and maintained with retention periods

Legal Structure of LION

1. Articles of Incorporation and any amendments Permanently
2. Bylaws and any amendments Permanently
3. IRS Form 1023 and amendments Permanently
4. IRS letter recognizing LION’s tax exempt status Permanently

Board and Board Committee Membership, Decisions and Activities

1. Minutes of Board and standing committee meetings Permanently
2. Financial statements and budgets approved by the Board or any committee of the Board Permanently
3. List of board members, contact information and terms Permanently
4. Periodic reviews of Board effectiveness conducted by the Board, a committee of the board, or a consultant Permanently
5. Board Resolutions should be maintained as part of the minutes Permanently
6. Annual Conflict of Interest disclosure statements 10 years after the director is no longer on the board

LION’s Policies – Both Board and Administrative

1. Board policies, including effective dates, amendments and revisions Permanently
2. Administrative policies, including record of effective dates, amendments and revisions 5 years after last effective date

Planning Documents

Documents that demonstrate effective pursuit of LION’s mission, evaluate program success and determine whether the organization is achieving desired results

1. Strategic planning documents approved by the Board 15 years after end of effective period
2. Board, board committee, management reviews or evaluations of LION projects 15 years
3. Consultants’ reports on core LION projects 15 years
4. Program files on LION’s programs (more than $25,000 annually) 10 years for major projects

Financial statement, budgets, tax returns and important supporting information

1. Federal annual tax returns and any amendments Permanently
2. Business records that support federal annual returns (including bank statements; cash books; journals) 10 years
3. Financial reviews by outside CPAs or audited financial statements Permanently
4. Documents that establish LION’s source of receipts for tax and other purposes, including accounts payable ledgers and schedules and accounts receivable ledgers and schedules; cancelled checks; duplicate deposit slips; invoices to and from customers 10 years
5. Capital stock and bond records Permanently

Donations and grants

1. Records of all donations, names and contact information for donor, any limitations on use, and disbursements Permanently
2. Grants: records shall be kept as required by any grant document, but shall include the names and contact information of the grantor, any limitations on use, and disbursements Permanently

Other

1. Personnel and employment records 10 years after termination
2. Contracts or other documents creating legal obligations or potential legal liabilities, including insurance contracts, leases and other property related contracts as well as notices of any legal processes involving LION or of any government investigations 10 years after termination
3. General correspondence 4 years
4. Legal and important matters correspondence Permanently
5. Employment applications 3 years
6. Inventories of products, materials supplies 3 years
7. Payroll records and summaries, including payments to retirees 10 years
8. Sales records 10 years
9. Volunteer records 3 years

Exceptions

Email and other correspondence not pertinent to Board policy-making or the performance of organizational activities shall fall outside these policies.

All permitted document destruction should be halted if the organization is investigated by a governmental law enforcement agency, and routine destruction shall not be resumed without the written approval of legal counsel or the Board Chair.

The post Document retention and destruction policy appeared first on LION Publishers.

All Board members, staff and volunteers of LION act with honesty, integrity and openness in all their dealings as representatives of LION. We promote a working environment that values respect, fairness and integrity.

II. Mission

LION has a clearly stated mission and values, approved by the Board of Directors, in pursuit of the public good. All of our services and programs support that mission and all who work for or on behalf of LION understand and are loyal to the mission and values. The mission is responsive to the constituency and communities served by LION and of value to society at large.

III. Governance

LION has a high performing governing body that is responsible for setting the mission, vision, values, key priorities, and overall strategic direction of LION. The Board has oversight of the finances, operations, and policies of the organization.

The governing body:

• Ensures that Board members have the requisite skills and experience to carry out their duties and that all members understand and fulfill their governance duties acting for the benefit of LION and its public purpose;
• Has a duality of interest policy that ensures that any duality or conflicts of interest or the appearance thereof are avoided or appropriately managed through disclosure, recusal or other means; and
• If applicable, is responsible for the hiring, supporting, and regular review of the performance of the executive director, and ensures that the compensation of the executive director is reasonable and appropriate;
• Ensures that LION conducts all transactions and dealings with integrity and honesty;
• Ensures that LION promotes working relationships with Board members, association members, partners, volunteers, and program beneficiaries that are based on mutual respect, fairness and openness;
• Ensures that LION is fair and inclusive in its hiring and promotion policies and practices for all Board and volunteer positions;
• Ensures that policies of LION are in writing, clearly articulated and officially adopted;
• Ensures that the resources of LION are responsibly and prudently managed; and,
• Ensures that LION has the capacity to carry out its programs effectively.

