Global leadership and respect for SOBA America: (1) Play leadership role in global SOBA community

A: Create supreme SOBA governing council

Vision: We will work to improve decision making on matters that affect multiple SOBA regional chapters or the SOBA brand as a whole

Discussion: The current SOBA UK crisis has greatly underscored the need for a process for SOBA chapters across the globe to address issues that affect the SOBA global brand or multiple SOBA regional chapters. The current SOBA hierarchy structure puts too much unchecked power in the hands of SOBA General. It is imperative that SOBA has an organizational structure that gives regional chapters a voice, without undermining the oversight role of SOBA General. Getting everyone at the table will create a platform for fair decision making that will reduce tension and enhance harmony in SOBA even in times of crisis. Our current Itoe administration has a proposal to address this. President Itoe briefly presented this at the SOBA America National convention in Boston and got the approval of the general assembly to pursue this objective. The Fote administration will continue this initiative and work to get it implemented as soon as possible.

Action items: The Fote administration will work with SOBA regional chapters and SOBA General to create a Supreme SOBA Governing Council comprised of regional chapter presidents and SOBA General President to address matters that (a) involve multiple regional chapters, (b) the SOBA brand, or (c) referred by a regional SOBA chapter.