I have been asking this question for a long time – how many International Debate Education Associations are there and how are they different? I found a very substantive answer at the IDEA website. -Editor
http://preview.idebate.org/about/idea/governance
IDEA Netherlands (hereafter referred to as IDEA Amsterdam), IDEA Inc. (hereafter referred to as IDEA New York), IDEA London and IDEA Central are separate organizations that operate independently yet cooperate informally with each other. This website, a joint presentation, is intended to promote both organizations’ interests while maintaining their respective transparency.
IDEA NL
As a membership organization, IDEA Amsterdam is governed democratically by a General Assembly. The General Assembly meets at least once a year, usually though special meetings may be called when needed. Between General Assembly meetings, the Board of Directors has all the necessary power to oversee day-to-day management of IDEA.
The General Assembly has the ultimate authority to:
Elect and remove members of the Board of Directors
Approve and amend the statutes of IDEA Amsterdam
Approve the annual budget of IDEA Amsterdam
Approve and amend the internal regulations of IDEA Amsterdam
Decide on the overall policy and objectives of IDEA Amsterdam
Decide to dissolve, liquidate, or reorganize IDEA Amsterdam, in whole or in part, in accordance with Dutch law.
The IDEA Amsterdam Board of Directors is elected by the General Assembly to renewable two-year terms. Members serve on a volunteer basis, and all actions taken by the Board are subject to the review of the General Assembly. IDEA Amsterdam’s statutes stipulate that one member of the Board must be a legal resident of the Netherlands. Furthermore, through 2005, the Open Society Institute shall have one representative of its own choosing on the board. The Board elects from its own members a President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary.
With the General Assembly’s consent, the Board of Directors may:
Name an Advisory Board, whose purpose is to offer expert advice to IDEA. Like the Board of Directors, Advisory Board members are not paid but may be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the course of their services.
Name an Executive Director to administer IDEA; the Board may also approve the hiring of an administrative staff.
In 1999, the Board named Noel Selegzi, of the United States to serve as the Transitional Executive Director of IDEA Amsterdam.
IDEA Amsterdam Board Members:
President: Andrej Schulcz
Vice President: Logan Balavijendran
Secretary: Lazar Pop Ivanov
Treasurer: Noel Selegzi
Members: Virginija Pakšiene, Ton Sonneveldt, Jasmin Ceco, Maja Nenadovic
IDEA New York
As a public charity in the United States, IDEA New York is governed by its Board of Directors that has the ultimate authority to:
Provide direction and initiative to advance the vision of IDEA New York
Set policy and strategic direction for IDEA New York
Hire the Executive Director
Approve annual organizational plan and budget
Review Board structure and as appropriate, approve changes and make necessary amendments to the by-laws
Full fiduciary responsibilities as stewards of IDEA New York financial and other resources
IDEA New York Board Members
President: Dirk Olin
Vice-President: Eric DiMichele
Treasurer: Martin Greenwald
Members: David Douglass, Joe Zompetti, Helen Grosso, Vincent Grosso, Noel Selegzi, Jeanne Chen, Chris Meagher
IDEA London
A public charity in England & Wales, IDEA London is governed by its Board of Directors and its objects are to:
conduct, operate, co-ordinate, participate in, and support educational, charitable, humanitarian, and other publicly beneficial programs and activities, whether they are programs and activities of IDEA or of other physical persons and/or legal entities, or subdivisions thereof, that:
further the goals and objectives of IDEA;
foster the development of open society, democracy, democratic values, freedom, and human rights;
advance the collective common goals and objectives of its members, by enhancing donor potential for, increasing collective credibility of, and improving the efficiency of programs and activities conducted and operated by idea members.
conduct, operate, co-ordinate, participate in, as well as support other programs and activities as the board of directors may, in its sole discretion, deem constructive and appropriate in furtherance of the goals and objectives of idea, and in keeping with the provisions of UK charity law governing not-for-profit and publicly beneficial activities.
IDEA London Board Members
President: Belinda Lawson
Members: Dea Markova, Alex Deane, Noel Selegzi, Tim Bentinck
IDEA Central
The IDEA Central Foundation is registered in Belgium. The Foundation’s goals and objectives are entirely devoid of a profit-making aim and include, but are not limited to, the following:
fostering an open society by supporting activities that promote and sustain the free exchange of ideas, tolerance, critical thinking and international cooperation;
developing, organising and promoting debate and debate-related activities in communities throughout the world;
promoting mutual understanding and democracy globally by supporting discussion and active citizenship locally; and
striving to cultivate and nurture an engaged, democratic citizenry as well as the next generation of civic leadership throughout the world by offering young people the opportunity to debate the important issues facing them while underscoring the notions of tolerance, international cooperation, and freedom of expression.
The Foundation will also aim to provide a coordination and strategic role, as well as to oversee legal and other governance matters, for the IDEA Network.
IDEA Central Board Members
Chair: Ton Sonneveldt
Members: Yvonne Heselmans, Alex Dukalskis, Dirk Olin, Marcin Zaleski, Belinda Lawson, Noel Selegzi, Bradley Gallop
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