IV. Legal Compliance

LION is knowledgeable of and complies with all state and federal laws and regulations.

V. Responsible Stewardship

LION manages funds responsibly and prudently. This includes the following considerations:

• We spend a reasonable percentage of its annual budget on programs in pursuance of our mission;
• We spend an adequate amount on administrative expenses to ensure effective accounting systems, internal controls, competent staff (when/if we have them), and other expenditures critical to professional management;
• LION compensates those who may receive compensation, reasonably and appropriately;
• LION has reasonable fundraising costs, recognizing the variety of factors that affect fundraising costs;
• We do not accumulate operating funds excessively;
• When LION has an endowment, we will draw prudently from endowment funds consistent with donor intent and to support the public purpose of the organization;
• LION ensures that all spending practices and policies are fair, reasonable and appropriate to fulfill the mission of the organization; and,
• All financial reports are factually accurate and complete in all material respects.

VI. Openness and Disclosure

LION provides comprehensive and timely information to the public, the media, and all stakeholders and is responsive in a timely manner to reasonable requests for information. All information about LION will fully and honestly reflect the policies and practices of the organization. Basic informational data about LION, such as the Form 990, reviews and compilations, and audited financial statements will be posted on LION’s website or otherwise be available to the public. All solicitation materials accurately represent LION’s policies and practices and will reflect the dignity of program beneficiaries. All financial, organizational, and program reports will be complete and accurate in all material respects.

VII. Program Evaluation

LION regularly reviews program effectiveness and has mechanisms to incorporate lessons learned into future programs. LION is committed to improving program and organizational effectiveness and develops mechanisms to promote learning from its activities and the field. LION is responsive to changes in its field of activity and is responsive to the needs of its constituencies.

VIII. Inclusiveness and Diversity

LION has a policy of promoting inclusiveness and our Board and volunteers reflect diversity in order to enrich its programmatic effectiveness. LION takes meaningful steps to promote inclusiveness in its membership, Board recruitment and constituencies served.

IX. Respect

We will treat others equitably and respectfully in all aspects of our activities without regard to race, color, religion, creed, age, gender, national origin or ancestry, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, or status as a qualified disabled or handicapped individual.

X. Fundraising

LION, when raising funds or securing sponsorships, is truthful in the solicitation materials. We respect the privacy concerns of individual donors and expend funds consistent with donor intent. We disclose important and relevant information to potential donors.

In raising funds from the public, LION will respect the rights of donors, as follows:

• To be informed of the mission of LION, the way the resources will be used, and the capacity to use donations effectively for their intended purposes;
• To be informed of the identity of those serving on LION’s governing Board and to expect the Board to exercise prudent judgment in its stewardship responsibilities;
• To have access to LION’s most recent financial reports;
• To be assured their gifts will be used for the purposes for which they were given;
• To receive appropriate acknowledgement and recognition;
• To be assured that information about their donations is handled with respect and with confidentiality to the extent provided by the law and LION policy on donation disclosures;
• To expect that all relationships with individuals representing organizations of interest to the donor will be professional in nature;
• To be informed whether those seeking donations are volunteers, employees of LION or hired solicitors;
• To have the opportunity for their names to be deleted from mailing lists that an organization may intend to share; and,
• To feel free to ask questions when making a donation and to receive prompt, truthful and forthright answers.**

**These ten points are taken from A Donor Bill of Rights, developed by the American Association of Fund Raising Counsel, the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy, the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, and the Association of Fundraising Professionals, and endorsed by INDEPENDENT SECTOR.

The post LION Publishers Code of Ethics appeared first on LION Publishers.

Those policies are:

• Code of Ethics
• Code of Conduct
• Gift Acceptance Policy
• Whistleblower Policy
• Individual Board Member Responsibilities
• Role and Responsibilities of the Board
• Document Destruction and Retention Policy

Articles & bylaws

• Articles of Incorporation
• LION Publishers Bylaws
• State of Arizona corporate file (articles, annual reports)

The post Accountability policies appeared first on LION Publishers.